jd_smith's Tenkara Fliesjd_smith's tenkara flies are the ones that got the ball rolling. He's the guy who got me started carrying other tenkara anglers' flies. Even though Kiwi's flies were the first to actually be available, it was jd_smith's idea. He has a unique set of flies, most of which are modifications of standard tenkara patterns as outlined on Fujioka-san's pages. However, just as I offer the Killer Bug, and Kiwi offers the Usual, both great flies that could find a place in any angler's box, jd_smith offers an Adams dry fly that is sure to get the notice of any trout in the area. The commentary for each fly was contributed by jd_smith himself. As with my flies and Kiwi's flies, they are $12 per half dozen. Purchases of one dozen or more flies will be shipped in the Minimalist Fly Box. Please note that international shipments will require additional postage (see Shipping section at bottom of page). Mino Gujo
Traditionally tied with neck hackle and "cotton of the flowering fern" or silk for the body, the Mino Gujo is a simple and very effective design.Mine are tied with neck hackle and pheasant tail with an added reverse wrapped copper rib for a segmented body and to add durability to the kebari. I use the very popular Tiemco 2488 hook in a size 12. It has a straight eye, 3x wide gape and 2x short shank designed for easier and more positive hook sets.
TenkaraBum tested. Fish approved. It can be fished on top as a dry during a visible hatch or just under the surface as an emerger when you see trout rising but aren’t actually breaking the surface. Mino Gujo - $12 per half dozen Size 12 Tiemco 2488 Blue Variant
I want to offer something very different here that I don’t think you can find anywhere else. A pattern tied in the two very distinct tenkara styles (Nikko and Sakasa) giving the angler the option to choose this pattern with the style he or she prefers.This is a kebari that I originally designed for a fly swap at the Tenkara USA form. I wanted to offer something very different from the popular “Sakasa” design and I also didn’t want it to look like the traditional “Nikko.” My Blue Nikko Variant strays in looks and designs from both and could easily be that “One Fly.” Adopting looks from a Blue Dun with its color, thin segmented body and large abdomen, but having a fat dark head and rear facing hackle like a Caddis, it's really an attractor pattern that’s great for searching water. I tie the Blue Nikko Variant on a Tiemco 3761 in a size 14. It has a down eye, 2x heavy wire to help it sink, and 1x long shank for an extended body. The Blue Sakasa Variant is the alternative to the Blue Nikko Variant. It’s tied with the same materials but on a different hook and a different profile than its brother the Nikko. I know there are many of you tenkara anglers who prefer the Sakasa design, and now you have the option of this very effective pattern in both of the popular Japanese styles. The Blue Sakasa Variant is tied on a TFS 2500 hook in size 12. It has a straight eye, 2x wide, 2x short, 2x heavy shank. This hook sets easily and stays put. It’s a very strong hook that will bring your fish to the net.
Use this fly when Mayflies and Caddis flies are present or hatching. Works well on the swing and rise as well as dead drift. Add some twitches with the rod tip to work the hackle and entice a strike. Blue Variant - $12 per half dozen Pale Morning Dun
The Pale Morning Dun (PMD) are small light colored mayflies. They are generally light yellow/olive in color. Often they hatch mid to late morning, but hatches are known to last till late afternoon. This gives anglers, even the lazy angler who would rather sleep-in than rise early, a great opportunity at some active trout.The advantage of the tenkara fishing style, (e.g. a tight line with a direct drag free connection to your fly) allows the angler to fish these patterns low in the water column, or high in the surface film. An angler can cover varying life stages and conditions with just one fly. The PMD variants are fine additions to my line up. They have a finely segmented quill body and an enlarged abdomen with a touch of flash in it. The enlarged lively hen pheasant hackles give the flies their irresistible action, which resembles a struggling insect. The PMD Sakasa is tied on the TFS 2500 hook, in size #12. It has a straight eye, 2x wide gape, 2x short, 2x heavy shank. This hook sets easily and stays put. It’s a very strong hook that will bring your fish to the net. The PMD Nikko is tied on the TMC 3761, in a size #14. It has a down eye, 2x heavy wire to help it sink, and a 1x long shank for an extended body. Pale Morning Dun - $12 per half dozen Green Butt Nikko
