Can there be such a thing as “American Kebari”?
These three flies have been developed and tested in waters from South Carolina to Maryland along the Appalachian Range. They are directly inspired variations of patterns accepted as traditional Japanese kebari. They are fished on fixed line rods. I’m using these flies of mine as representative of this idea and nothing more. I’m declaring nothing.
We have all mimicked the Amano or Ishigaki kebari to start tying these ass backward flies. From that came the likes of the “Copper Kebari“, “Red Ass Monkey“ and the “Killer Kebari“ that are now replicated frequently by others. If flies like this are created outside of Japan and are ‘kebariesque’ in design, then can they be called “kebari”?
We have developed our own catalog of accepted kebari patterns that we use on our tenkara and other fixed line rods. Do we have the makings of our own “My Best Streams” collection? As in Japan, is there distinct variation across American flies that they may represent different geographical regions? This same idea could apply in Italy, the United Kingdom, and others as well.
What patterns do you think best represent the “American Kebari”? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This post was adapted from a September 2016 entry in the Appalachian Tenkara Anglers Facebook Group.
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I am really happy with my “Matchstick Sakasa Kebari”
The name “Grave Digger” is about as American as I can imagine.
I have had great luck with the Red Ass Monkey in both size six and ten for brown trout. For brookies I usually use a size twelve.
Just having fun when tying: “I wonder if this fly will work?” – I developed three flies in 12 and 14 that are consistently successful in the Tahoe Sierra streams.