I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the materials I use to tie my tenkara flies and realized that I’ve been doing a bad job of posting them. So, from now on, I am going to try to post the complete recipe for all the flies I post in the future. Here’s the first of many more to come…
Hook: TMC 2499SPBL #10 or #12
Thread: Claret (or red) 8/0
Body: Claret (or red) 8/0 thread tapered to thorax
Rib: Fine gold wire
Hackle: Jungle cock spade feathers
You can easily substitute regular grizzly hackle for the jungle cock and it will look just as good (or better).
Nice fly. I’ve never used claret thread. Is there anything special about it compared to other threads like ultra thread?
Loften, claret is just the color–the thread has no special properties. It’s kind of a dark reddish/purplish color that is used in a lot of flies in the UK.
Very nice tie.
Thank you for the recipe and those to follow. If you get into a more difficult fly, could you do a video with it as well? I realize of course tenkara flies are pretty self explanatory.
Hi Mary,
Yes. I’ve been thinking about doing a tenkara tying video for a while so I will probably make one soon.
What is the differance of 4.5 Tenkara level line and Vanish Transition Fluorocarbon line in 17# test?
Hi Eddie,
See Daniel’s answer below. If it’s 100% fluorocarbon and the same diameter, there isn’t any difference in casting. The only difference is what Daniel says below about visibility. The only two place in the U.S. to get flurorocarbon you can actually see are Tenkara USA and Tenkara Bum. I have some sample of fluorocarbon I got from a company in Japan on the way (should be here tomorrow). It’s red, which might not be as high vis as the orange Tenkara Bum lines, but will certainly be more visible that most of the fluorocarbon you can get at places like Cabela’s, etc. I’ll post about it if it’s any good.
Nice fly Jason!
Eddie, if I can answer it, the main difference is the visibility. It’s very difficult to fish with fluorocarbon sold in stores here, even those marketed as high-visibility. They all tend to disappear very easily. That’s the main difference.
“If it’s 100% fluorocarbon and the same diameter, there isn’t any difference in casting.”
Jason, quick comment on this one too, there are actually other differences in castability, mostly related to how stiff the line is. Some lines are a bit too stiff even if made with the same material. One of the main reasons we chose our line was the castability, it’s a relatively soft line as tenkara level lines go. We’ve been working with a manufacturer in Japan on a new level line, which will be higher-vis and very good for casting. Expecting that at the end of February.
Daniel,
I’m confused. If two lines are the same material and the same diameter, how can one be stiffer than the other? I haven’t noticed a difference except between 100% fluorocarbon and “fake” fluorocarbon (a nylon core coated with fluorocarbon). Is that what you’re talking about?