FLYMPH FORUM

To those of you who tie and fish wets with the hackle pointing forward of the hook eye instead of toward the bend - like the Tenkara-style flies (not Tenkara-style rods or rigging or actual fishing, just the flies) and some of La Fontaine's - do you see any difference in its fish attracting success vs. the more traditional method of hackling?
Hackling flies in that way has always intrigued me because I think it makes sense in a lot of situations. Never done it, though, and was curious.

Joe

Hi Joe,
Yes you can associate that style with Tenkara but it also has roots in France and Italy where it is known as the Valsesiana. The Italians tied this during the 1900's with stocking nylon thread died the appropriate colours. They also often had a different tying thread at the eye that that of the body.

I have a few of this style in my box (these are popular in the Pacific Northwest for Sea Run Cutts) and I find the biggest difference is in slower water. I like to fish it on an intermediate line and strip it in with short twitches which really activates the hackle. Can be very productive at times and this is about the only situation where I fish this style.

Donald Nicolson has quite a bit of information on his site in regards to the Alpine Spiders. http://www.dtnicolson.dial.pipex.com/page43.html

REE

I just recently got a couple photos of Valsesian flies from an angler who grew up in Valsesia and learned from his father. Beautiful flies.
http://www.tenkarabum.com/pesca-alla-valsesiana.html and http://www.tenkarabum.com/pesca-alla-valsesiana1.html

I have previously used tenkara-style flies and caught fish, but I can't say that they are any better than traditional soft hackles or flymphs.

Shoot, I have been tying those when the hackle twisted I didn't know they had a name.

They only have a name if you do it on purpose


Sakasa Kebari