Fly Tying the Hornberg (Classic dry/wet/streamer Pattern)

[@cheflexx778]

Good Morning Matt! Here's a little tip for those who might not have yellow calftail. If you have white calftail you can always use waterproof permanent markers and paint the white calftail any color you want. Let it dry a bit and you're good to go. I've done that quite a bit when you throw colors at me I don't have. :-) Whether is calftail or feathers. Happy tying.

[@barbaraemerich1921]

Thanks for that tip!

[@edwardchavez5627]

That's the answer I've been looking for. Will a Sharpie work? With 24 different colors for changing the color of the thread head. I use alot of white and g.s.p. white.

[@cheflexx778]

@@edwardchavez5627 I don't know about GSP threads I haven't tried to color it with a marker however I found that it works well with calftail and hackle feathers in white. However make sure that the marker is a waterproof permanent marker. Because the Sharpie will fade after a lot of fishing.

[@SavageFlies]

Great tip Alex; thank you! I guess it's time for me to invest in some waterproof permanent markers. :-)

[@georgestewart5879]

You can blend them, diffrent greens over yellow give some nice olive shades. when you add the top coiour blend with a finger.

[@jimholland1592]

Good morning Matt☕️☕️ Nicely done 👍

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you Jim! Hope you're staying warm down in the peach state. :-)

[@jimholland1592]

@@SavageFlies cold mornings warm afternoons, March will be here oh to soon. You hunker down too😉

[@RyanAshley419]

I like old patterns...and I cannot lie. :)

[@SavageFlies]

Okay Sir Mix-a-lot. I sort of almost used that lyric in a pattern I tied called Otto's Dragon. It did have a big old butt. :-)

[@waynestocker9755]

I fished it in NH & Maine and continue to use it in Wyoming with great success. I use Widows web as an underwing & various body colors. I use both Wood duck & White Duck Flank. I think it is taken as a Moth, Hopper, Caddis or even a Stonefly. I tie it down to a size 12. I will drift it as a dry, let it hang and then strip it back as a streamer. I will sometimes go out on a freestone with a box of a dozen and the only fly I use all day.

[@edwardchavez5627]

❤ awesome Wayne

[@SavageFlies]

Wow, that is a great testament to this pattern's versatility! Thank you Wayne. And I think you're right that in a 10 or 12 it could definitely pass as a moth.

[@dahutful]

PS great work on this oldie!

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you David!

[@dennismccarthy7146]

Summer of 2021 spent Fishing in Maine and New Hampshire. I never head to Maine without a few dozen Hornberg's in my box, it is THE KILLER pattern for my brother and I. Fish it as a dry and as a wet fly.

[@SavageFlies]

That's awesome to hear; I appreciate the feedback!

[@peteyarrington582]

On my very first trip to Maine as a kid, a guy at the dock on Quimby Pond recommended we use a Humbug fly. We had never heard of that, but we thanked him and went off in search of some Humbugs. The lady at the tackle shop nearby had never heard of it either, but then she brightened and said, Do you mean a Hornberg? As mid-Atlantic people, it was a memorable adventure with the Maine accent.

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! Funny story Pete. I can hear the accent in my head. I spent some time in Vermont when I was stationed up in New York. I had a heck of a time understanding some of what they said up there. :-)

[@garrettswoodworx1873]

Nice tie sir!

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you Garrett!

[@Taco.bells_palsy]

I love this as an all in one. It starts the day as a dry, becomes a wet, then a streamer. It. produces as all three. Great fly to give a beginner.

[@robertcason9248]

Matt - we fished Hornbergs trolling for big rainbows on Siver Lake (near June Lake) in the high Sierras. Moderately successful.

[@SavageFlies]

Good to hear Robert! Thanks for the note. :-)

[@rollinlapoint4554]

With some weight added to get it down, it looks like it could imitate some kind of bait fish, Beautiful fly.

[@SavageFlies]

I think you're right Rollin; definitely some kind of baitfish!

