Tenkara Dry Fly.

[springerman]

 Hello There,
I am new to both the Forum and Tenkara.  I started in May but the Spring was cold and fish not very responsive.  I have had help from various people including Daves.  I had a day with the Discover Tenkara lads PG & JP.  Learnt a tremendous amount.  If you haven't had a day with them give it a try.  You will not regret it.
I have two rods a 13' Tenkara Centre UK SAWA and an Esoteric 12' which I got yesterday.  Both are 6.4.
I got into Tenkara as I thought it a great way to fish a dry fly.  I know there are other applications.  I use Klink's and Para's which I think are great dry flies.
However, I wanted something else, more of a "Tenkara" dry fly.  There is a fly called a Mole Fly.  Very similar to the Tenkara fly tied by Davie McPhail in his video on Youtube.  Instead of the reverse hackle you tie an ordinary dry style hackle getting the volume similar to a Klink.  The fly sits in the water film like a letter T.  The hook, TMC 100, hanging down.  Your tippet is clear of the water.  Ideal when you want to keep everything off the water.  The fly is just a template.  Vary the colour of hackle and body to match what you want.
The Mole Fly was featured in Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine, January 2009 & tied by Neil Patterson.  There are many other similar flies tied with CDC.  This fly is more robust and not a one fish fly.
I have found that if you use a fluorocarbon leader and let it sink you can pull the fly underwater and it becomes a Sakasa Kebari......well nearly, but it works.
Give it a try.
Springerman.

[daves]

Glad you're getting well into Tenkara. I've never tried a Mole Fly, must have a look at the tying. As for CdC flies, I find them very durable & if treated properly they are not 'one fish flies': Treat the CdC with a very thin film of CdC oil or Roman Moser Miraclefloat (just a drop spread thinly over your fingers then rubbed on) or if you prefer brush with Frog's Fanny powder (archers' fletching powder). After a fish has been caught give the CdC a rinse to remove any fish slime, dry in a piece of kitchen paper, give it a rub/blow to fluff up the fibres & treat with the floatant again.
All the best, Dave

[springerman]

Hi Dave,
I think I was a bit unfair to CDC flies.  I try to use them when I fish.  I know you can dry them etc, but thanks for the additional information re the treatment of CDC.
Springerman.

[daves]

You're welcome. I use CdCs for about 70% of my dry fly fishing. The fish love them. I particularly like the following patterns.

F Fly in sizes 20 to 10, IOBO Humpy in sizes 26 to 16, Shuttlecock in sizes 26 to 16, my own Minimalistic Micro-midge in sizes 24 to 30 (just a thread body & tiny tuft of CdC)

[paul1966]

I like the cdc elk or cdc deer hair. It works everywhere I've used it. I've just come back from the lake district where I caught lots of wild brownies in the tarns. I used it last night on my local river and caught some nice brownies and a shoal sewin. It's virtually the only dry I use. It's very easy to tie and floats well. I know it's one of Chris Stewart favourites so it works in the USA too.

[daves]

I use a basic (no hackle) Elk Hair Caddis as an alternative to the F Fly in situations where a light coloured fly is needed.

[springerman]

Thanks paul1966.
I was thumbing through something the other day and that very fly caught my eye.
Be sure I will tie a couple and let you know how I get on.
Thank you.
Springerman

[adric]

I am a fan of CDC flies because they are easy to tie and to my eyes look realistic.
Richard

[paul1966]

Daves are you referring to the hank of hair fly? I use that one too it's got to be the easiest dry fly there is to tie and it's very effective.


www.azflycasters.org/Archives/Fly%20Recipes/Hank%20of%20Hair.pdf

[flatsghost]

Paul
Have just looked at the link - how easy is that to tie! I would guess that it would sit quite low in the water which I believe would make it really attractive. I love the Elk hair and use it as a 'prospecting' fly regularly on when fishing New Zealand style. Great profile to the fish is my guess.
Glyn

[adric]

just looked at it even I could tie it. will try some.
Richard

[daves]

The no hackle/basic Elk Hair Caddis I tie is very similar to the Hank of Hair Fly except I dub a body, usually Hare's Ear or spiky orange dubbing. I've never found a water where it doesn't work well (Alaska, New Zealand, Slovenia, Sweden, Poland, USA & others). I usually use bleached Elk since it is easy to see.