Al Beatty’s Thunder Klod

Al Beatty’s Thunder Klod

The UV Thunder Klod is “new,” well, almost new pattern created by Al Beatty that combines features from two other patterns – the Thunder Thighs and the Clod Hopper.

The Thunder Thighs was developed by Eric Paramore in the winter of 2008 after a slow 100 days guiding in the Paradise Valley area in Montana. Al describes it as a Chernobyl Ant with hopper legs.

The Clod Hopper, created by Paul Stinson, is a popular terrestrial fly pattern designed to mimic a grasshopper.

Thunder Thighs Hopper
Thunder Thighs Hopper
Eric's Clod Hopper
Eric’s Clod Hopper

Materials

  • Hook: Dry fly 2X size 6 or 12
  • Thread: Match the foam colour
  • Body: Foam of your choice
  • Legs: Flat Silli Legs
  • Wing: White Poly Yarn

Al Beatty uses deer and elk hair for his. If you want to watch the master tie this fly check him out on his YouTube channel:
BT’s Fly Tying Friday, 8 September 2023 – a pair of hoppers

Tying Instructions – Phase One

  1. Coat the hook with Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails.
  2. Cover the hook with thread to the barb.
  1. Trim the foam to the width of the hook gap.
  2. Fold the foam over and measure it one and a half hook lengths.
  1. Tie in the tail approximately one hook gap behind the barb.
  2. Four turns, three turns underneath and create another segment.
  1. Repeat Step 6 to create another segment.

    The back two segments are smaller than the third to allow for the head of the fly.
  1. Repeat Step 6 to create another segment, ending at the eye of the hook.
  2. Half hitch and whip finish.
  1. Move the thread back to the last segment, fold the foam back and tie in to measure the length of the head. Use a texta pen to mark head.
  2. Unwind the thread and cut the thread off.
  1. Take the fly out of the vice.
  2. Trim the tail of the foam leaving a little tag at the end.
Thunder Klod phase one complete

Tying Instructions – Phase Two

  1. Cut the foam for the legs.
  2. Return the hook to the vise and tie in the rubber legs.
  1. Apply UV resin to secure the legs on the foam.
  2. Reattach the thread on the second segment.
  1. Tie in the white poly yarn wing.
  2. Fold the head over and tie it off.
  3. Whip finish.
  1. Cut out the centre of the head and legs.
  2. Trim the legs and the wing.
  3. Decorate the foam if you want.
Al Beatty's Thunder Klod - as tied by Paul Fedeles
YouTube player
Al Beatty’s Thunder Klod, as tied by Paul Fedeles
YouTube player
Watch the master tie this fly on his YouTube channel – BT’s Fly Tying Friday
Julian Tapping

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