I recently got some #2 and #3 Owner Amano Tenkara hooks to play around with and thought I would share some info on them for anyone who is looking for smaller hooks for sakasa kebari. These hooks feature a slight down eye, short shank, wide gap and, are made of fairly heavy wire to help them sink. Unlike most standard wet fly hooks, the bend is square and slightly angled back which makes for a very distinctly Japanese looking fly. I don’t know about you but I love the radical bends Japanese hooks incorporate into their designs (somehow, they make the standard round bends seem uninspired). These are nice hooks and if you’re interested in trying them, here is a quick size comparison and some other quick notes…
The first thing you should know about the Amano hooks is that they only come in sizes #1 – #3. Since the Japanese hook sizing system is an enigma to most of us westerners, I thought it might be helpful to show them side by side with some more familiar hooks to gauge the size. There are so many variables in hook design that can skew the perception of their size (like shank length, gap, bend, etc.), perhaps a simple visual comparison is best. 1. #13 Daiichi 1500 Standard Wet Fly Hook, 2. #14 TMC 2457, 3. #2 Owner Amano, 4. #3 Owner Amano …
Hopefully, the picture above helps make some sense of how these hooks are sized (remember, in Japan, the small the number, the smaller the hook). While I normally tie my sakasa kebari in size #12 (in the American system), I can tell these will be great hooks for smaller patterns. One that immediately comes to mind would be Chris Stewart’s Little Dark Kebari. But other ideas might include small brassie-style kebari, or even just simple thread bodied flies. And somehow, given the diminutive nature of these hooks, starling hackle would seem like a perfect fit in the hackle department. More to come…
I agree 100%, these hooks look fantastic! Japan really knows what they’re doing when it comes to fishing small streams. Might have to order myself some of these hooks.
Jason,
Nice looking fly and nice hooks. I’m going to order some.
A timely story! I was trying to figure out those sizes last week.
Jason, you are a bad influence. The last post on eyeless hooks got me to put in an order for those. Now I am going to have to order some of these!
Hi Jason. here can I purchase/order these #2 and #3 Owner Amano Tenkara hooks? (Sorry if I missed a link). Thanks, Dan
Hi Dan, I got mine on eBay.
Thanks, will check. BTW, I’m originally from WNY but have lived in UT/CO for the past 25 years. Learned to fly fish on the Oatka and Wiscoy. Heard you worked at Bflo Outfitters. I know Bucky at Blue Ribbon and Doug Reed (Orvis). Hope all is well, Dan
Hi Dan, wow, small world. I grew up fishing the Oatka, Spring Creek, Wiscoy, East Koy, Genessee, etc. Doug Reed and his son Bill were my bosses when I worked for Buffalo Outfitters and The Orvis Shop. Those were golden days of WNY fly fishing for sure before the steelhead tribs turned into circuses and the trout streams were at 70 degrees. I miss those days. From what my friends back home tell me, they’re gone now. 🙁
My golden years in WNY go back to the early 1970s. However, this May 26 there was a good Green Drake hatch on the East Koy and a great sulphur hatch on the Oatka on May 29. Only had about 3 hours on each stream but had wonderful days with multiple fish including a 14″ holdover brown near the old Murphy Road bridge. Guess you never know. Always nice to re-visit.
BTW, I was able to order those hooks thru ebay. Thanks.