The following is the second of three entries written about the recent Winter Kebari/Fly swap held by the Appalachian Tenkara Anglers Facebook Group. Amanda served as the “Swap Master” and provides a bit of “behind the scenes” in each post as well as shares a few flies by the 30+ participants! To see the first post, click here.
Part 2: The Early Returns
Article by Amanda Hoffner
Loving to tie kebari, I was excited to accept the role of swap master when Jason approached me… and away I went. I opened a PO box soon after speaking with him at my local USPS and was happy to start accepting packages filled with beautifully tied kebari! January 17, 2022 the swap was announced and not really knowing when people would send their packages, I just went about my days. Within a few days, January 23rd to be exact, I had received my first message from Don Lux with pictures letting me know that I was going to receive my first package soon.
This prompted me to go to the post office by the 29th of January and I was happy to have received not one but TWO packages! One package from Don Lux (Instagram @lux.don) and the other from Darin Hissam (Instagram @tenakra.wv).
After each package received, I attempted to let all the participants know when I received packages to create a network within the tiers that allows for a friendly environment to hopefully trust the process of the swap and increase participation in the future. It was work, but it was worth it because I have made several friends that have the same passion for tenkara, fixed line fishing, and tying as I do.
Upon opening these first few packages I was impressed and in awe of not only their well tied kebari, but how well they followed directions! Each neatly packaged and with return envelopes for easy process of returning their packages of kebari, I was able to efficiently send these back without much work on my part. Moving along, I was able to note even the slight variation from these perfectly packaged swap parcels would make for an interesting process in the end. However, I was able to move through the process of sorting, gathering, and returning within eight total hours. I separated the process into two days and it was overwhelming at first, but because I had created a spreadsheet early on I was able to sort through the details of 35 participants and 40 kebari quite quickly even being one person doing everything.
I refuse to pick any certain kebari to be my “favorite” since I feel that every single package I received had immaculately tied kebari in them. So, here are some more of the tiers with their kebari and what I enjoyed about them…
Nicely tied yarn body jun kebari. I love the natural colors.
The eyeless hook is definitely one to be admired. Really nice contrast with the colors you chose!
The contrast between the pheasant hackle and jackrabbit fur is stellar!
The wraps on your futsu are to be admired!
May have been called the Dirty Martini Kebari, but it was a very clean tie.
The grey thread with the grey sparkle for the collar. Really nice!
Love the colors of the ginger hackle and the peacock body!
JACK fly is nicely named but is anything BUT another caddis kebari. Love how the bead is behind the hackle. Nice touch.
Classic tie with minimal supplies. Well done.
Love a nicely tied peacock and grizzly jun. Not many jun kebari and this one is very well done!
Creative packaging and nicely tied sakasa. I prefer my hackle bushy. Very nice!
Amanda Hoffner, a half Japanese angler from Pennsylvania, began her tenkara passion when researching fly fishing methods from Japan. She can be found deep on a blue line in the Northeast of the United States fishing for native brook trout. Her Instagram name is @ladytenkarabum.
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Those are indeed some amazing kebari. Such a wide variety.
Love the Bracken Jun Kebari i think it would be great fly in my Australian waters