2026 is our second season of the Tanfield Angling Club Fly Tiers programme, led by Owen Candy and Keith Collins. We meet in the Bruce Arms on a Sunday evening once a month to learn new techniques and tie some flies. Many of us were complete novices 12 months ago, but we are enjoying the ride!
Last month we had a special visitor, Hans van Klinken, a legend in the fly tying world who was visiting his friends at Semperfli and attending numerous events in Yorkshire.
It was an honour to host Hans at The Bruce Arms, the spiritual home of the Tanfield Angling Club.
Hans demonstrated how to tie his Klinkhammer Special and clearly enjoyed his visit as much as we enjoyed hosting him.
Thank you Hans
Hans van Klinken
‘Another very special activity during my visit to England. A long-held dream came to fruition when I was able to give a serious fly tying workshop at the world-famous Bruce Arms in Tanfield. Sitting on the same couch where Walbran once sat – or simply being in that same room – gave me a very special feeling. The participants were fantastic, and we had a great evening.
Francis Walbran, actually founded the Tangling Angling Club in 1892. Being in the Bruce Arms (West Tanfield) really is standing on hallowed ground for North Country spider fishing! Sadly I was tying my Klinkhammer Special because that was the fly the participants wanted to tie so eagerly’.