Tenkara Flies

Tenkara, the centuries-old style of Japanese fixed-line fly fishing, focuses on relatively simple fly patterns called “kebari” (KAY-BAH-REE) which were developed by Japanese farmers whose livelihood largely depended on fishing. Being necessarily frugal, they made use of whatever tying materials they could find around their farms or in the nearby forest. For hooks, they bent sewing needles into shape, to which they lashed a loop of silk cord for an eye. Kebari are impressionistic attractors rather than imitative patterns, and many are designed to be presented with various techniques that impart motion (sasoi)--forcing the hackle to twitch or wriggle and appear lifelike. Since Tenkara lacks a written history, the origin of most traditional patterns remains a mystery, and many were simply named after the prefecture or region in Japan where they were local favorites. While the styles vary widely, the most iconic is the “sakasa kebari” (sakasa = “reverse”) which is essentially a regular soft hackle fly with the hackle tied in the opposite direction (hackle tips facing forward over the eye) in order to maximize its action underwater. Modern Tenkara anglers have contributed greatly to the compendium of Tenkara flies via updating traditional kebari with modern materials and variations, translating classic western fly patterns into the sakasa style, and creating a diverse library of new classics. Whether traditional or modern, Tenkara Kebari patterns open up a whole new avenue of experimentation and creativity for the beginner or experienced tyer alike. Written By Jason Klass, TenkaraTalk.com