Monday, September 25, 2017

Reversed Soft Hackle Flies aka "Kebari"

The reversed tied soft hackle fly, and known by it's other name Kebari. Tenkara has brought these simple flies to the forefront here in America over the years. Tenkara is a very old form of fly fishing from Japan. It is highly effective and I believe it has a great deal to do with the flies used and the way they are presented. I do not fish the traditional Tenkara style but I do use the Kebari style of fly. These flies are simple in construction, using a few materials one can create many forms of insect life.

Below are a few of the Kebari, reversed soft hackle flies that I tie and use.


"Yellow Body Dun"...yellow thread forms the body, with a dun hackle wrapped in reverse.


"Olive Body, Mottled Hen"...olive thread with a mottled hen feather wrapped in reverse.


"Yellow Body, Peacock and Pheasant"...Yellow Thread, peacock herl, and a pheasant feather wrapped in reversed. Just a note...notice how many variations in color come from the one pheasant feather....the fish do.


"Burlap Body, Peacock and Pheasant"...this fly uses a thread body made of burlap, a peacock thorax and a pheasant feather wrapped in reverse.








28 comments:

  1. Nice ties, Alan. Do you swing them with your regular fly rod or do use a Tenkara rod?

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    1. William Shuck
      Thanks
      Bill I use a conventional fly rod.

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  2. The word kebari essentially means "bug". The reversed hackle fly is more properly referred to a sakasa kebari, or a reversed hackle bug. Yours look excellent! Many kebari have hackle similar to traditional wet flies, and some even have stiff hackle reminiscent of western dry flies (even though they may be fished subsurface).

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    Replies
    1. Tom Davis
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      Tom thank you for some insight into these wonderful flies. I have not tied them with stiffer hackle but I will soon.

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  3. Flies that are near and dear to me....very nicely tied.

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    1. Chris "Kiwi" Kuhlow
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      I figured I hear from you. The flies you gave me were the start of my interest in Tenkara flies.

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  4. Nice job on the flies. Could be you're leaning toward the "dark side".

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    1. Mark Kautz
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      Mark the "dark side" it is, especially when the trout approve.

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  5. Alan - these flies have always fascinated me in their similarity to the north country spiders. What is so interesting to me is that we see a similar solution to fly design from two very divergent sources, the only difference being the western tradition has the hackle facing the tail and the eastern tradition toward the head.

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    1. Mark Wittman
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      Mark they are so close and yet wonderfully different.
      I like them because they cannot be fished the "wrong" way. And their simplicity really resonates with me.

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  6. Alan
    Simple, effective, deadly!! Beautiful ties!!

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    1. TROUT1
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      Pete those three words sum it up very well.

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  7. Nice ties Alan, am slowly working my way throw everything Iv'e missed in the last few weeks of being on holiday, hope your well my friend .

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  8. Hi Alan, Catskill drys and North country wets and the famous American patterns appeal to me. I'm not a fan of Tenkara syle flies or Tenkara style fishing. Just my dos centavos.

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    1. John Dornik
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      John I love those classic patterns to, but Tenkara flies have a place in my box. Man they are effective.

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  9. There we go; tenkara flies I can get behind! Specifically the last two; love that burlap tie, Alan. Minimalism and simplicity have their place in our world;...I just can't seem to tie that way.

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    1. mike
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      Mike the burlap seems to fit in with the simplicity of these patterns. Wait until my next post when the results show.

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  10. Alan, I have never tried that style of fly fishing but it sure is intriguing. I would love to see how that reverse hackle reacts on the swing and how trout would react to that method. I'm always looking for a new method or fly style to try. Thankyou, beautifully done.

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    Replies
    1. Brad Basehore
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      Brad I don't have any of the tenkara gear only the flies. They seem to work well using conventional fly rods especially on small streams. You can't beat the simplicity that is tenkara.

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  11. The tenkara sekasa kebari flies are very simple but effective, much like North Country Spiders. As usual, nice looking flies, Alan. I do like the last one with the burlap body.
    Those hackles give all those flies a very buggy look.
    I've been playing with tenkara rods over the last couple of years. Not to the exclusion of my western style fly gear but I've found it to be a lot of fun, especially on some of the tiny creeks that I like to fish. It does not seem to be as popular here in OZ as it is in the US. I've yet to meet another tenkara fisher out on the stream.
    Kindest Regards,
    Steve.

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    1. Steve Hynes
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      Steve so you have been testing the waters so to speak with tenkara. The thought of trying it has crossed my mind but I have not pulled the pin. I do very much love the flies not only for their looks but their effectiveness. I have only encountered two anglers fishing tenkara in my neck of the woods.

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  12. Alan
    I've found that dead drifting any of these patterns can be really effective. Do you ever use a floatant with any of these patterns? Great job at the vice--thanks for sharing

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    1. Bill Trussell
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      Bill dead drifting is a deadly method for sure. I often fish them in this manner. I don't treat the flies with floatant.

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  13. I love those flies, Alan. I imagine they would be great emerger patterns. Beautifully tied.

    Sam

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    1. Parachute Adams
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      Sam emergers yes, and also a drowned insect. Pretty versatile.

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  14. Alan, these flies Aka Kebari or Sakasa Kebari are very well made, I have tied them alike although with a heavier hook since there is a lot of wind here and I have been very enthusiastic, I use them only with my traditional cane.

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    Replies
    1. Armando Milosevic
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      Armand the heavier hook is understandable considering the strong winds.
      I also fish them with conventional fly rods, they work very well.

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