Tenkara USA Fly Swap V

This Fall, Allan Cheateaux hosted and organized the Tenkara USA Fly Swap V. The theme for tying was “tie a tenkara interpretation of a classic western pattern.” I was lucky enough to be able to participate, tying a tenkara version of the Snipe and Purple fly. With seven participants, the swap was a great success and I now have 14 great flies to add to my fly box.

Allan Cheateaux, host of the Fly Swap V, tied a Hare’s Ear Nymph Variant, using hare’s mask dubbing, Hungarian partridge hackle and copper wire.

Hare's Ear Nymph Variant by Allan Cheateaux

Chris Kuhlow, of The North River tied a South Platte Brassie Sakasa Kebari on size 12 hooks.

South Platte Brassie Sakasa Kebari by Chris Kuhlow

Anthony Naples, of Casting Around tied a Pass Lake Wetfly Kebari. Altering the original western pattern by using black fur instead of a chenille body, snowshoe instead of calf tail wing and and orange tag instead of golden pheasant tippet tail.

Pass Lake Wetfly Kebari by Anthony Naples

Erik Ostander, of Tenkara Guides, LLC., tied a Purple Haze Kebari using purple thread and grizzly hackle.

Purple Haze Kebari by Erik Ostrander

Karel Lansky of, Tenkara on the Fly tied a sakasa kebari take on his Royal Coachman using size 12 hooks, red thread and wire, brown hen hackle and peacock herl.

Royal Coachman Sakasa Kebari by Karel Lansky

Albertyi tied a Glossosoma Caddis Nymph using copper wire.

Glossosoma Caddis Nymph

I tied a tenkara version of the Snipe and Purple using size 10 hooks and purple thread given to me by Chris Stewart. It was my first time using the thread, so I’m glad I got to show it off! As for the hackle, instead of my signature Purple Starling, I used regular Starling hackle.

(Sorry, No good picture of my fly!)

Snipe and Purple by Ashley Valentine

Altogether, the Tenkara USA Fly Swap V was a complete success. I wanted to thank everyone for working hard on all their flies. I’m very impressed with all of them and I can’t wait to try them out. Be sure to check out Karel Lansky’s Tenkara USA Fly Swap post and Chris Kuhlow’s here.