[@epsieblaine7968]

Hi Matt.You did a great job on this one.A great tip for begeners,on where to trim the hackle butts.I have never tied this fly and all the years of tying for people,no one has ever requested this fly.It would look good on the wall though. Ken

[@SavageFlies]

Good call Ken! This would look good in a shadow box. :-)

[@lastcoyote2355]

Years ago when I , 1st fished this incredible fly , this older gentleman advised me to cast upstream, fish it as a dry fly , then instead of recasting at the end of the run , drop your rod and strip it back as a streamer . And recast and repeat . I’ve caught some fantastic trout as a dry and hard it’s as a streamer .

[@SavageFlies]

Great advice Leonard! A couple other folks said that's how they fish it too. I guess it must work!

[@edwardchavez5627]

Good Morning Sir Matt, a great one this morning, truly a beautiful fly. I also thank all those who commented on the materials, I got some answers I have been looking for. As far as jungle cock goes I haven't checked lately but I got mine for $50 on ebay. It is a good quality one also.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Edward! I just checked Ebay and it looks like you can get a decent one today for $60-80.

[@toddslichter7831]

Great pattern and nice tie. Thanks for sharing, Matt. Have a great day.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Todd!

[@barbaraemerich1921]

This fly looks very similar to a fly you tied awhile back that I tried and it was really successful on Brown Trout at a local lake. It just didn’t have the yellow buck tail or a feather tip wing. But I will definitely have to try this one!! Thank you Matt! You are definitely my favorite fly tying Channel!

[@edwardchavez5627]

❤👍💯 I agree the best channel Ma'am.

[@SavageFlies]

Awww... thank you Barbara! I appreciate that. I'll bet that other pattern was the Mrs. Simpson. Another cool pattern that uses whole flank-type feathers.That's definitely a good looking one. :-)

[@markfritch3168]

Wow! That’s one I’ve never tied or even seen. Thanks for the history. Should be some fun at the bench for sure. Thank you Matt, blessings my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Mark! Appreciate it my friend. :-)

[@jimgollach6202]

Never fished this fly, but I always thought it looked cool. Enjoyed watching you tie this one. Thanks for taking the time, excellent job 👏👍

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Jim; I appreciate it my friend!

[@jackreeves3001]

Super Tye Matt. Thanks for sharing your time and! KANSAS

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Jack! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@johnnylightning1491]

Matt, I have no idea what that looks like in the wild but if it works, who cares. Keep the good stuff coming buddy.

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! Same here Dave! If it's fun to tie and it works, let's do it. :-)

[@chevyguy6510]

Great Job Matt! This one looks intimidating until you break it down step by step. Originated from Wisconsin means, I have to tie this one for sure! Have a great week.

[@SavageFlies]

So another cheese head?? Isn't that a nickname for folks from Wisconsin? A Wisconsinite? A Wisconsonian? I've got to get up there someday. :-)

[@MyItalians]

Every interesting fly. I believe I'll try it for a shadow box. I found jungle cock cape. But I couldn't tell myself it ok for $300 plus shipping.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Nich! Check Ebay for a cape. I see a few that look decent for $60-80 today. I can't remember where I got my last one but it wasn't from a major fly shop, but some small time feather seller. :-)

[@michaelzsizseri8015]

Thanks Matt I like that fly I'll give it a try 🎣

[@SavageFlies]

I appreciate it Michael!

[@jamesvatter5729]

That's an oldie, Matt. I was taught to fish it as a streamer. Never used it as a dry. I guess it could be taken as a moth though.

[@SavageFlies]

I've never fished it one way or another Jim, but if I do it'll be as a streamer too. :-)

[@cosmiccharlie8606]

Vary nice thank you for your time sir

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Charlie!

[@cosmiccharlie8606]

@@SavageFlies your welcome you trying make some good looking flys sir

[@laytonmarvin3790]

Nicely tied Matt. I think I would tie this as a wet fly and fish it in a little choppy water swinging across the current. Thanks for sharing my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

I'm with you there Layton. I hear from reading some of these comments that this thing has a great action in fast water. I can't wait to try it myself. :-)

[@Graham-1888]

Could see this being taken as a sedge in the dark over here, the silhouette would be the attraction, I think I would fish it as a streamer myself. Another nice fly and nice tie Matt, thank you.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks for the note Graham!

