3 Tenkara flies

[skunkaroo]

Thanks again.

#1. The pheasant tail barbs are tied forward over the eye and then brought up and back using the thread head. The only trick here is getting the orientation of the fibres correct so that you end up with the swept back effect. A gentle thumbnail stroke helps. This is tied on a #12 Mustad C49s.

#2. This is tied off at the bend. Luckily the 12/0 Benecchi is fine enough that it doesn't create much of a transition bump. This is tied on a #14 Mustad C49s.

#3. This is also tied off at the bend and as you can see it's a bit lumpy. If I had gone with the 12/0 instead of the gossamer silk it would have been much cleaner finish--but I wanted to stick with more-or-less traditional materials on at least one. The last hook is a #14 TMC 206bl which is very close to the Grip 14723bl hook profile.

I just want to point out that these aren't "original patterns". I've adapted them from some more traditional ones found on the Tenkara USA website, Chris' Tenkara Bum website, and from My Best Streams.

Aaron

[CreationBear]

Excellent, thanks for elaborating: I've been thinking Fly #1 could be made into a killer October Caddis pattern, with a body of, say, dyed-orange peacock herl, and maybe a little seal for a thorax.

[willowhead]

That sounds like a great idea C.B.

[CreationBear]

Ha...got to love those C53's and the space they give you to experiment: Aaron's tie would make a great "test bed" for imitating all sorts of aquatic critters, though I might sub pintail/mallard fibers for the PT "antenae" (a la Ed Story) if I went much below a #14 hook.

[DNicolson]

Those are great flies Aaron. Some awkward dressing there.
Very, very nice results.

[willowhead]

Yo Skunk.....thankx for that link.....way cool site. Misa will be glad to know of it too. The Tenkara flies are amazing.