First TenkaraUSA Fly Swap

This week I received the long awaited flies of the very first Tenkara fly swap of the TenkaraUSA forum. I even think this might be a historic event, the very first completed Tenkara fly swap outside Japan. Well, I think it is. If it isn't, well, no big deal. But I think it is.

Anyway, as I said, this week the flies got in and I am excited posting the pix. It is interesting to see how different all these flies are, the size ranges from a size 8 long shank to what I believe to be a size 20. Body materials vary from simple thread bodies to elaborate dubbing and peacock herl bodies and collars. Hackles and hackle sizes also vary greatly, from stiff cock hackles to soft hen and game bird hackles (i.e. partridge or pheasant).

I was thinking that I will keep those flies but then I realized that flies are to be fished with and who knows how effective they could turn out to be in my local waters. Hey, you never know... and since I have the pictures and know who originated the pattern, it wouldn't be too difficult to recreate the pattern later if I would chose so (there are a few that I definitively will add to my arsenal of flies).

A big thanks is going to Erik Ostrander of Salt Lake City who did a great job organizing the swap and keeping everybody focused and on target to complete it. Also, a few of the participants, such as Daniel Galhardo, Founder of TenkaraUSA and Chris Stewart of Tenkarabum, included some additional freebies for everyone participating in the swap - thanks Daniel & Chris!

So, without further delay, here are the flies:

My concoction, the Blue Poison Sakasa Kebari:

Jayfisher - Jack's Reversed Herl Kebari:

Daniel Galhardo:

Kiwi - Ausable Sakasa Kebari:

257ROBT:

Mark Cole - Red body/grizzly hackle Sakasa Kebari:

Anthony Naples - Brown Hackle Peacock Sakasa Kebari:

Erik Ostrander (I think I got a bonus fly in addition to the swap fly):

Chris Stewart - Killer Bug Sakasa Kebari:

gentleshepherd:


Wupperfischer:

wrknapp:

Goodies from Daniel and Chris:

You might have noticed, I mentioned above first "completed" Tenkara fly swap... there has been another Tenkara fly swap going on that started earlier, but it has not yet been completed, meaning that the organizer of the swap did not yet receive or send out the flies to the participants. I expect that to happen this coming or the week after and I can't wait to post these flies on this blog as well.

On a completely different and personal note, this has been a few very long and anxious weeks for our family with my dad-in-law being in hospital since November with several pretty hard-core surgeries. Well, he is still in the hospital due to new complications showing up almost every other day. The doctors are confident that he will recover but the road will be long. Tonight I will drink to his health with one one of these. Mike - we all hope you will be getting better soon!!!

Tight Lines, -K

PS: This is the year of Tenkara!

Tenkara Flies

Over the last few months I have been able to create some new friendships with fellow Tenkara anglers, some of which were very generous by sharing some of their flies with me. Today I want to share with you the flies of Joe Leal of California and Chris Steward (Tenkarabum) of New York.

The flies are absolutively gorgeous and I am sure I will fee hesitant to tie them to the end of the tippet. But alas, flies are to be fished, even if they are works of art.

Chris' flies are simple North Country style soft hackle flies, tied as purple & snipe, inspired by a discussion about fly colors we had a while ago on a forum.

Joe's flies are tied as Sakasa Kebari's which some of them are Sakasa Kebari Takayama (with peacock herl collar). The special thing about his flies are that the hackle, which is typically a soft hackle feather from a game bird such partridge or pheasant, has been substituted with CDC. I think this is a great idea since they can be fished both as a dry fly if properly treated as well as a emerger and wet fly. If you haven't fished or tied with CDC, you should definitively give it a try.

CHRIS STEWART NORTH COUNTRY SOFT HACKLE PURPLE & SNIPE

JOE LEAL SAKASA KEBARI / SAKASA KEBARI TAKAYAMA FLIES:

JOE LEAL CDC & ELK - without the Elk:

New Toys & Apparel

I know I am bit late with this, but sometimes life gets into the way of the fun things. So, Christmas has come and gone and I am a lucky guy to have a very understanding better half that supports my additions, such as Tenkara, by sending me on mental health day fishing trips and putting up with all the fishing stuff in the garage and the feathers, fur, hooks, skins etc. in the basement.

That being said, she also pays attention to what I was saying, blogging and mumbling in the far corner of the basement in front of my tying vise.

So this year, under the Christmas tree, I found a brand new and beautiful Tamo - a Tenkara Net - as well as a nice and soft T-shirt from TenkaraUSA. She even thought of adding an extra enforced net leash to the order.

Next time I will be heading out, I will put the Tamo to the test, hopefully this will be soon since my crankiness is increasing by the day. And yes, the T-Shirt is very soft and comfy.

Tight Lines, -K

PS: This is the Year of Tenkara