Sawyer’s Killer Bug

Hook:            TMC 2302 or Mustad S80-3906 in  #14-18
                      (Tied here with a 3906) 

Thread:         Copper wire in size Brassie or Small
                     (Size 16-18 tie better using small wire)

Body:           Chadwick’s 477 wool substitute

The Sawyer’s Killer Bug is famous in the U.K. and Europe but only recently has this pattern gained a following in the U.S.  This fly is famous for its catching fish and mythological properties of Chadwick’s 477 yarn used in its construction.

I became aware of the Killer Bug through English fly tier and author Oliver Edwards who featured Sawyer’s patterns in his DVD Essential Skills: Search and Sight Fishing released in 2001.

Frank Sawyer was a river keeper on the River Avon at Lake in Wiltshire in the U.K. along with being a writer, and inventor of such flies as the Pheasant Tail Nymph. 

Sawyer’s pattern is simple and effective, using in many cases only two materials.  In the Killer Bug and Pheasant Tail nymph, he used copper wire the thread and weight.  Both patterns are brilliant in their simplicity and effectiveness.

The killer bug was developed by Sawyer’s to manage the grayling numbers on the River Avon.  Back then Grayling were considered vermin, and gentleman would only angle for trout, never grayling.

In alkaline chalk stream, one of the main food sources is freshwater shrimp and the Killer Bug was designed to imitate shrimp and scuds.  Today in the U.S. it’s an effective imitation for larva (crane and caddis), scuds, cress bugs and shrimp.

The originally the Killer Bug was tied Chadwick's 477 darning wool and reddish brown copper wire.  For some, the original Chadwick's 477 wool has mythical fish-catching properties with lengths of the wool selling for hundreds of dollars.  Production of Chadwick’s wool ceased in 1965, which only added to its value.

The Killer Bug was named by Sawyer's friend Lee Wulff, but its popularity never quite took in the U.S.

By the time I found out about the “Bug” there was no wool to purchase.  I was on a mission find a suitable substitute.

Veniard’s sells their version wool (Veniard 477) but without a sample of the genuine article, it was nearly impossible to know if it was a good match.

My first substitute took the form of a cutting up an old rag wool sweater that now too small, which worked well.   Next, I found some old craft yarn “Fun with Fibers” that had a viable candidate but was as rare as the Chadwick’s.  Then I started to use Patons Classic Wool Natural Mix (00229), which I found at Michael’s.  Then I struck gold, one blogger from the U.K. sent me a yard of Chadwick’s 477, now I had the yarn to use as a reference.

Many other bloggers and friends pointed me in the direction of finding a suitable substitute. Chris Swart (TenkaraBum), Juan Ramirez (The Hopper Juan), and Jason Klass (Tenkara Talk).

Here is a list of yarns you can use to tie your killer bug.

Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift: Oyster (Color #290)

Patons Classic Wool Yarn (00229) Natural Mix

Regia Darning Yarn: Light Camel Marl

Veniard Chadwick Wool - 477 (Killer Bug Yarn)

Places to purchase these yarns and your local craft or yarn shop.

http://www.tenkarabum.com/fly-tying-materials.html

http://threeriverstenkara.com/?product=regia-darning-yarn

http://www.performanceflies.com/product-p/v-yarn-c477.htm

Good luck and tie some Killer Bugs for your next fishing adventure.

Lou DiGena

Fly and Fin

© 2017 Louis DiGena All Rights Reserved.

Chris Stewart ties a Takayama Sakasa Kebari

Chris Stewart is know as the Tenkara Bum, he got in to fishing Tenkara by accident by way of English Spider patterns.  In researching North Country soft hackle patterns he was drawn to there simplicity and beauty. During that research he came across David Webster's book, The Angler and the Loop Rod which talked about using a long rod, no reel and a horsehair line tied to the rod tip. He also came across a mention of Tenkara (Japanese Fly Fishing), which is very similar to angling with a loop rod.  Those of you who read the blog knows that in the The Compleat Angler, Piscator used only a rod and line to catch the first fish. (Diving into Tenkara)

Chris experimented with crappie rods, because at the time Tenkara rods were not available in the U.S., in 2008 when he got his first Tenkara rod.  At the time information on Tenkara was hard to come by and most of it was in Japanese. Chris goal in starting Tenkara Bum is to provide the information he wish he had when he was started out.

He's a featured tier in “Tying Tenkara Flies" which is put out by Learing Tenkara.

Chris goes on spreading the word of Tenkara through his blog Tenkara Bum, where shares information on all things Tenkara, from rod reviews, how to ties traditional Tenkara flies, sharing Tenkara stories and sell everything you would need to get in to Tenkara fly fishing.

Here Chris ties the Takayama Sakasa Kebari, a legendary sakasa kebari originating in the Takayama region of Japan. I hope you enjoy the video, filmed at the 2012 International Fly Tying Symposium.

Tenkara is not Dapping

Daniel Galhardo of Tenkara USA demonstrates and teaches Tenkara casting techniques at the Somerset Fly Fishing Show.  Ask you can seen in this video Tenkara involves casting not lowering your fly in to the water (dapping). 

In order to dap (traditionally) you need wind to position the fly on the water and help make the fly bob on the surface.  In Tenkara you are casting in much the same way you cast a western fly rod.  The difference is you have a fixed amount of line.  With that fixed line you can deliver your fly with pin point accuracy, something you can't do when you "dap."

