Dry flies for the Tenkara minimalist

Hi.

I've recently developed a keen interest in Tenkara. Allow me to say that I've lived in Colorado for a couple of years and I am aware that an individual can use a larger variety of fly styles other than those labeled Tenkara.

Here's my question, I'd really like to tie a minimalist mayfly & caddis imitation for fishing waters like the Frying Pan. I"d like for it to be a simple pattern where a hook size or color scheme variation can be quickly altered at the vise.

I was thinking of a simple tail of spade hackle, dubbed body and collar of wound hackle.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Look at a CDC and Deer, I tye it in all sizes and color combo's to meet the hatch. With Tenkara it is one of my go to flies the year around.

I agree with the CDC and Deer. Or you can use Elk. For a mayfly pattern, you can't beat a Parachute Adams. Easy to tie and you can use different colored dubbing.

Your concept will work well in Colorado and collar hackle patterns are universal. For ultimate simplicity, you could use a very limited color selection - Adams grey body and grizzly hackle.

Personally, I prefer parachutes. They are easier to see, float well and seem to work better for some hatches. Standard parachute patterns catch a lot of fish, but I use Klinkhammer style curved hook parachute patterns more often. In fact, I fish curved hook parachutes all year long in Colorado, varying size, body color and thorax dubbing. I even use this style for ant patterns.

I'll add another vote for the CDC&Elk/deer which only uses CDC, deer hair, hook and thread and can be tied from teeny to pretty big. It works for caddis hatches, mayfly hatches and as a searching fly. I don't think you need any color variations, so just a good selection of sizes.

Here's a Tenkara Bum article on it: http://www.tenkarabum.com/cdc-and-elk.html
Hans Weilenmann, originator and forum member, video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJyIbgKYHwY

If you can stick to this simple scheme, my hat's off to you. Although I aspire to simplicity, I must confess, I'm a pattern junky.

Good luck!