Tenkara TalkTenkara Talk
Tenkara Talk
a tenkara fly fishing blog
Search Tenkara Talk
  • Home
  • Tenkara Gear
    • Tenkara Rods
    • Tenkara Lines
    • Line Holders & Spools
    • Fly Boxes
    • Nets
    • Packs, Organization & Storage
    • Clothing & Accessories
    • Wading Gear
  • Flies & Fly Tying
  • How-To & Resources
    • What is Tenkara?
    • Tenkara 101
    • Presentation Techniques
    • Streamcraft
    • Tenkara Videos
    • Tenkara Knots
    • DIY & Hacks
    • Warmwater Tenkara
    • Books & Media
  • News & Fun
    • Trip Reports
    • Interviews
    • Philosophy
    • Humor
    • Art
    • Tenkara News
    • Events
  • Tenkara Links
  • About Me
  • Contact
FacebookTwitterYouTubePinterestInstagram
  • Home
  • Tenkara Gear
    • Tenkara Rods
    • Tenkara Lines
    • Line Holders & Spools
    • Fly Boxes
    • Nets
    • Packs, Organization & Storage
    • Clothing & Accessories
    • Wading Gear
  • Flies & Fly Tying
  • How-To & Resources
    • What is Tenkara?
    • Tenkara 101
    • Presentation Techniques
    • Streamcraft
    • Tenkara Videos
    • Tenkara Knots
    • DIY & Hacks
    • Warmwater Tenkara
    • Books & Media
  • News & Fun
    • Trip Reports
    • Interviews
    • Philosophy
    • Humor
    • Art
    • Tenkara News
    • Events
  • Tenkara Links
  • About Me
  • Contact

Sebata Kebari – Yuzo Sebata’s Tenkara Flies

January 30, 20196 CommentsFlies & Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

Yuzo Sebata Tenkara Flies

I’ve always felt that flies were the “currency” of our sport. We trade them, gift them, hide them, steal them, covet them. Indeed, they possess something of intrinsic value. They embody part of the very soul of the tyer. And to me, they’re far more valuable than money.

I’ve been lucky enough to amass a small fortune in other tyer’s flies. Some are from close friends. Some are from renowned tenkara anglers I’ve met. And some from ones I’ve never met, but hope to. The latter is the case in my latest fortune: a set of flies tied by legendary tenkara angler Yuzo Sebata. If you don’t recognize the name, you owe it to yourself to google it. He’s one of the most skilled, charismatic, and avid tenkara anglers on the planet. To re-write his biography here would be far beyond the scope of this post, so I’ll leave it to the reader to do their own research and discover his passion for tenkara the way I have: through the countless articles and videos documenting his acumen.

Here are the flies … all tied by Sebata-san himself and the only patterns he uses in his mountain streams in Japan.

Tori-bane Kebari Daidai

Yuzo Sebata Tenkara Flies

Tori-bane Kebari Kimidori

Yuzo Sebata Tenkara Flies

The patterns I got were orange and lime green with grizzly hackle, but he also ties them in yellow, and also with pheasant hackle (Kiji-bane Sakasa Kebari).

Adhesive Tape-Bodied Sakasa Kebari

Yuzo Sebata Tenkara Flies

Yuzo Sebata Tenkara Flies

I’m not sure the two patterns above have names, but if anything could be called Sebata-san’s “signature” flies, these would be it. He ties them with a body of thin strips of black adhesive tape used for plumbing. It’s a definitive nod to tenkara’s roots in practicality and utility. Here’s a really interesting video showing how he ties these esoteric flies (notice what he’s using for thread!).

Zenmai Sakasa Kebari

Yuzo Sebata Tenkara Flies

If flies are currency, then getting one tied with zenmai is like finding a gold coin in a fistful of change. Zenmai is a prized dubbing material made from the fuzzy fibers of a sprouting fern. It’s a classic mountain material that few tie with because of its defiance toward being easily twisted into a neat, smooth body, but its color is unique and unmistakable.

I may never get to meet Sebata-san in person and if I don’t, at least I’ve got the next best thing in a special place in my tying desk: a part of the tyer’s soul. Flies are the currency of our sport. And I am grateful to be a rich man.

Artwork by Cindy Martinez

Yuzo Sebata Tenkara Flies

japanese tenkara fliessakasa kebarisebata kebaritape body tenkara flyyuzo sebata flies
About the author

Jason Klass

Jason is an avid fly angler and backpacker. As a former fly fishing guide originally from Western New York, he moved to Colorado and became an early adopter of tenkara which perfectly suited the small, high altitude streams and lakes there. He has not fished a Western-style fly rod for trout since.

Like this article? You might also like these ...
Spring Futsu Kebari
Spring Futsu Kebari
March 19, 2022
Best Tenkara Flies
My Top 5 Flies for Tenkara
March 13, 2022
Japanese Lantern Sakasa Kebari
The Improved Japanese Lantern
March 8, 2022
Garrison Keillor Fly Fishing
The Lake Wobegon Special
March 6, 2022
FB Futsu Kebari
Weighted Futsu Kebari
February 24, 2022
FB Harrop Dun
Caribou Harrop Dun
February 23, 2022
6 Comments
  1. Reply
    January 31, 2019 at 8:39 am
    Sydney Jenkins

    Lovely flies.

  2. Reply
    January 31, 2019 at 9:32 am
    Bradley C

    That was a pleasure to read. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Reply
    January 31, 2019 at 9:44 am
    Jim S.

    Jason,
    To me, this is more like art than science. I do not have the patience or skill to create anything of such character or beauty but I can appreciate the talent it takes to do it.
    Thank you for sharing these with the rest of us.

  4. Reply
    February 1, 2019 at 4:20 am
    Van

    wonderful flies and shared knowledge

  5. Reply
    February 12, 2019 at 5:43 am
    Vern

    The first two flies are taped bodies as well?

    • Reply
      February 12, 2019 at 7:08 am
      Jason Klass

      Hi Vern,
      No, the first two flies are thread-bodined. Not tape.

Leave Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

clear formSubmit

About Me

Jason Klass is a former fly fishing guide & casting instructor based in Colorado. He was an early adopter of tenkara in the West and has been fishing the method for a variety of species since 2009. Read more >>

Get an Email When I Post!

* indicates required



Tenkara Talk Sponsors
Tenkara USA   Yonah Tenkara Packs   Dragontail Tenkara     TAO Tenkara   Tenkara Tanuki
Search by Category
Send Jason an Email
Search Tenkara Talk
Tenkara Talk Archives
Tenkara + Backpacking!
Is there any other sport that goes better with tenkara than hiking and backpacking? Be sure to also check out my ultralight and DIY backpacking gear blog.

Tenkara and Backpacking
Latest Posts
  • DIY Wine Cork Fly Dryer
    DIY Wine Cork Fly Dryer
    May 24, 2022
  • Wader Bag
    How I Pack My Wading Gear (+2 Tips)
    May 15, 2022
  • Tenkara Strike Indicator
    New Tenkara Line Sighters (Strike Indicators)
    April 23, 2022
© 2022 | Tenkara Talk by Jason Klass | All rights reserved