[@martyrothman3933]

Thanks Matt I really like the look of this one

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Marty!

[@ybarrajc]

Good morning Matt thanks for sharing. I’m definitely adding this one to my list.

[@SavageFlies]

Awesome; thanks for watching!

[@Jd-yc3gw]

Good morning Matt. Really enjoyed this mornings pattern. Other than the jungle cock the components for this one haven’t been too difficult to obtain. Coffee and tying videos are much nicer than being outside today. It’s -24F and with the wind the weather folks are saying it feels like -42. Not sure how they can say that because I think they’d be numb in short order if they went outside. Thankfully this cold spell will moderate in a few days. This cold makes open water seem a long way off. Thanks for the great video and take care Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Yeah I like comparing weather with you John... my wife made me build a fire in the wood stove tonight because it's 36 degrees out. :-) But it is going to get into the teens tomorrow night, so yeah, it'll be a little chilly. As for jungle cock, I think I spent a hundred bucks a few years ago on one and I've been very picky to when I use it! I'm trying to stretch it out for at least a few more years. :-)

[@RockyPhillips]

Man what a great pattern to start the morning with. I always forget about this fly. Love the history on it. Thanks Matt, definitely gonna tie it tonight

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Rocky!

[@sinelocum]

That’s a beautiful fly. I’m not sure I’d want to fish it. But if I did then it’d be a good excuse to tie more so… Thank you for making these clips, Matt. It’s fun to watch and learn.

[@jeffreystone7327]

Very nice fly. I haven’t purchased any Jungle Cock yet. So may have to wait on trying this one. I like the bigger size. I’d be more comfortable fishing it as a streamer. Great video Matt. Thank you Sir.

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Jeff! Always appreciate the support my friend. :-)

[@joeduca8582]

Yup, that's a Hornberg, awesome job Matt. I've never tied or fished them, just the similar Mrs Simpson. Seen enough people tie them though, fished dry or wet they say. The one you had in the vise resembled a salmonfly. Or those big fishflies, dobsonflies, or to a lesser extent alderflies, I see those 3 here in the summer. Maybe that's why they're fished dry. Charlie Craven ties one on his website. I like his take on the fly. He said fished dry (tied with dry fly hackle) then stripped in like a streamer at the end of the drift is popular. A great tactic I use with some flies. But he also ties it with hen hackle on a heavy nymph hook to fish as a streamer. I'd probably tie this version dry then pull under and fish it back as a streamer. Then tie them like Craven as a streamer. Excellent video Matt, got me juiced up! Thanks.

[@SavageFlies]

Great comment Joe! I'll have to check out Charlie's tie. I've heard of those big salmonflies and dobsonflies but never seen any live. And never been anywhere that I could fish them. Maybe someday I'll take a trip out to some big famous western waters. :-)

[@joeduca8582]

@@SavageFlies 🤠👍

[@diecastrejuvenation7779]

Very cool fly. I haven't used jungle cock eyes yet. This fly is the one to get me to use it. As always, an excellent video!

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Troy! But good luck finding a good price on a JC cape right now. The same place I bought my last one (maybe $90) was selling them for $240 today. I do see a few on Ebay right now that look reasonable though.

[@diecastrejuvenation7779]

Yeah, it's gonna be one of those check every now and then and hope to find a deal. But, I love a good treasure hunt! Haha!

[@brendondubois9975]

A great fly we use in the trout waters of NH. Classic! I haven’t seen this as a dry fly, but certainly a streamer

[@SavageFlies]

Cool to hear Brendon! Thanks for the note. :-)

[@crowdaddy8355]

Great fly Matt. Thanks for all you do for us.

