Fly Fishers' Republic

Klinkhåmer Special

July 21, 2009

by Raif Killips

Klinkhåmer Special

Recipe:

Uses:

The Klinkhåmer Special, or Klinkhammer as it’s often known, or even just Klink, is a very popular fly originating from Western Europe. Tied with a parchute hackle, it is an emerging caddis pattern fished during corresponding hatches. Colour and size variations of the fly adapt it for use during other hatches and make it useful as a searching fly in a similar way to the Adams. The Klinkhåmer Special is traditionally a trout and grayling pattern but should be considered for all kinds of fishing situations where fish will rise to a fly; it’s certainly been used to take Salmon and I’ve caught some good size chub with it.

How to fish:

Originally fished to best effect by it’s author using a ‘downstream’ presentation, the pattern is effective when presented using any standard dry fly technique. Effective for trout, grayling, and any free rising species.

History:

This pattern was designed and first tied by Hans van Klinken in 1984. The L T Caddis however was given the now recognised name ‘Klinkhåmer Special’ by his colleague Hans de Groot. Other tyers including Tomas Olsen & Roy Richardson are credited by Hans for similar solutions but this particular emerger pattern is Hans’ own work.

Variations:

The hooks 15BN and 15BNX are the current patterns from Partridge. The 15BN requires a bend to be put in the shank, while the 15BNX has the bend already formed. The first hook was a KB2 but van Klinken settled on the Partridge GRS15ST in sizes 8-18. In sizes 6 and 4 he uses the Partridge CS54.

The materials listed in the recipe follow the original but omits Spiderweb. The fly illustrated was tied in one pass, tying off the hackle with the same thread the fly was started with. However when Hans ties the fly he winds the hackle in a second stage and uses Spiderweb to secure it.

Further reading:

The (Arising Of The) Klinkhåmer Special [accessed Jan 4th 2006], Hans van Klinken.