Sakasa kebari flies. And like sakasa Elevate your Tenkara fishing experience with the Grave Digger Sakasa Kebari Flies, a cult favorite crafted for anglers who demand performance. Aug 30, 2024 · Nowadays in the US, when people mention tenkara flies, those of us familiar with tenkara most often think of a Sakasa Kebari, or a reverse hackle, simple fly —silk or Uni thread wrapped around a curved shank hook with simple hackled tied forward. Jan 8, 2025 · Hybrid Kebari Experiments - Article by Jay Guarneri - Flies that combine soft hackle mobility & the anchoring ability of stiff hackles. If/when I do more of these, I think I am going to leave off the tail and instead make the body Demonstration on how to tie a tenkara fly, the sakasa kebari (reverse-hackle fly), used in the traditional japanese method of mountain stream fly-fishing, te The Copper Body Sakasa Kebari is a sleek tenkara fly with a reverse-hackled (Sakasa-style) soft hackle and a shimmering copper wire body. Sep 1, 2012 · Excellent flies Tom. Jul 7, 2017 · WIth “sakasa” meaning “reversed” and “kebari” meaning “fishing fly” (or literally “feathered hook”), it is obvious how these flies got their name. Sakasa Kebari The Sakasa Kebari or reverse-hackle fly, is an artificial fly most associated with the Japanese style of tenkara fishing but can be used in most freshwater fly fishing. This has become one of our all time best sellers for a reason and is sure to put a few more fish into your net. Interestingly, the Sakasa Kebari was not the most common patterned used by Japanese tenkara anglers. Don't follow the herd, arm yourself with real killer kebari patterns from Japan. The Oxford Wool Kebari is a creation by Tom Davis of Teton Tenkara and in 2023 it became one of Brent's favorite tenkara flies to use as it was very effective for us. Tuna shows us how to tie up a Sakasa Kebari. Like most flies, tiers use feathers for the hackle on their sakasa kebari. The design is credited to Tenkara Guides LLC in Utah. This fly was originally created to be used in the small, high gradient streams in Japan Oct 20, 2012 · Soft Hackles A close second for a good Tenkara fly is the sakasa kebari’s western cousin: the soft hackle. com Jun 10, 2024 · If you are curious about the reverse hackle, traditional tenkara fly this article answers some common questions about the Japanese kebari. Dec 1, 2021 · Unlock the secrets of fly tying with this step-by-step guide on creating the Flouro Sakasa Kebari fly. Some of our most popular Tenkara flies are the Utah Killer Bug, Hare’s Ear Kebari, Red Zebra Kebari, Grave Digger Kebari, and the Pheasant Tail Kebari. Learn the materials and techniques needed for success. This is a Sakasa soft hackle tenkara fly and is fished as a wet fly. Many western anglers fish these in a swing or Reisenring Lift to imitate emerging pupae during caddis hatches but they work equally as well as general attractors. To date, the empirical evidence that “fly size doesn’t matter” has been liberating. Tied on a high quality size #10 Moonlit Barbless hook. Typically in Japan, not always but typically, they fish tenkara with unweighted, wet, reverse hackled sakasa kebaris like the ones that we sell. The Takayama sakasa kebari is a classic tenkara fly that is tied in many color variations. I would wager that it’s the one that most people think of when they think of tenkara, but it’s not the only kebari out there. Oct 24, 2023 · So a sakasa kebari is a reverse soft hackle fly. You can tie this simple tenkara fly in many different thread or hackle colors but purple is a color I tie it in a lot as it is a color that is easy for fish to see. Once again, I’ve substituted material for the thorax as the original pattern also uses dog fur. Sep 4, 2018 · Most sakasa kebari have an extended base of thread behind the eye which places the hackle more mid-shank (rather than right behind the eye like many western flies). The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that p Aug 30, 2020 · Ishigaki-style and Futsu kebari The size 10 or 12 sakasa kebari is ideal for prospecting in the middle depths and is likely to be seen by more fish with its attractive