Tying the Klinkhåmer Special

Presented by Alan E. Lutz

This is the fly to use early in the hatch when the caddis flies are beginning to emerge.  It was developed by Hans Van Klinken.  Cul-de-Canard or CDC, as it is often referred to, is used to represent the wing of the insect.  CDC is naturally oily and will give a good float to the fly, along with the parachute style hackle.  With this pattern, The body hangs down into the water.

  It can be tied in various colors depending on what’s hatching.  We will use tan or olive dubbing (shown at the left).  With tan, use dun hackle and natural or gray CDC.  With olive dubbing, use olive hackle and CDC.

 

 

To tie the Klinkhåmer , we will need the following materials:

 

 

 

 

Hook:             Size 12-22 Curved Caddis Hook (alternatively use a scud hook)

Thread:           Black 6/0

Body:              Tan Dubbing Fur

Thorax:           Peacock Herl

Wing:              Gray Cul-de-Canard

Hackle:          Blue-Gray or Dun Cock Hackle

This is how to make the fly:

1.      Fix the hook into the vise and bend the front section of the hook down several degrees using pliers.  (You can use a scud hook, but it will make a slightly shorter fly).

2.      Tie on the thread at the eye and wrap on a thread base around the bend of the hook.  Take some tan dubbing and wrap it just short of the center of the hook.

3.      Wrap the thread back to the front of the hook and tie in four CDC feathers.

4.      Tie in two strands of Peacock Herl in front of the body and wind forward to the CDC and let hang.

5.       Tie in the hackle by the butt and wind around the base of the CDC and secure the hackle at the front of the fly.  Note:  Winding on the hackle may be facilitated by re-setting the hook in the vise so the CDC is horizontal.

6.      Continue winding the Peacock Herl in front of the CDC leaving just enough room for a head, tie off and form a neat head and finish off with a whip finish.

Note: Excellent instructions with photographs may be found on page 62/63 of “the fly-tying Bible” available at Mountain Road Fly.  Also, see the following web site for information by the fly’s designer:  http://www.rackelhanen.se/eng/10029.htm  AEL