The Simplicity of Tenkara

Recently I  plunged into the world of Pinterest. What a mistake! Talk about a time waster. With that said what a valuable site with a wealth of information. I had no clue and feel a little foolish for waiting so long. After looking around Pinterest I started a bunch of boards dedicated to collecting different fly patterns for me to go back to and tie or just store the flies patterns. While looking at different flies I kept coming across Tenkara patterns. While I knew of Tenkara fishing I had never really looked at the patterns people were using and tying. So I though I would get back to the bench and tie up a few to try on a few small creeks I know of.

Once I started really looking at the Tenkara flies it amazed me how simple they are to tie. Most patterns call for just three materials. Basically all a Tenkara fly is a hook with a thread body and hackle that is swept forward over the hook eye.  Sometimes simpler is better and on small creeks that do not get a lot of fishing pressure I can see these working real well. Here is what I came up with.

Tenkara Olive

Tenkara Olive

Hook - Mustad 94840 #16

Thread - Uni 8/0 Olive

Hackle - Metz Dun

Step One

Start Thread at Hook Eye and Wrap Back Two Eye Lengths

Step Two

Tie In Hackle Feather

Step Three

Make Five Wraps of Hackle

Step Four

Push Hackle Towards Hook Eye and Wrap Thread to Form Cone of Hackle

Step Five

Form a Tapered Body with Thread

Step Six

Whip Finish Behind Hackle

Now take your new Tenkara flies out and catch yourself a nice brookie for breakfast.

Al's Foam Hopper

Well I guess I have ignored this blog for way too long. Time to get back to tying a few flies.

Well bluegill season is in full swing here in Michigan. I love fishing for these little buggers. They readily take just about anything you put in front of them and boy do they put up a great fight for such a little fish. Besides that they sure do taste great.  For me there is nothing better than pan fried bluegills with home made French fries and a side of cole slaw.  So simple and oh so delicious!  I'm drooling must thinking about it. Think I will have to go out and catch me a bucket load for dinner. Guess I should tie up a few flies to get the job done.

Back in 1999 www.flyanglersonline.com published an article by Al Campbell about foam panfish flies. Both flies in the article have worked well for me when fishing for bluegills. Tonight I figured I would tie up some of his Foam Hoppers. Not only does this pattern work for panfish but it has also worked well for me when fishing for trout during the hot summer months.

 

Al's Foam Hopper

 

 

 

Al's Foam Hopper

 

Hook - Mustad 9671 #4-14

Thread - Uni 6/0 Yellow

Body - Tan Closed Cell Foam

Wing - Elk Hair Tied The Same As Stimulator Wing 

Rib - Copper Wire

Under Body - Yellow Yarn

Legs - Yellow Rubber Leg Material

 

Step One

 

Start Thread

 

Step Two

 

Tie in a Quarter Inch Wide Strip of Foam Covering 3/4 of the Hook Shank

 

Step Three

 

Tie in Copper Wire

 

Step Four

 

Tie in Yellow Yarn

 

Step Five

 

Wrap Yarn Forward

 

Step Six

 

Pull Foam Forward Over the Hook and Tie Off at Starting Point. Make Sure the Foam Extends Over The Hook Bend

 

Step Seven

 

Wrap Copper Wire Forward in Even Wraps

 

Step Eight

 

Tie in Elk Hair Wing

 

Step Nine

 

Pull Foam Back and Tie Off. Trim Foam to Form a Small Tag

 

Step Ten

 

Tie in Rubber Legs on Both Sides of Hook

 

Step Eleven

 

 

Trim Legs and Whip Finish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Out of the Closet and a Winged Beetle

Well Laurie has finally relented and has let me out of the closest and let me set up my tying area in section of the family room. I guess I was taking to much valuable storage space being in the closet. No I can spend time with the family while tying. Lets see how long this lasts before she relents and lets me move into one of the spare bed rooms. After moving her old roll top desk to the basement family room and a few trips to Ikea I think my tying "room" is finally finished for now. What do you think of the new digs?  Having everything in the storage boxes is going to take a little getting used to, but I think it will help with keeping things organized. I am going to miss the pegboard though.

Well this weekend was the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo and I was lucky enough to get out of the house on Saturday to spend a few hours checking out all the new products, materials and catch a few seminars. One of the presenters this year was none other than A.K. Best. I have learned a lot from his books and was happy I could see him speak and tie in person. I did notice that A.K. kept mentioning his Winged Beetle pattern and almost every fish he showed were caught on this one pattern. I decided then and there that I would tie up a few and give them a shot. 

Winged Beetle

Winged Beetle

Hook - Mustad 94840 #10-14

Thread - Uni 8/0 Black

Tail - Dun Hen Hackle Tips Tied Delta Style

Shell Back - Black Foam

Hackle - Black Saddle Hackle Palmered

Body - Black Dubbing

Step One

Start Thread

Step Two

Tie in Wings Delta Wing Style. They Should be Flat on the Hook

Step Three

Tie in Foam for Shell Back

Step Four

Tie in Hackle

Step Five

Dub Body

Step Six

Palmer Hackle Forward

Step Seven

Bring Foam Forward and Tie in. Whip Finish.