[@SavageFlies]

You're welcome Chad! I appreciate the support my friend. :-)

[@stevepotischman5939]

I’ve been tying and fishing this pattern for around 40 years. Jungle cock eyes have always been tough to get and/or expensive. As a result, I’ve never used it. The flies work quite well without it. I fish it as a streamer, twitching it as it swings across the current. Works like a charm.

[@SavageFlies]

Great comment Steve; thank you for leaving it. I imagine jungle cock wasn't as hard to get 50+ years ago and part of the reason we revere them so much today is because they were used in so many classic patterns. And now it's the mystique of a material being hard to find so it has to be amazing. :-)

[@rickbaker4407]

Great tie Matt. I used that fly over 40 years ago here in Virginia for native brookies. I tied it smaller though. Usually a 12 or 14 would fill the bill nicely. I believe the brookies took it for a minnow. My very first fishing for them utilized live minnows and they hit them voraciously. I switched to flyfishing only and the trout took the hornberg nearly as well as the live minnows. Obviously I fished it as a streamer on dead drift or slight lifting action. The old classics will still work!

[@heyjim52]

My grandfather used it as a streamer , he trolled it or use the breeze to push the boat and he would just drift it sometimes he caught some big trout with it.

[@SavageFlies]

Cool to hear James! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@davehall2160]

That is a very cool looking fly Matt Kind of makes you wander what those people were thinking when they came up with this fly Thanks for the video Matt

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Dave! I always appreciate it my friend. :-)

[@leemowers9395]

Very cool classic fly, very well done, into love Barry and his technique. Thanks for sharing the video Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Lee! I appreciate it my friend. :-)

[@randymorris8740]

If I had to guess what mayfly this represents, I would say the giant Hexagenia limbata... They are huge, almost 3 inches in length...

[@SavageFlies]

Wow Randy, I'm going to have to look up that bug!

[@dennisfretz1814]

Very very nice old school ty Matt, and you are correct jingle cock eyes are hard to get. Tight lines my friend springs a common thanks Denny

[@SavageFlies]

Yes indeed Denny! Spring will be here before too long. I can't wait! :-)

[@JamesMcCutcheon]

The Hornberg fly is just a great fly pattern and it is really a UNIQUE fly. Thanks again, Matt you are y favorite Channel for fly tying. Something I learned about fishing this fly is that it puts the brakes on when you stop pulling it. This is a super finesse fly. Slim streamers just keep gliding. I have tied this a long time ago and used a larger stick hackle behind the eye of the hook. I suggest experimenting with the fishing to see how it compares think stop and go for triggering strikes.

[@SavageFlies]

Jim- this is a great comment with some real practical advice! I didn't even think that this would have some drastic stop-and-go action when stripping it. But you're 100% right that a standard streamer like a blacknose dace or Mickey Finn will definitely glide a bit when you stop stripping.

[@marksleeper3752]

There great people Jim and Eric

[@harryjoesather6539]

enjoyed seeing this one..thanks matt.

[@mikemarchacos2532]

Hi Matt, I just caught this video and did want to say I fish this fly every time I fish. I do carry it in dry, wet and streamer patterns. Been fishing this fly in Massachusetts for over 50 years. My drys do match caddis flys (size 14-16 no eye) on the Deerfield river. I tie it wet in size 8-10 and as a streamer smelt imitation up to size 4 for the Swift river browns and rainbows. It works best for me as a wet and is my favorite wet. And as a dry it makes a great caddis.

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you Mike, this is a great comment! I love it when folks tell us about real world experience in fishing some of these patterns. Now we've always heard the Hornberg was popular in New England, but it's nice to hear from someone who can tell us just how successful it can be. Thanks for the note!

[@edpeter9411]

Beautiful fly! What’s your strategy for when you hackle feather is too short? Have a great day.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Ed! No real strategy, other than maybe use two feathers at the same time. Lots of the old hackle was of lesser quality than today and some of the tiers of old would often do this.

