By Nick Simonson

The Klinkhammer was originally tied by Dutch angler Hans van Klinken in order to imitate the emerging insects that grayling were rising on in his local stream.  Since that time, a number of variants of the popular parachute fly have been tied, and it’s no surprise that a pheasant tail version has come to be since the fly became popular more than three decades ago.  Perfect for trout rising on hatching insects stuck in the surface.

MATERIALS:
Hook: Curved Dry Size 14-18
Thread: Black 6/0
Abdomen: Wrapped PT Fibers
Thorax: Peacock Ice Dub
Post: Antron Yarn
Hackle: Brown Dry Fly
CLICK HERE FOR STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL

Start the fly by securing a post of antron yarn in position at the 3/4 point of the hookshank.  Do this by tying in a section of antron and then tying a small bump of thread in front of it.  From there, tie around the yarn securing it so it stands vertically, forming a nice post and giving you a base to wrap your hackle around later (1).

Next, tie in six PT fibers at the bend of the hook and advance your thread to a point just back from the post.  Wrap the PT fibers forward to form the thorax of the fly, secure with a couple of wraps when you reach the thread and trim the excess (2).

Tie a dry fly hackle in by the stem, with the barbs on one side trimmed down, and the other side stripped, with the stripped side along the post (3). Then tie in a strand of peacock herl at the point where the PT fibers end and advance your thread (4).  Wrap the herl forward and tie off and trim just behind the hookeye (5).  Using a hackle pliers, gently wrap the hackle down around the base of the post above the dubbing and back down again, forming a tight, horizontal hackling before securing the hackle feather and trimming the excess (6).

From that point you can whip finish the fly underneath the hackle, taking care not to tie down fibers. Your Klinkhammer is ready to klunk whatever fish you pursue on the long rod (7)!

The PT fibers and the dubbing are designed to give the fly a meaty profile under the surface, drawing fish in for a look.  If using fly floatant for buoyancy, make sure to apply it only to the hackling to keep that easy-to-eat-emerger look below the surface.