Fly Tying

How to Tie the Klinkhammer Fly Pattern

Jul 02, 2020 · 3 min read
Chandler CransBy Chandler Crans
Chandler Crans
Chandler Crans

Chandler Crans is a fly fishing expert and a former guide in Alaska. Whether he's reviewing the latest rods and reels, writing about where to fish,...

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How to Tie the Klinkhammer Fly Pattern

Learn how to tie Klinkhammer Fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

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The Klinkhammer, developed by Hans van Klinken, is an emerger pattern that works well for trout feeding on the surface or just below the surface. The Klinkhammer can imitate an emerging Caddis or an emerging Mayfly and works well as either a searching pattern, attractor pattern, or a technical dry fly. Jared shows you the steps needed to tie this famous fly in detail with thorough instructions so you can tie one up on your vise at home.


Materials:

We've put together a kit that contains all the materials you need to tie this exact fly pattern.

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Step One:


Klinkhammer fly tying in vise with cream dubbing body on curved gold hook and olive thread against dark blurred background


Start your thread and wrap it past the bend of the hook. Use the cream dubbing to dub the body of the fly. Create a slight taper as you approach the flat part of the hook.


Step Two:


Hand tying a cream dubbing Klinkhammer fly in a black vise with translucent white wing, fly tying tutorial


Tie in the poly yarn as a parachute post. Tie the yarn onto the hook then double it over and start wrapping the thread up to create the upward-facing parachute.


Step Three:


Close-up Klinkhammer fly pattern being tied: cream dubbing body, white synthetic wing post, olive thread on hook in vise


Create a nice thread base on the parachute by wrapping your thread upward. This will give you a good base for wrapping the dry fly hackle in later.


Step Four:


Hand tying cream dubbing Klinkhammer fly with upright white wing in black vise, showcasing fly tying materials and hook


Tie in the Whiting dry fly hackle and snip off the excess stem of the hackle. Pull the hackle upward on the backside of the parachute post and anchor it down using upward wraps.


Step Five:


Klinkhammer fly on vise with cream dubbing body, white CDC wing, gold hook and olive feather hackle for fly fishing tutorial


Similar to step three, wrap the hackle into the thread base you've create on the parachute. Bringing the hackle up the post will allow you to wrap it down later.


Step Six:


Klinkhammer fly for fly tying: cream dubbed curved body, wispy white wing feather and gold rib on a curved hook


Grab some brown dubbing and dub the thorax of the fly. Be sure to continue to build the taper of the fly and finish with the thread on the side of the hook closest to you. This will help when tying in the hackle.


Step Seven:


Klinkhammer fly on hook in vise: cream dubbed body, pale yellow hackle and white synthetic wing, fly tying close-up


Wrap the hackle down the parachute making sure to lay wraps one under the other down the parachute. Cover up the thread base you built on the parachute of the fly. The hackle will help keep the fly floating on the surface of the water. Wrap your thread around the parachute to catch the hackle and tie it down. Snip the excess hackle.


Step Eight:


Cream Klinkhammer dry fly with fuzzy dubbed abdomen, white parachute post and tan palmered hackle on a curved hook in vise


Coat your thread in superglue and wrap it around the parachute. After the thread is anchored, snip it off instead of whip finishing. The superglue should hold the thread in place. Trim the parachute then you're done! This is a great pattern when emerging insects are present and can be tied in a variety of colors to imitate different bugs.


Questions?


Give us a call here at the shop at (888) 413-5211 or email us anytime at [email protected].

Chandler Crans
Written by

Chandler Crans

Chandler Crans is a fly fishing expert and a former guide in Alaska. Whether he's reviewing the latest rods and reels, writing about where to fish, or helping a first-time angler pick the right fly line, Chandler combines real guiding experience with deep product knowledge and a genuine love of being on the water.

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