Tenkara USA Kebari Flies

Ishigaki Kebari

These are the tenkara flies used by renowned tenkara angler, and leading authority on tenkara in Japan, Dr. Hisao Ishigaki. For the last 10 years, Dr. Ishigaki has used this one tenkara fly pattern exclusively, and has continued catching as many fish as he ever did. The Ishigaki Kebari (Ishigaki fly) fully embodies the simple spirit of tenkara fly fishing, where more emphasis is placed on the technique of the angler, not on the gear he uses.

Amano Kebari

This is the only tenkara fly used by Mr. Katsutoshi Amano, a name readily recognized by tenkara practitioners in Japan. Like most tenkara masters in Japan, Mr. Amano sticks with one fly pattern, and his entire box is filled with the same exact fly - same size, same color. This tenkara fly comes alive when underwater, especially if pulsated.

Mr. Amano's favorite way to fish it is to cast slightly upstream and do a 4-count up and down motion following the fly downstream. He fishes it under the surface, and when the fly is pulled up its hackle opens up, when relaxed the hackle closes.

Oki Kebari

Many tenkara anglers in Japan favor larger tenkara flies, even for trout in mountain streams. With faster flowing waters, larger flies give fish a good opportunity to see it and the potential high calorie intake is too much for them to resist.

Particularly effective in fast water, or when the bugs are bigger, this size of tenkara fly should be in every tenkara angler's fly box. The Oki Kebari (literally "Big Fly") is a pattern developed by Tenkara USA® founder, Daniel Galhardo. It combines several attributes from tenkara flies he's learned from different teachers: larger size, soft hackle and peacock herl collar on a barbless hook. The forward-facing hackle also ensures a very lively fly underwater. This tenkara fly can be a very effective "secret weapon".

Takayama Kebari

The Takayama Sakasa Kebari is the tenkara fly that completes our set of 4 flies. Offered in size 16, it's our smallest tenkara fly.

Unlike in Western fly fishing, where a lot of people believe a super small fly is necessary, tenkara anglers hardly ever go any smaller than a size 16 for their fly. The size 16 fly will be handy for those days when a fish is rising to the fly but not taking it, or in waters with a little more pressure and pickier fish