Pike Jigs

I know I am not the only person who actually likes fishing for Northern Pike. While they are a slimy ugly looking fish, I have to admit they are very tasty once you get around the Y-Bones. I would have to rank Northern's well within my top five fish to eat, right behind Walleye, Perch and Bluegill. In case you are wondering number five would be catfish.  I'm getting hungry just writing this. I may just have to skip the first six hours of the Super Bowl pre-game tomorrow and hit to the ice to see if I can catch a couple northern's for dinner.

When not fly fishing one of my favorite ways to fish is jigging. I have had great success fishing for bass, bluegill, crappie and perch using jigs. As I was walking around the Ultimate Fishing Show last month I happened upon a vendor selling what they called Pike and Walleye jigs. These thing looked very interesting to me. The only problem I had was they were charging $3.50 each and in my opinion I could tie them for much less and of better quality. So here is my attempt of what they were offering. I cannot wait to give these a try this summer. If they work as well as I think they will, I may have to have a big fish fry at my house.

I tied this one in yellow but you can use any color combination you choose. For Pike red and white should be a winner also.

Pike Jig



Pike Jig

Hook - Lead Jig Head
Thread - Uni 6/0 Yellow
Tail - Black Bear
First Wing - Yellow Saddle Hackle
Rear Body - Spun Deer Hair
Second Wing - Yellow Saddle Hackle
Mid Body - Medium Yellow Chenille
Upper Body - Spun Deer Hair

Step One

Start Thread

Step Two

Tie in Bear Hair Tail

Step Three

Tie In Far Side Hackle Wings

Step Four

Tie In Near Side Hackle Wings

Step Five

Stack Deer Hair with Tips Pointing to Hook Bend on Bottom

Step Six

Stack Deer Hair with Tips Pointing to Hook Bend on Top

Step Seven

Spin Two Clumps of Deer Hair

Step Eight

Trim Hair and add Wings like in Steps Three and Four

Step Nine

 Tie in Chenille and Wrap 2-3 Turns

Step Ten

Stack Deer Hair on Far Side of Hook With Tips Pointing to the Hook Bend To Create Fins

Step Eleven

Stack Deer Hair on Near Side of Hook With Tips Pointing to the Hook Bend To Create Fins

Step Twelve

Spin Two Clumps of Deer Hair and Whip Finish

Trim Deer Hair to Finish

Top Side of Jig

Another Hard Water Jig

I may be one of the few that was not happy about the warm weather we had last week. The combination of the warm weather and the rain really put a hamper on the possibility of getting any ice fishing in. After the last fish dinner Laurie is wanting me to get out as soon as possible. Now that the weather has turn cold again she may get her wish soon. Hopefully this weekend the ice will be safe again. I'm not counting on it though. It's looking like next weekend will be a better bet. 

While I am waiting for the ice to harden I should tie up more jigs. Another pattern I saw while at the fishing show last weekend was another simple jig pattern consisting of a small jig head and hackle wings.  Simple but it looks like it will be very effective. Now I just need to find where I can purchase these jig heads in bulk. I know just the place to sell them... 

Hackle Wing Ice Jig

Hackle Wing Ice Jig

Hook - 1/64 or 1/80 oz Jig Head

Thread - 8/0 Uni 

Wing - 4 Chinese Neck Hackle 

Step One

Start Thread

Step Two

Tie in Two Hackle Feathers on Far Side of Hook

Step Three

Tie in Two Hackle Feather on Front Side of Hook and Whip Finish

Hard Water and Ice Jigs

I don't know about anybody else but I do other fishing besides just fly fishing. Especially when it comes to putting a little food on the table. While Pike, Walleye, Perch and Bluegill can all be caught on a fly rod, I tend to chase them with more "conventional" equipment. This time of year the lakes should be frozen over and the hard water fishing begins. Tip-up and jigging rods rule the day.

This past weekend I was fortunate to attend the Ultimate Fishing Show in Novi, Mi. While checking out some of the ice fishing equipment and lures for sale I noticed a small ice fishing jig for perch.  All they are is a small painted jig head with Krystal Flash tied to the hook. Very simple tie. Instead of purchasing the completed jigs I figured I would pick up a few of the jig heads and tie up a few of my own. Here is what I came up with.

Krystal Flash Ice Jig

Krystal Flash Ice Jig

Hook - 1/80 or 1/64 oz Jig Your Choice of Color

Thread - 8/0 Uni To Match Body

Body - Krystal Flash Your Choice of Color

Step One

Start Thread

Step Two

Tie in Krystal Flash and Whip Finish

Step Three

Trim Krystal Flash to Desired Length