What flies should you tie this winter? These 3 dries work all across Canada—and beyond

KLINKHÅMER SPECIAL 

The Klinkhåmer is another emerger-dry hybrid originating in Europe. Dutch angler Hans van Klinken devised it in the 1980s to ride the surface film of strong, fast rivers that overwhelm more delicate patterns. The design is intricate, odd and brilliant. It’s a parachute fly, but tied on a curved or bent hook. This hangs the tapered body below the surface, seemingly trapped in the film like an insect that can’t quite take wing. This posture looks lifelike and typically yields better hook-ups than traditional high-floating dries. A final lovely, organic touch is the buggy, iridescent thorax of peacock herl.

When tying the Special, the geometry is crucial, which is perhaps not surprising given van Klinken’s 35-year career as a Dutch artillery officer. Expect some misfires as you’re learning, but it’ll be worth it. Incredibly, the result is a fly that catches river fish almost anywhere they feed on or near the surface. It’s an excellent choice during hatches when you’re not sure what’s on the menu, or as a reliable searching fly. Its name, by the way, is pronounced “KLINK-hah-mer.” In North America, it’s often spelled as “Klinkhammer,” which feels more natural to English speakers. That version also has a certain logic, since fish really do hammer it.