[@FlyTyer1948]

You can use #10s as a dry in Maine, though I usually tied it on 14 or 16. In 12 or 14, the fish may take it as a small stonefly rather than a caddis. I substituted yellow bucktail due to lack of yellow calftail & left off the jungle cock. I always used smaller mallard flank feathers. It can fished as a dry in fast current, then dragged it under at the end of the drift & retrieved it as a streamer. It’s also good for bouncing it around on the surface on a windy day.

[@SavageFlies]

I was hoping you would weigh in and give us some true Maine experience on this one. I'll bet you're right in that it could pass for a stonefly but I never even considered that it could be used as a skittering pattern. Now you've got me thinking... I tied one big-hackled dry fly last year, with white rubber legs on I think a #6 terrestrial hook and that thing floated and skittered like a water walker. I can't remember the name (maybe a woolly worm variant) but I recall it was a GSM pattern from Don Kirk's book.

[@FlyTyer1948]

@@SavageFlies Of course, you got me with “classic.” I tied my first Hornbergs based on a description of their use as dries in a book on fishing Maine waters. I was new to fly fishing & tying & knew little about aquatic insects. I tied it from a pattern without knowing what it was supposed to resemble. A few decades later, I think of it as a large caddis or maybe more likely a Yellow Sally stonefly. It’s very important that the mallard flank be tied in without any creases or it will corkscrew like crazy when you cast it. Your wings are great, but if you search KZbin, you can find some really bad examples.

[@jeffkrebs5505]

I fish as a wet fly in Vermont with some weight. My go to is yellow. One of my go to flies that I fish like a streamer and get hist when stripping it in.

[@bigdaddy99929]

Good fly I’m sure. I tied a couple last year but haven’t tossed them yet. 😀. Thx Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

I haven't yet either Clyde. But I plan to give them a try this year. :-)

[@karljones6594]

Hello sir getting to this late today. Love me these good old school flies. Still looking for some jungle cock eyes. Tried the plastic imitation not a fan of those. Thanks for sharing this one. Have a good night my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you Karl! And you too my friend. :-)

[@mikemarchacos2532]

Hey Matt, great fly. I’ve been fishing this pattern as long as I can remember. I fish it as a dry #14 (as a caddis) a wet and a streamer as big as size 8. We’ve used red, yellow, black and orange on the streamer and wets all ribbed with silver with red working the best. No JC on the dry of course. Here in Massachusetts it works well on our two most famous rivers the Deerfield and the Swift River. Would never fish anywhere without this fly in my box. I love to use it in size #10 with a bead head swung as a wet. I actually reach for this fly before a wooly bugger.

[@SavageFlies]

Wow Mike, that's some high praise! And thanks for this great comment. This truly might be one of the most versatile patterns out there. :-)

[@thomaswalls123]

Love this one, would like great with a green Floss body with gold oval tinsel 👍👍👍

[@SavageFlies]

I think so too Thomas but I do wonder how much of the body gets seen when it's fished. Probably a good bit as the feathers pulsate a little bit as we strip it in.

[@danielbowmaster3979]

I've been told they work well in the upper St. John river of New Brunswick Canada but much smaller around a 14 size hock

[@LipRippinJunkie]

Super sweet!!!

[@jorgkater9934]

Pleace, more from this.

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you Jörg, I'll try!

[@coreyjohnson2418]

Great looking fly-you explain your process to a "T"

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you Corey! I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@rushthezeppelin]

I was sold a very similar pattern (don't think the one I have has the hackle) by a shop when I was asking about good patterns for alpine lakes. They said the fish take it as a moth.

[@SavageFlies]

Good to know! I appreciate you sharing the info. :-)

[@ithacaster]

Hello Matt, I've tied a few of these using yellow bucktail and the yellow color comes through the wood duck feathers nicely. I don't have any jungle cock or faux jungle cock so I've just tied then without. I've heard that it can be omitted. They *are* a fun fly to tie.

