Hans van Klinken

Hans van Klinken started flyfishing at the age of 15 in Norway. He immediately fell in love with the unbridled beauty of the Arctic regions. Hans’ greatest outdoor experience was in 1975 when he spent almost four months in the wildernes of Lapland, where he learned how to survive in the forest and on the tundra. 

Hans began flytying in 1976. By the early 1980s, he was creating his own designs, mostly parachutes. This eventually led to his development of several unusual patterns and tying techniques. His international fame increased as he continued his meticulous development of his flies, giving demonstrations, workshops and classes around the world. 

Armed with his backpack, rod and flytying material, he and his future wife Ina travelled round Scandinavia as far north as Svalbard and later Europe and North America, fishing their way around. It was in the large variety of the river systems and lakes of Scandinavia and Finland that he honed his flyfishing skills.

Hans’ retirement now makes it possible to commit fully to the world of flyfishing and related environmental issues. He has finally found the time to write his long-awaited first book which sheds light on his ground-breaking thinking behind the world famous Klinkhåmer fly and variations.

Throughout his life he has held free-of-charge educational programmes and flytying lessons for youngsters, something he sees as his way of giving back to society.