flowing soft hackle. FREE Plastic Fly Box (as pictured). Most of the time the questions brought up are focused on one style of fly in particular - the sakasa kebari. Feb 14, 2023 · Charmingly contradictory folklore aside, it occurred to me that on a practical level, my fly collection lacks a healthy selection of lighter colored kebari. It imitates emerging nymphs, scuds, and various aquatic insects, excelling in streams and pools to attract trout with its buggy profile and Elevate your Tenkara fishing experience with the Grave Digger Sakasa Kebari Flies, a cult favorite crafted for anglers who demand performance. Fishing for Grayling in Autumn & Winter can be very productive if you are prepared to fish with soft hackle flies and level line. Happy tying! Description Elevate your Tenkara fishing experience with the Grave Digger Sakasa Kebari Flies, a cult favorite crafted for anglers who demand performance. Amazing prospecting pattern, fish shallow and deep to find the fish. The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that pulses with lifelike movement in the water - perfect for enticing How to tie a Pheasant Tail Sakasa Kebari by Brent Auger of DRAGONtail Tenkara. Feb 29, 2012 · Converting this fly to a kebari was easy in that is already is pretty kebari-like. 13 Sakasa Kebari Tenkara fly fishing was presented to the Chapter in October by Appalachian Anglers Tenkara Guide Lance Milks. Read now on Medium. It imitates emerging nymphs, scuds, and various aquatic insects, excelling i The Copper Body Sakasa Kebari is a sleek tenkara fly with a reverse-hackled (Sakasa-style) soft hackle and a shimmering copper wire body. The Gujo Sakasa-Kebari 1 is a reversed hackle fly that is just one of the many variants of the Tenkara Fly. Oct 27, 2023 · The Flashy Ass-y Sakasa Kebari - Amanda Hoffner ties one of her favorite flies, a spin on a Takayama Sakasa Kebari with a bit extra flash. Here's my recipe Sep 27, 2011 · Sakasa Kebari possess all of the great qualities of a successful fly, simple to tie, made from inexpensive materials, durable, and longevity with a proven track record that dates back several hundred years. Rather than a metal ring for an eye, these flies have a loop of flexible material to which the tippet is tied. Apr 3, 2012 · The Fly Many anglers in Japan that practice the one fly approach have settled on the sakasa kebari as their weapon of choice. Sep 21, 2025 · 12 Natural Copper John Sakasa Kebari flies. The name refers to the way the hackle is tied onto the hook, which in this case is “reverse”. It is a wet fly intended for use in both slow and fast flowing streams. There are many types of fixed line fishing from cultures other than Japan’s that use reverse style hackle but tenkara’s most iconic and recognizable fl The Sakasa Kebari or reverse-hackle fly, is an artificial fly most associated with the Japanese style of tenkara fishing but can be used in most freshwater fly fishing. The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that p Jan 29, 2025 · Called the Soft Hackle Grey, it is a sakasa kebari that mimics many different types of aquatic and terrestrial insects. " I prefer partridge to pheasant for the hackle, and tie them a bit sparser. In fact Sakasa Kebari flies are the best fly fishing flies for making your fly choice easy. Adding peacock herl will maximize its attention-getting properties. com : BASSDASH Trout Fly Fishing Flies Tenkara Wet Dry Flies Nymphs Sakasa Kebari 12pcs Assortment Barbless Barbed Hooks : Sports & OutdoorsAbout this item A carefully curated assortment of 12 barbed Dry Flies for the fly angler who is looking to catch trout in a variety of situations The 12 flies in this 4 fly assortment include classic patterns that are heavily targeted by trout Jun 18, 2013 · The Takayama sakasa kebari is a classic tenkara fly that is tied in many color variations. Description The Hare's Ear Kebari is a classic, versatile tenkara fly featuring a reverse-hackled (Sakasa-style) design with a natural hare's ear dubbing body, ribbed with gold wire for segmentation and topped with soft hackle for lifelike pulsing action. They are versatile, highly effective and