When I look at the profile of the traditional design for a Nikko kebari it has a strong resemblance to a pupating caddis. Since a caddis is a huge part of a trout’s every day diet, it made sense to offer a pattern that emulates the caddis.My Green Butt Nikko is tied with a green tag at the rear as an attractor or ovipositing female and dubbed rabbit for the body (not the traditional fern dubbing used in Japan) to give it that caddis profile. Pheasant hackle is wrapped facing to the rear to resemble the wings of the caddis fly and adds to a very buggy look. The fat head is formed with peacock herl and completes the caddis look. I tie the Green Butt on a Tiemco 3761 size 12. It has a down eye, 2x heavy wire to help it sink, and 1x long shank for an extended body. Use this kebari any time caddis are present in the water. It can be fished on a dead drift or on the swing and rise. Give some added twitches to bring it alive and entice some extra strikes. Green Butt Nikko - $12 per half dozen Size 12 Tiemco 3761 Prince
Originally called the “Brown Forked Tail” and later dubbed the “Prince.” Doug Prince of Monterey, California developed the Prince in 1941 for his favorite water, the Kings River in California. Over time the Prince has become one of the most widely used nymphs in America, and for good reason - because it works. The Prince has seen many variations through the years and now I have added two more in the most popular tenkara styles. I wanted to offer something very different here that I don’t think you can find anywhere else. A pattern tied in the two very distinct tenkara styles (Nikko and Sakasa) giving a tenkara angler the option to choose this pattern with the style of kebari he or she prefers. Straying a bit from the simplicity of some tenkara flies but retaining most of the redeeming qualities of the original pattern, my adaptations of the Prince into the Japanese kebari have proven themselves for me on many outings and are quickly becoming two of my favorites. The Prince Nikko and Prince Sakasa are very versatile and can be fished with a variety of different techniques, dead drift, swung in the current, fished in the surface film as a crippled emerger and twitched with the rod tip to give the added appearance of life. The Sakasa version is tied on the very popular Tiemco 2488 hook in a size 12. It has a straight eye, 3x wide gape, and 2x short shank, designed for easier more positive hooksets. The Nikko version is tied on a Tiemco 3761 in a size 12. It has a down eye, 2x heavy shank to help it sink and is 3x long for an extended body. Prince - $12 per half dozen Adams
What can be said about the Adams that hasn’t already been said? A classic attractor pattern that works in mountain streams like no other dry fly I have ever used. I learned early on as a fly fisherman that a size 16 Adams is one of those flies you just don’t leave home without. If you haven’t added this fly to your box yet, I strongly recommend you do. I tie the Adams on a Tiemco 100 dry fly hook in a size 16.If trout or blue gills are your quarries, then you’ll want to have some Adams in your arsenal. Adams - $12 per half dozen Size 16 Tiemco 100 Bird's Nest
The Bird's Nest is an old school impressionistic pattern developed by the late Calvert Bird of Reno Nevada. This nondescript pattern represents nothing specifically, but successfully passes for a variety of food forms. When Cal developed this pattern and realized just how effective it is, it’s said that Cal would hand them out to his friends and say with a certain smile, and a gleam in his eye, “Here try one of these”. Since the early days on those west coast waters, the Birds Nest has been working its way across the US and finding a place in many anglers fly boxes from coast to coast. Years ago when I discovered and first fished the Bird's Nest, I got really excited about how well it worked for me. It’s been one of my go to patterns ever since. Three years ago I got that same feeling again when I discovered Tenkara. Put the two together and…well… you get the hint. The Bird's Nest is tied on the TMC 3761 on a size #12 hook. Bird's Nest $12 per half dozen Klinkhamer
The Klinkhamer is a low riding surface fly. It’s parachute design gives the impression of an emerging insect trapped in the surface film. The low hanging thorax of the Klinkhamer keeps the fly from sliding to the side when a grayling or trout rises for the take. Hans van Klinken developed this fly for just that reason. It was the beloved Lady of the Stream, the grayling, which taught him that his traditional shoulder hackled flies, would often slide to the side of a rising grayling and he would (or rather the fish would) miss the take. He learned that with the fly hanging low in the surface film he hooked considerably more fish, and so the Klinkhamer was born. This Klinkhamer Special is tied with the brand new Daiichi 1167 hook in a size #14. This hook is specifically designed for the low riding Klinkhamer design and will improve your top water hookups. The parachute wing adds a visual aid to both spot the fly on the water and easily see the take of a fish. Klinkhamer Special - $12 per half dozen PaymentPayment is through Paypal but you don't need to have a Paypal account. You can use your credit card. PayPal payments will be made to chris at tenkarabum dot com. Credit card statements will read CM Stewart.ShippingDomestic shipping is covered by the flat $3 shipping charge added to all orders.International First Class Surcharge - $2 International Priority Mail Surcharge Return from jd_smith's Tenkara Flies to Tenkara Flies Return from jd_smith's Tenkara Flies to TenkaraBum Home |
