Name Your Kebari

by Les Albjerg
(Caldwell, Idaho)

TenkaraBum to me is not only about the gear, but also about pushing the envelope. That said, Tenkara traditionally is about a fixed line rod, a basic line, and a kebari. So, I would love to hear from the readers what kebari you like to fish and why.

I will begin. The kebari I most often fish with is the Keeper Kebari. I have tied it on hooks from size 6 to 8. One of my favorite hooks has been a size 7 carp hook that I bought on sale from England. I have used black and peacock yarn. The trout seem to almost always just slam this fly. I have had very few subtle takes. It has been a great smallmouth bass fly. It is the fly I caught my first carp on.

So, name your Kebari!

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.

We've all had situations where seriously chewed up flies kept catching fish after fish after fish. It is no sin to tie flies that come off the vise looking seriously chewed up.

Seriously, all the hooks sold on TenkaraBum.com, whether packaged as loose hooks or incorporated into flies, are sharp - or as Daiichi says on their hook packages, Dangerously Sharp. Some have barbs, which make removal from skin, eyes or clothing difficult. Wear eye protection. Wear a broad-brimmed hat. If you fish with or around children, bend down all hook barbs and make sure the children wear eye protection and broad-brimmed hats. Be aware of your back cast so no one gets hooked.

Also, all the rods sold on TenkaraBum.com will conduct electricity. Do not, under any circumstances, fish during a thunder storm. Consider any fishing rod to be a lightning rod! Fishing rods can and do get hit by lightning!