come in sizes 8 and 10. Mar 4, 2019 · The Takayama Sakasa Kebari is one of the most iconic patterns in tenkara and has always been a good producer for me. My favorite hook for sakasa kebari is the TMC 2499SPBL. Fly tied by Brent Auger of DRAGONtail Tenkara. This is a great effective tenkara fly pattern to fish with for trout. I wanted to focus on that rather than patterns that were invented in the West. The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that p You get 18 Sakasa Kebari Tenkara fly pack (6 purple, 6 red, and 6 black). Instead of trying for a sakasa kebari-style I opted for a ishigaki kebari-style. I've tried a lot of different hooks for sakasa kebari and wanted to tell you about my favorite ones and why I like them so much. The Shio Koshō Kebari, or Salt & Pepper Sakasa Kebari, is the “One-Fly” that TJ of Tenkara USA created, and he uses this one-fly anywhere he fishes. The sakasa kebari were excellent additions to my new sakasa kebari site. It is more general profile of food and with its forward hackle you can create a lot of movement with small twitches that creates a Jan 13, 2025 · When I first started tenkara, I was fishing sakasa kebari and killer bugs. After all, in Japan they regularly fish flies that large (or larger). The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that pulses with lifelike movement in the water - perfect for enticing Elevate your Tenkara fishing experience with the Grave Digger Sakasa Kebari Flies, a cult favorite crafted for anglers who demand performance. But for me, a #8 is huge. Fly Tying Recipe The Copper Body Sakasa Kebari is a sleek tenkara fly with a reverse-hackled (Sakasa-style) soft hackle and a shimmering copper wire body. Tenkara Sakasa Kebari This is sakasa-kebari (reverse hackle fly) that is a pattern of traditional tenkara kebari uses pheasant feathers for the hackle and, this is kebari to fish in the underwater. 6 count Dirty Bird Sakasa Kebari aka “Trout Candy” Glass bead, grizzly soft hackle, natural & synthetic flash dubbing, and black thread. Tenkara flies vs regular flies. These kits are an easy way to get introduced into the world of fly tying and tying It seems like one of the most common points of interest when tenkara is brought up in a conversation with anglers are the flies associated with it. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Nov 20, 2013 · Fur-hackled Sakasa Kebari One of the main reasons the sakasa kebari style fly is so effective is because the hackle moves underwater making it look alive (click here for an underwater video to see one in action). Hen pheasant, partridge or hen chicken hackle are all good hackle choices for this fly. The Sakasa Kebari is usually defined by firstly, its reverse hackle and secondly, by its simplicity [1] as compared to western style flies. It works great when tied as such, but it also works very well as a more traditional sakasa kebari pattern. These kebari are to a Copper John wire body fly. 3. A comprehensive step by step guide to tying 12 Tenkara kebari patterns – follow each recipe exactly for a go- anywhere box of flies or use the patterns as inspiration for your own creations using John’s helpful suggestions for variants. This version is a bit different than the one we offer on our DRAGONtail store but it is how I li Feb 4, 2021 · How to tie a Pheasant Tail Sakasa Kebari by Brent Auger of DRAGONtail Tenkara. Two of the most iconic and recognizable flies in the fixed line fishing world. Try our 24 Futsu Collection. Dec 24, 2011 · [/caption] Every fly tier has their favorite hooks for certain patterns and I'm no exception. The Sakasa Kebari, or reverse hackle fly, is probably the iconic "tenkara fly. Fly of the Month 12. Probably the most recognizable symbol of tenkara fishing is the Sakasa Kebari (reverse hackle fly). Because most larger fish will be found most of the time near bottom, actively pursuing dinner or hiding under obstacles, I prefer a heavy quick sinking kebari most of the time. Hook: Barbless competition curved pupa hook, sizes 10-12 Thread: 8/0 black Hackle We offer a large variety of Tenkara Flies and Sakasa Kebari. These kebari are similar to a