Published Apr 13. 2011 - 12 years ago
Updated or edited Oct 7. 2016

Klympen

Klympen is a simple and efficient fly for sea run browns, which should be able to catch many other kinds of fish. Originated by Henning Eskol, this fly has seen many variations since its birth.

In some places the Klympen fly has drifted pretty far away from this original pattern.
You can get the truth in this story about the evolution of the fly.
The originator - Henning Eskol with one of the largest sea trout we have recorded caught on Klympen, a whopping 10 lbs. sea run in fabulous condition
A Klympen fish - The fly looks darker in its wet condition. This is a fairly large version.
Bushy and meaty - The original Klympen is a large and bushy fly
Klympen
Martin Joergensen

This is one

of a bunch of flies used by my gang of Danish coastal anglers—a colorful group and a very peculiar group consisting of people with many years of experience between them. They tend to stay isolated and not make a big fuss, and also tend to keep their locations and their fishing experiences to themselves, and—not least—their flies.

This is the story

about one of these flies—Klympen. The originator, Henning Eskol tells:
- This fly was invented on the Danish island Bornholm and first saw water at the location called Klympen, hence the name.

He continues:

- I tend to smash a lot of flies into the rocks with my low backcasts, and because of this I wanted a pattern that could be tied in a short time. I also wanted a heavy fly, but first and foremost something durable and simple.
It since developed into one of Henning's favorite patterns, and he tied it in many variations of which we will cover a few here.
Henning tells:
- I first used a long tail of teal in combination with flash, but have since boiled that down to other materials and sometimes no tail at all.
A current favorite is a small orange version, which has proved to be a good autumn fly.

The author - GFF partner Martin Joergensen with a large sea run rainbow trout that could not resist a small Klympen.
The orange version - When it's cold, the fish often get tempted by a brighter fly
Perfect searun brown - Sea run browns rarely get more beautiful than this.
So secret... - ...it should be in the X-files! Or is that X-Flies?
The copper bodied fly strikes again
Martin Joergensen - Henning Eskol

The hallmark

of the fly is the copper body, which consists of wire wound as a foundation and then wound on top of itself as a rib. With a bit of varnish (or even epoxy, Bug Bond or similar), this creates a solid, heavy and durable body. Apart from that the fly is basically a tail and a front hackle, and on many variations there isn't even a tail.
The copper body gives the fly mass and density, and is most likely one of the reasons for its success. It penetrates the surface easily and descends towards the bottom very rapidly, making it fish in deeper levels of the water than many of our usual coastal flies.
The variations are mainly some smaller tailless flies and some really bright and flashy orange ones. All have proven efficient, and all are quick and easy to tie and use few and common materials.
You can omit the varnish on the body, but the result is probably a fly that disintegrates quickly. The heavy copper will move on the hook shank when you cast the fly, get tarnished and/or brittle after just one trip in the water and very often break after touching rocks in the water or stones in the backcast.

Hennings own instructions

are very brief. You will find a more detailed set of tying instructions below.

1) I first cover the whole hook shank with tying thread. It's important with a good foundation for the copper wire, which has a tendency to move.
2) I tie in the tail.
3) Time for the copper in the full length of the fly.
4) If I have the time I varnish the copper before tying the thorax.
5) Thorax consists of SLF in a dubbing loop.
6) When the head has been varnished and you have admired the fly, it's time for big, bright fish!

He doesn't mention the front hackle or the double layer of copper (to the back of the fly and forwards again), but you get the idea. He sometimes also adds a bit of flash to the tail.

Klympen
Pattern type: 
Cold saltwater fly
Originator: 
Henning Eskol
Materials: 
Hook
According to taste, curved or straight sizes 8-2
Tying thread
Red or tan 8/0
Tail
Barbs of mallard, grizzly rooster or hen feather. Optional smooth flash
Body
Copper wire
Thorax
SLF or natural dubbing, tan
Hackle
Soft hen, tan or light brown
Head
Tying thread
Skill level/difficulty: 
Easy

Step 1 - thread

Step 2 - tail fibers

Step 3 - tail

Step 4 - tail done

Step 5 - copper

Step 6 - copper body

Step 7 - first layer

Step 8 - rib

Step 9 - body done

Step 10 - dubbing

Step 11 - on the thread

Step 12 - dub

Step 13 - thorax done

Step 14 - hackle feather

Step 15 - prepare

Step 16 - tie in

Step 17 - wind

Step 18 - tie down

Step 19 - head

Step 20 - whip finish

Step 21 - done deal

Winter version - We like bright flies in the winter, and Klympen can easily be converted to a bright, orange fly using flash and chenille and an orange hackle
The original - Klympen as it looked from Henning's vice: large, long tail with flash, red tying thread.
Massive, yet ranslucent - The qualities of Klympen are obvious. It's a beautiful fly.
Zzzzzzz - GFF partner Steve Schweitzer taking a nap at the very spot that gave name to this fly: Klympen on Danish island Bornholm
Originals, a variation, and a nap on THE location
Martin Joergensen - Henning Eskol
.

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