I recently got from
some Japanese tenkara hooks from Tenkarabum that feature no hook eye; instead you attach a length of cord, line or silk braid to the hook to create a loop so that you can attach your tippet. Intrigued by the concept and some pictures of really cool flies I found on
Japanese sites, I decided to give it a try and tie some.
The below is sort of a "how-to" - or at least how I approached the tying process. As always, excuse the somewhat bad quality of the pictures, I am working with a simple point and shoot camera.
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/-JOh18NPMH4E/T0XAQYXMGEI/AAAAAAAAEwk/TzQKpkrxQxY/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%252819%2529.JPG) |
The Hooks - Gamakatsu Amago and Owner Yamame |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHydeahcnZA/T0XAPzh3KCI/AAAAAAAAEwg/ga2taqfKbN4/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%252820%2529.JPG) |
The Loop - I am using some white fly line backing that I had laying around |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ahxHh9C60k/T0XAPXryvMI/AAAAAAAAEwc/ElrGQ44LLjM/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%25281%2529.JPG) |
instead of just using white, I thought I would have fun with colors using a Sharpie |
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Eak5VVMW5o/T0XAQ6m4NHI/AAAAAAAAEwo/UieLZuDJmSk/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%252818%2529.JPG) |
Gamakatsu Amago in size 7.5 |
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/-AiOZxCXQfRk/T0XARlIA9nI/AAAAAAAAEww/JXrYGdjqJuo/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%252816%2529.JPG) |
first I tie a white base which will give the fly later some translucency when wet |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAPdI0bZPjY/T0XASP9YYII/AAAAAAAAEw0/o5Hug_2JYSg/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%252815%2529.JPG) |
next tie in the braid on one side of the hook... |
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-e4i-QRSQTgg/T0XASc02dKI/AAAAAAAAEw4/RY0X1NoHTU0/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%252814%2529.JPG) |
...then tie down on the far side to create a loop |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXVoXClA9kw/T0XAS0oQIgI/AAAAAAAAEw8/plZxdAv3YkY/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%252813%2529.JPG) |
trim one tag short, the other longer, this will help creating a tapered body |
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTIEsQfb8lQ/T0XATOkG-ZI/AAAAAAAAExA/49ciiVnOS5s/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%252812%2529.JPG) |
tapered under body |
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/-BTKmFgfSHyI/T0XAUy3F2yI/AAAAAAAAExE/jABtlNRkpo0/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%252811%2529.JPG) |
now tie in Ultra Thread, silk or similar |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiDLewWijcA/T0XAVR0binI/AAAAAAAAExI/7lgs3h0HJG0/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%252810%2529.JPG) |
select a feather, I am using Grouse |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-0JDWrdz93ys/T0XAWb3JfgI/AAAAAAAAExM/xdtaCCitmRs/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%25289%2529.JPG) |
get rid of the fluff |
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/-BKhIM6lXfoo/T0XAXKawPeI/AAAAAAAAExQ/QvF8DcG5G80/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%25288%2529.JPG) |
tie the feather in, I typically do that on top of the hook and tip forward |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lc13-2ssg0/T0XAY0qjq5I/AAAAAAAAExU/L1frWEote8o/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%25287%2529.JPG) |
trim tip |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-txe4L5GCBRU/T0XAZziXYRI/AAAAAAAAExY/PhdqeTDAz84/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%25286%2529.JPG) |
wind hackle, secure hackle stem with thread |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-qnIx979cgu0/T0XAaNlcCKI/AAAAAAAAExc/qWexh8tGHKo/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%25285%2529.JPG) |
tie-off thread, fly is finished |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/-kRrX6SOjZOo/T0XAa6ig5mI/AAAAAAAAExk/9hV-SBrjmVw/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%25283%2529.JPG) |
top view |
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/-_IguFiS7kZA/T0XAbPx54gI/AAAAAAAAExo/NPC7FEofl5w/s400/eyeless+sakasa+kebari+tutorial+%25282%2529.JPG) |
voila |
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/--JKKAOg0kf8/T0XAb-NmruI/AAAAAAAAExs/dauXl7k757Q/s400/P2220001.JPG) |
a hand-full of some eyeless sakasa kebaris |
Have fund and thanks for stopping by.
Tight Lines, -K