Dry flies for the Tenkara minimalist

[3fhobbyist]

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?

[narcodog]

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.

[anglerdave]

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.

[Bruce Norikane]

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!