Copper John wire body fly. I have caught 95% of my fish this year on (in order) a Killer Bug, Royal Sakasa Kebari, and an olive Wooly Bugger. Although the sakasa kebari is the best known tenkara fly in the US, most of the historical tenkara fly patterns in Japan were not reverse hackled. Hope you enjoy our many Tenkara Fly Tying videos. Fly Tying Description The Hare's Ear Kebari is a classic, versatile tenkara fly featuring a reverse-hackled (Sakasa-style) design with a natural hare's ear dubbing body, ribbed with gold wire for segmentation and topped with soft hackle for lifelike pulsing action. This adds a nice attractor Amazon. And for good reason. One of my go to flies. May 5, 2012 · Some tenkara anglers in Japan prefer to tie their sakasa kebari on eyeless hooks. Oct 28, 2022 · Sakasa Kebari Variants - A sakasa kebari is a fly that consists of little more than a hook, thread body and a forward facing hackle. Hisao Ishigaki. Fly tied by Brent Auger of DRAGONtail Tenkara and is based off of a traditional pheasant tail soft hackle fly. Unlike Western wet flies where the hackle is wrapped so that it faces back toward the hook bend, the hackle on a Sakasa Kebari faces forward, hence the name “reverse hackle Mar 13, 2022 · These are all flies I’ve fished over the years and that I have the utmost confidence in. The Hare's Ear Kebari is a classic, versatile tenkara fly featuring a reverse-hackled (Sakasa-style) design with a natural hare's ear dubbing body, ribbed with gold wire for segmentation and topped with soft hackle for lifelike pulsing action. This is a great effective tenkara fly to fish with. But basically, it's characterized by having a thread abdomen, a peacock thorax, and forward facing hackle. My first encounter with this fly was the red version so that's what I chose to base my interpretation on. I typically don’t incorporate a lot of synthetics or flash into my patterns. I find that it works best when caddis are on the water, or when the water is low and clear, or when tetragnatha stretch spiders are present in their webs hanging over the creeks and streams. With the barring on the hackle, high-contrast ribbing, and muted colors, this is a great all around tenkara wet fly. But basically, it’s characterized by having a thread abdomen, a peacock thorax, and forward facing hackle. So, after a little experimentation, I came up with what I call the “Silk Road Kebari”. Tied on a high quality size #12 Moonlit Competition Barbless hooks. Fly Tying Recipe Materials List Oct 10, 2018 · As I do usually do when fishing sakasa kebari, I first make a few upstream dead drifts, then, turn around and try some downstream swings or pulses. Oct 26, 2025 · 12 Natural Copper John Sakasa Kebari flies. These flies are basically the same as a sakasa kebari, only with the hackle facing back rather than forward. Elevate your Tenkara fishing experience with the Grave Digger Sakasa Kebari Flies, a cult favorite crafted for anglers who demand performance. A great cost effective way to go is our 24 Variety Tenkara Fly Pack. You see, I got some grouse feathers from Tenkara Bum that were too large for the #12 and #10 sakasa kebari I normally tie, Mar 10, 2023 · Amano Sakasa Kebari - Tenkara Fly Tying This fly is commonly tied with silk thread, I really like the Semperfli Pure Silk thread for this fly in the Straw color. Here is the tying video with the recipe to tie your own Oxford Wool Kebari. Western fly fishing shares elements of Tenkara flies when it comes to spiders and Kebari flies. Making your fly pattern choice easy. This is a fantastic tenkara fly created by the guys at Tenkara Guides LLC during the early years of tenkara taking off in the USA. The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that p Elevate your Tenkara fishing experience with the Grave Digger Sakasa Kebari Flies, a cult favorite crafted for anglers who demand performance. I've heard some people say that this connection gives the fly more movement in the water than flies with Originally created by the guys at Tenkara Guides LLC, this fly is a cult favorite from the early days of Tenkara taking off in the USA. Tenkara flies are very