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Tag Archives: tenkara flies

Best Tenkara Flies

My Top 5 Flies for Tenkara

Asking a fly angler to pick their favorite fly pattern is a little like asking a mother to name her favorite child. We love them all for different reasons. But if pressed, most anglers will be able to come up with at least a short list. So, I thought I should put together mine. These…

March 13, 2022Leave a commentFlies & Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

Japanese Lantern Sakasa Kebari

The Improved Japanese Lantern

In 2014, I came up with a pattern that became my go-to fly for many years: the Japanese Lantern. It was just a simple sakasa kebari, but instead of thread for the head, I used pearlescent Mylar to give it a little flash. The fly performed swimmingly and I had the utmost confidence in it.…

March 8, 2022Leave a commentFlies & Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

FB Futsu Kebari

Weighted Futsu Kebari

Yes, I know. The party line is that traditional tenkara flies are unweighted. Purists say that you’re supposed to use plunge pools or longer drifts to sink your flies. But this isn’t always possible (especially on my home waters). Most of my local streams are high-gradient with short, fast-running pockets. You might only get a…

February 24, 2022Leave a commentFlies & Fly Tying, Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

tenkara flies

One Fly: An Experiment in Color

The following is a guest post. I almost never do them, but when someone as prominent in the tenkara community asks for one as Jason Sparks, my ears perk up and I listen. Here are a few more of his great theories on fly design and presentation … There have been several points of conversation…

March 28, 202014 CommentsFlies & Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

Glass Bead Takayama Sakasa Kebari

How to Tie the Glass Bead Takayama Sakasa Kebari

The Takayama Sakasa Kebari is one of the most iconic patterns in tenkara and has always been a good producer for me. My version incorporates two glass beads at the head which add sparkle and just enough weight to get it down when needed without getting snagged on the bottom the way brass or tungsten…

March 4, 20193 CommentsFlies & Fly Tying, Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

Tenkara Flies with Kevlar Thread

Bulletproof Kebari

This is one of those “I already know someone’s thought of it (before I even say it)” ideas, but I had the thought last night to tie some simple stiff-hackle tenkara flies with Kevlar thread. I don’t normally use Kevlar, but I had some left over from my days tying bass and saltwater flies and…

February 1, 20192 CommentsFlies & Fly Tying, Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

Hirata Tenkara Kebari

Hirata-san’s Kebari

Yesterday, I posted some pictures of my recent acquisition of some kebari from Yuzo Sebata for my tenkara fly collection, and today, I wanted to share some flies I got from Hisanobu Hirata. Hirata-san might not be a household name to many western tenkara anglers the way Dr. Ishigaki or Tenkara no Oni are, but…

January 31, 201913 CommentsFlies & Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

Combination Midge and Blu Winged Olive Fly

Jason’s Molive

Midge and blue-winged olive hatches often coincide and two fish in adjacent feeding lanes could be keyed in on one or the other. So why not fish a fly that covers both? The Molive (“midge” + “olive”) is a crossover pattern that can be fished during such hatches and can be mistaken for an olive…

November 8, 20188 CommentsFlies & Fly Tying, Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

Half-palmer Sakasa Kebari

Half-Palmer Sakasa Kebari

Probably the thing I love most about fly tying is that there are limitless possibilities for experimentation and how each experiment builds on the lessons of previous ones. You take a certain technique or style you’ve tried in the past and blend it with another (previously disparate one) to create an entirely new avatar. You…

October 10, 20187 CommentsFlies & Fly Tying, Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

Brian Lindsay Kebari

Brian Lindsay on Kebari Fly Design

This 4th of July Weekend, I had the pleasure of having a guest at my house who is a tour de force in tenkara–Brian Lindsay. Brian is an avid tenkara fisher and tyer with a unique perspective on fly design. Here’s a quick video about his philosophy on tying that I think you’ll enjoy and…

July 3, 20174 CommentsInterviewsBy Jason Klass

FC Crackleback Fly

The Crackleback Fly

Although I mostly fish sakasa kebari now, every once in a while, I rediscover a pattern from my pre-tenkara days that I think is perfect for tenkara in its ethos. I recently remembered a somewhat esoteric one I used to consider a staple when I was only western fly fishing: the FC Crackleback. Think of the Crackleback…

November 30, 201619 CommentsFlies & Fly Tying, Fly TyingBy Jason Klass

Creekside Kebari & Fly Company

Today, I got a nice care package in the mail from Robb over at Creekside Kebari & Fly Company. We initially agreed to just do a simple sticker swap for one of my new stickers, but Robb also sent a sample some of the flies he sells on his website and I thought they were…

August 30, 20163 CommentsFlies & Fly TyingBy Jason Klass
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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 >>

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