Authentic Tenkara Net Auction to aid Japan Relief Efforts

In the wake of the recent earthquake and tsunami TenkaraUSA is auctioning off a very rare authentic Tenkara net.

The net was made by Ikichi-san, one of the last tenkara net makers in Japan. It is made from a single branch of the Kaya tree. Tenkara nets are becoming rarer with few makers and fewer trees with the right shapes and angles. This may be the only opportunity to acquire this type of net in the US.

The net is being auctioned on eBay and will end on March 19, 2011 at 19:54:02 PDT.  To bid on this net and aid in the Japan relief efforts go to http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-Authentic-Tenkara-Net-Japan-Relief-donation-/320670445593.

100% of the proceeds will go to the relief efforts.

Tenkara Summit, August 27th, 2011

Tenkara Summit, August 27th, 2011
in West Yellowstone, MT.

Tenkara USA is holding it's first Tenkara Summit in West Yellowstone, MT on Saturday August 27th, 2011.   This one day summit will be hosted by Tenkara USA, with support from Backpacking Light, Tenkara Bum.  The keynote speaker is  Dr Hisao Ishigaki, who will takk and demonstrate Tenkara techniques.  Other participates are Chris "Tenkara Bum" Stewart, Craig Mathews (Blue Ribbon Flies), Ryan Jordan (Backpacking Light), Tom Sadler and more.

For registration and information on the summit go to:  http://www.tenkarausa.com/summit.php

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, August 27th, 2011
Location: Holiday Inn, West Yellowstone
315 Yellowstone Avenue
West Yellowstone, MT 59758

Tenkara USA negotiated a rate at these two hotels:

Holiday Inn, (406) 646-7365, $179.00 (2-Queen beds)
Gray Wolf Inn & Suites, (406) 646-0000, $149.00 (2-Queen beds)

Tenkara on the Madison with Craig Mathews

I was turned on to YellowStoneMedia from a TenkaraUSA, who posted a link to "Winter on the Madison River Craig Mathews and a Tenkara rod"video.  Beside this video there are high quality shots of Grizzlies, Bull Elk Bison and Otters.  Not to mention fly fishing videos in the Yellow Stone region. After viewing "Winter on the Madison River Craig Mathews and a Tenkara rod" I contacted YellowStoneMedia for permission to post this video and they said yes.

So here is Craig Mathews fishing Tenkara on the Madison River in the dead of winter.

Enjoy.

Tenkara: High Sticking

Here is another video of Rick fishing Tenkara.

You can see the line and drift control you can achieve when fishing Tenkara. It would have been nice if Rick landed this fish, but that's why we call it fishing.

The one down side I see with Tenkara is once you touch the line to land the fish you lose the spring of the rod. Allowing the fish to pull or break off. Rick commented how the fish went bonkers (usually a massive head shake) when he grabbed the line. This seem to be a problem with fish over 18 inches.

Tenkara: Nymph Style

I've been trying to get out with the camera to do some filming for the longest time. Finally, a good weather day and a friend to film mid week (to many anglers out on the weekend).

So here is a short video of my friend Rick fishing Tenkara and landing a 14 inch Brown Trout.

Enjoy.

Circa 1870 Tenkara Scene - "American Sporting Scene - Trout Fishing "

This is another print from the Library of Congress's digital collection that I found while doing my Tenkara research.  As you can see it is a 19th century scene showing men and women on the bank of a river "Tenkara" fishing for trout.  This lithograph is circa 1870 by John Walsh & Co..  The original measure size D (roughly 14" x 20").  I did clean up the image removing the patina.

Enjoy

Great Tenkara Site - Traditional Japanese Fly Tenkara

While doing research on traditional Japanese Fly Fishing "Tenkara" I came across a wonderful site by Yoshikazu Fujioka, Trout and Seasons of the Mountain Village.

On the site you'll find information the the history of Tenkara, his favorite streams in Japan, the U.S. and New New Zealand, and his art work acrylics and watercolors (which he is best know).

Here are a few links to his site:

Trout Streams of the Mountian Village;

My Best Streams, Japanese Fly "Tenkara";

and

Traditional Japanese Fly Tenkara.


Enjoy!

Tenkara - Yamame Rod arrived in the mail.

After a long day I found my new Tenkara rod, lines and hat waiting in the mail box.  I can't wait to get it out on the water.  Now what excuse to use at work?

Diving into Tenkara

I purchased my first Tenkara rod and line from TenkaraUSA.com.  The Jersey Angler turn me on to this traditional Japanese fly fishing method.  It's a great way of delivering your flies to the fish and loads of fun.

Fishing "Tenkara" only requires only a rod and line, much like in Izaak Walton's time. In The Compleat Angler.

 Piscator said to Venator:

"And I will then give you direction for the making and using of your flies: and
in the meantime, there is your rod and line; and my advice is, that you
fish as you see me do, and let's try which can catch the first fish". 

You'll can see from the engraving below no reel.

       "Izaak Walton and his scholar" 

by American illustrator Louis John Rhead (1857-1926).
Wood engraving.

This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs Division under the digital ID cph.3b34920

Jersey Angler and Tenkara take 2

My buddy Jersey Angler posted this comment on his blog with regards to my video post.

"I like how he gets me on film almost falling on my ass but doesn't show me landing the fish.  Thanks buddy"!

So here is the second take.

Landing the Rainbow.

Jersey Angler and Tenkara

Got my first taste of Tenkara a few weeks ago while fishing with "Jersey Angler" here is some of the video I shot.

Nice little Bow. "Correction a little Brown"

Another Bow taken.