Spanish Black and Starling

[CM_Stewart]

Hook: Daiichi 1120 size 14
Body: Spanish Black turkey tail
Hackle: Starling
Head, rib and tag: Pearsall's Gossamer Black

[willowhead]

WOW, that's a very cool fly............btw, Misa is going to teach a Tenkara class at FFF International Conclave in Montana this year.....parts 1. twice, and parts 2. twice.......so four classes. She decided to skip the WFFC&CS this year as it just wouldn't look right to have a team at that event under the circumstances in Japan. So we'll go to Conclave instead. Both events are at the same time. Hope to see some of you there.

[tie2fish]

That's really nice, CM. I'm going to do some of those for myself assuming that the weather will one day get nice enough to try out my new Yamame 12'.

[Old Hat]

Very nicely done. The last couple flies you have posted lead me into a question.

As far as the head of the fly goes...I have seen many of the available pictures on the internet...The tenkara patterns appear to have larger (longer) heads to them. Is this a product of design and purpose, a distinguishing characteristic of this style, or just a product of little emphasis in tying a small neat head?

[willowhead]

Bill, we sold out all the Tenkara rods we had.....and just got another box of them shipped to us. They were waiting for us in the hotel in Lewiston, Idaho. The books are selling well too. This Tenkara thing is really taken off.......... Live from Loveland, Colorado.....

[William Anderson]

This is just beautiful. I'm loving all the little black flies, and this really stands out.

w

[CM_Stewart]

Very nicely done. The last couple flies you have posted lead me into a question.

As far as the head of the fly goes...I have seen many of the available pictures on the internet...The tenkara patterns appear to have larger (longer) heads to them. Is this a product of design and purpose, a distinguishing characteristic of this style, or just a product of little emphasis in tying a small neat head?

Thank you.

I really don't know why that style of tenkara fly has a longer head. In a way it makes sense, though, a mayfly's wings and legs don't come out from it's neck .

[CreationBear]

why that style of tenkara fly has a longer head

My theory: the bare thread makes it easier to tie-on and clip the tippet material once you fold the hackle back. (Although if y'all saw my NCAA bracket, you wouldn't put much faith in my hypotheses... )

BTW, the Tenkara style really suits these materials--you must get a great "pulse" with that starling.

[Old Hat]

.
I really don't know why that style of tenkara fly has a longer head. In a way it makes sense, though, a mayfly's wings and legs don't come out from it's neck .

That's because they don't have a neck.

A lot of the literature on spider style flies emphasizes tying a small neat head. I don't know why. But, I have always guessed that the eye of the hook was to represent the head of the insect in the profile.

So if I understand you correctly, it is a standard practice or characteristic of this style of fly, but there may or may not be a specific purpose.