simple to tie trout flies, and work particularly well in The Copper Body Sakasa Kebari is a sleek tenkara fly with a reverse-hackled (Sakasa-style) soft hackle and a shimmering copper wire body. These flies are often made from nothing more than a hook, some thread and hackle (a feather wrapped around the hook). Almost all of my Oct 25, 2025 · Natural Copper John Sakasa Kebari - 12 Tenkara Flies. But after taking a closer look at some of Masami Tanaka’s flies, I’ve come up with a pattern that is a little flashier than my usual ties: the Japanese Lantern. Feb 4, 2021 · The Sakasa Kebari (kebari means "fishing fly" in Japanese) is a reverse-hackle fly (commonly a softer hackle) that is mostly associated with Japanese Tenkara Fishing. What is your favorite size for sakasa kebari? The Copper Body Sakasa Kebari is a sleek tenkara fly with a reverse-hackled (Sakasa-style) soft hackle and a shimmering copper wire body. With simply a rod, a line and a fly the Japanese have fished for trout commercially and now recreationally for well over 200 years. The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that p Jul 11, 2024 · Jason Klass (of TenkaraTalk) is the original creator of the Ichiban Kebari based off of the Takayama Sakasa Kebari with its two glass beads at the head that give it an almost bubble like affect that make it a sweet looking sakasa tenkara fly that I love to tie. Neither seems to be consistently more effective than the other–as with so many things in fly fishing, it all depends on the day. So what does your sakasa kebari look like underwater? I tested the three most common hackle types for tenkara wet flies (hen, partridge, and starling), and threw in a wildcard: emu. 12 Natural Copper John Sakasa Kebari flies. The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that p The Hare's Ear Kebari is a very popular selling fly so we wanted to show you how to tie your own. 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 beads might. Description Elevate your Tenkara fishing experience with the Grave Digger Sakasa Kebari Flies, a cult favorite crafted for anglers who demand performance. Jun 2, 2022 · Akai O Takayama Sakasa Kebari: Red Tail, is a modern take on a time-honored Japanese high mountain reverse-tied fly. Unlike in Western fly fishing, where a lot of people believe a super small fly is necessary, tenkara anglers hardly ever go any smaller than a size 16 for their fly. I had created the pattern in 2011 by adding a sparse soft hackle to Sawyer's Killer Bug. One of the Hida Takayama tenkara flies is just a fairly thick wool body with a soft hackle of hen or hen pheasant. He made this fly, or kebari in Japanese, from two colors of thread, black and white, and two colors of feathers, also black and white, on a scud-style hook. This is great to get a variety of productive tenkara fly colors, especially if you don’t want to tie your own flies. Here's a video on how to tie the Ishigaki Kebari, taught to us by renowned tenkara angler Dr. A few years later and I am fishing, for the most part, flies that I tie and they are not always soft hackle sakasa kebari. Get my recipe here: h Jan 28, 2025 · Hackle: Ringneck pheasant back feathers Rib: Gold wire Body: Pheasant tail Thorax: Black peacock ice dub I tied half of these on a size jig hook after seeing Tom at Teton Tenkara do that for some sakasa kebari, then I switched to a standard eye hook. This is an extremely versatile reversed hackle wet fly (usually with a simple thread body) that has great action underwater. It imitates emerging nymphs, scuds, and various aquatic insects, excelling in streams and pools to attract trout with its buggy profile and . Aug 22, 2012 · Probably 99% of the sakasa kebari I fish are #12 (or the Japanese hook equivalent of about a #7 or so) and so far, I haven’t found the need to obsess about fly size like I used to. It is not meant to mimic a specific insect but similar to what I would consider an attractor fly. Killer Kebari The Killer Kebari is the fly I tied for the first tenkara fly swap held in the US, which requested each participant's best tenkara fly. The Red Ass Monkey Kebari is a creation by Tenkara