[@bobteeden2657]

I fish it as a streamer and wet fly. I tie it in green flank feathers with a fiery orange body and use hen grizzly for the hackle. I also tie it in natural with a bright yellow body and hen grizzly. For the streamer I tie it in sizes 4-6 and wet fly heavy 8-10 Bob

[@SavageFlies]

Great note Bob! Thanks for leaving it. :-)

[@michaelmerlino6753]

This may be a little late.Tied and fished this one with good results.I have always had the opinion that it may represent a moth.It even fished well sfter getting beat up a bit.Just a thought,tie it with the mallard a little splayed and see what results come of it.

[@jebar01]

Hello Matt, I have always liked the Hornberg and I tie it old school, where the wing is horizontal over the hook shank. It is a great pattern and I have caught trout on the streamer fly usually in size 8. The multi streamer I had a talked to you about , I was wondering if the wings were horizontal as well as vertically along side. Take care, Jim.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Jim! I don't know... I've never see this tied with the wing horizontal over the hook shank. In fact, I can't think of any feather-wing streamer with the wings flat like that.

[@jebar01]

@@SavageFlies Dick Stewart makes reference to this style and I have tied the Hornberg like that and have caught trout. Keep safe, Jim.

[@jebar01]

Hello Matt, Kelly Galloup ties his zoo cougars like what I am referring to. Keep up the great 👍 job, I really enjoy and learn from you. Keep safe, Jim

[@paulobainz1210]

Fished as a streamer, it may loosely resemble a Hamills killer, which in turn could be interpreted as a minnow.

[@SavageFlies]

Cool to know Paulo! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@seizedcarcass8440]

How does this fly look underwater? I assume a baitfish style imitation

[@ehomhomler3182]

I fish as a grasshopper and a traveling sedge.

[@Zlaver]

Hello, Matt.Tell me plz, what the vise you using in this video? Thnx

[@SavageFlies]

I use a Regal Revolution with the stainless steel head. This thing: www.jsflyfishing.com/regal-engineering-revolution-vise-stainless-steel-head

[@Zlaver]

@@SavageFlies I thought it was Regal. Thank you.

[@marksleeper3752]

Very nice Matt you can get the jungle cock feathers at Eldridge bros fly shop in cape neddick Maine they are the best

[@SavageFlies]

Oh man, I'm looking at their site now! I don't see them. Let me know if you have any more info. Maybe you have to call them to order? Hmmm... would be great if I could pick up a cape or two. I'm down to my last one and it's getting pretty well used up. :-)

[@johnsamothrakis4621]

Hi Matt, great fly , but not going to add it to my list , too pretty to end up in a tree😱🤣

[@SavageFlies]

Haha! I've left some beauties in the trees of Maryland. :-)

[@edherrmann182]

Jungle cock can be found if you look hard enough. Be prepared to pay anywhere from $80-400 for a cape. They only come from southern India. Feather merchants, particularly those tailored to theater or decorative market will push the prices up higher for high quality capes and feathers. The feather emporium tends to sell feathers and capes to fly tiers. I have searched for two years for jungle cock capes and feathers that are affordable but still have quality. I have some posts of individuals that cater to fly tiers that I will add in another post. But be prepared to pay big bucks since they are scarce and we tiers have to compete with the entertainment industry.

[@SavageFlies]

Wow Ed, I know they're hard to get and certainly expensive, but I didn't know we were competing with the entertainment industry! My last two capes were under $100 each and one of them is really decent quality. One is only okay. I'm seeing a few affordable capes on Ebay these days, but you have to pay for shipping from England. Thanks for the helpful tips!

[@edherrmann182]

@@SavageFlies I recently was trying to buy a good quality cape and the supplier said that they were way too good to be torn apart to make flies. its apparent that they have their target customers in mind. I have no idea how the entertainment industry uses these capes, but they seem to value them as much as we do . They seem to run the price up. I did find a wholesaler/grower in india..The capes were all 30-40 dollars each. But i am scared to send money to overseas without no guarantees. Besides, they need to go through customs, and somebody told me you need a license to deal in exotic bird and animal skins and pelts.. It might be the reason they are hard to get and why they are expensive..

[@colbeaux]

just got jc from uk, paid 57.00 usd, on ebay 2/14/23