Article by Jerry Reitz
Stumbling upon a YouTube video by Tenkara USA, which showcased an engaging tutorial by Mr. Yuzo Sebata on the art of hand tying sakasa kebari style flies by the stream using simple materials (i.e. Size 8 hook, peacock feather, hackle, plumbers adhesive tape color black and pantyhose thread), sparked my interest to put my abilities to the test using his recommended materials and methods (or my interpretation of them, at least).
The shift from the comfort of a vice and contemporary tools to this age-old technique posed an initial hurdle. Yet, after several moments of trial and error—including a painful reminder of the sharpness of hooks—I gradually got the hang of (though not perfected) the craft of hand-tying flies. The ultimate test was yet to come: would these larger, insect-like creations (size 8) be able to lure and endure the discerning eyes of Pennsylvania trout?
My first journey to one of Pennsylvania’s picturesque native brook trout mountain streams would reveal the answer. Much to my pleasure, Mr. Yuzo Sebata’s advice held true. These large, insect-like flies were equally, if not more, effective than their carefully vice-tied counterparts. In the initial part of the stream, I managed to hook several elusive native brook trout—small but fiercely hungry.
I’ve since become a staunch advocate for the irresistible appeal of this pattern to fish. Even on a size 8 hook, these native brook trout found it impossible to resist the fly.
I even convinced Kim to give it a shot, and she too found success. Encouraged by this victory, I ventured to another cherished stream, home to both stocked and wild trout, where the fishing dynamics always demand a unique strategy.
However, within a few casts, I felt the familiar excitement of catching some impressive brown and rainbow trout. After an hour of exploring the waters, it was clear that my rendition of Mr. Yuzo Sebata’s hand-tied Sakasa Kebari was as effective here as it was on the previous stream.
To push my limits, I resolved that for the first half of this year’s fishing season, I would exclusively use these hand-tied large flies under all conditions on every trip, to see if I could lure all types of trout, be it wild or stocked.
After roughly six trips to various local streams so far, the answer is a definitive yes. However, my dedication to this challenge was put to the test on my latest trip to Pine Creek, where a significant hatch was underway, and trout were surfacing all around me. Despite the clear temptation, I stayed loyal to the one-fly style challenge and still managed to pull in some very decent brown and rainbow trout.
While a nagging voice kept wondering if I could have caught more fish had I switched to dry flies, this one-fly style approach presents a greater challenge and allows for more time spent fishing rather than swapping out flies.
A big thank you to Tenkara USA for sharing the video of Mr. Yuzo Sebata demonstrating this priceless fly-tying technique. It seamlessly aligns with the philosophy of using a single fly, line, and rod to catch as many fish as one wishes. If you have not had a chance to view this video, I suggest you take a look at it:
More updates to come, tight lines to all, and have a great season on the water!
Jerry Reitz, a native of Pennsylvania, developed a deep-rooted love for the outdoors at a young age. Growing up in the Nittany Valley, he spent his days exploring the limestone small mountain streams and honing his angling skills. In recent years, Jerry’s passion for fishing took an exciting turn when he discovered tenkara.
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We all need to keep looking back to the basics and to the elements that are at the heart of tenkara. We too often muddy the waters. I loved this video of Yuzo Sabata San when it first came out and even tried the fly myself.
I have since decided for my own tying though that I would do my best not to make flies with things that don’t break down. The plumber’s tape in this fly has a long half life in the wild. I am not being critical of this, only saying that we all have a part to play in keeping our streams and fish healthy.
A very nice article and I am inspired by how it reminded me of things I love about tenkara.