Guides LLC and it became a favorite tenkara fly for many to use as it was very effective. Offered in size 16, it's our smallest tenkara fly. The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that p Feb 10, 2023 · How to tie a Grave Digger Kebari fly pattern. It imitates emerging nymphs, scuds, and various aquatic insects, excelling i This kit contains all of the materials you will need to tie a dozen of each of these flies + some extra materials for you to mess around with! 12 - Sakasa Kebari 12 - Futsu Kebari Includes hooks, thread, wire, yarn, hackle, etc. Check out our new fly tying kits and start tying your own flies. It was one of my early favorite tenkara flies to fish as I was getting into tenkara and is still a fly I love to use, very effective for trout Free step-by-step videos and insights into tying tenkara flies. The hackle is taken from the neck of a hen pheasant. I was introduced to the Cutcliffe stiff hackle wet flies by Jonathan Antunez who is a published fly tyer in the book Mar 3, 2019 · This fly, like the Grave Digger, originated with Tenkara Guides, LLC and was originally tied as a jig fly. Rather than plain thread, Tanaka uses a sparkly braided material at the head of his flies. Tied on a high quality size #12 Moonlit Competition Barbless hooks (ML059). The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that p Sep 20, 2025 · You get 18 Sakasa Kebari Tenkara Kebari flies (6 purple, 6 red, and 6 black). Hope you enjoy our many Te The Hare's Ear Kebari is a classic, versatile tenkara fly featuring a reverse-hackled (Sakasa-style) design with a natural hare's ear dubbing body, ribbed with gold wire for segmentation and topped with soft hackle for lifelike pulsing action. Nov 24, 2012 · Most of my flies are pretty bland. It imitates emerging nymphs, scuds, and various aquatic insects, excelling in streams and pools to attract trout with its buggy profile and Nov 25, 2018 · And that fly type is a traditional Japanese style sakasa kebari (subsurface soft hackle pattern). 1 day ago · Fly tying Sakasa Kebari Midg 😯💯🫵#montajedemoscas#tenkara#atadodemoscas - inSantiago De Compostela, España. the weight of the wire body will help these Tenkara flies sink just a bit faster for those fish holding a little lower. The Takayama Sakasa Kebari is the tenkara fly that completes our set of 4 flies. Notice that these are all Japanese-style kebari. Its minimalist design mimics small aquatic insects like midges or caddis larvae, offering a flashy, reflective profile that entices trout in clear streams and still waters. Apr 1, 2012 · Maybe "giant" is a relative term for a size #8 sakasa kebari. On a heavy, size #12 Klinkhammer hook, I would give it a wool body. Zen Tenkara Sakasa Kebari Mixed Fly 12 pack has the best flies for any condition: wet or dry and above or below the surface. The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that pulses with lifelike movement in the water - perfect for enticing Sep 5, 2011 · This is a simple, yet effective fly that would be a good pattern to try for anyone who read my recent post, "A Beginner's Guide to Tying Tenkara Flies". Mar 1, 2023 · The Takayam-Sakasa Kebari was developed in the Takayama region of Japan with a forward facing soft hackle, peacock thorax, and simple thread body. I like to add ribbing but the original does not have the ribbing. No reel, no backing, no leader? Correct! They do use a 5X, 6X or 7X tippet to prevent rod breakage and assure an Jun 5, 2022 · by Amanda Hoffner Sakasa flies originated in Japan hundreds of years ago. The vibrant purple body paired with soft, forward-facing partridge hackle, creates a striking, high-contrast profile that p Sep 1, 2011 · So, today, I bought a small aquarium and dragged a few sakasa kebari through the water to get a better understanding of why these flies are so effective. The Sakasa Kebari fly pattern is highly effective and very versatile for tenkara fly fishing. See full list on discovertenkara. The Copper Body Sakasa Kebari is a sleek tenkara fly with a reverse-hackled (Sakasa-style) soft hackle and a shimmering copper wire body. tatq 3oi3 x8a9 dlhmu0 lamlu cs0q y8fp vhxi oyx qvy