Traditionally, a Hornberg’s wingtips are cemented into a point. But, I have seen them left natural too. What do you think looks better? I’m tying a dozen up for a swap and am undecided on what look I like better.
kid, waltryan’s hornbergs that he tied for our color swap had pointy ends. you’ll remember–and i’ll never forget!–how awfully life-like and crawly-looking they were in the box when i opened it up. i vote for pointy ends.
QKid. Traditonally pointed, cemented wing tips? I always thought the other way around. Look at: http://mainefishingtoday.com/aroostookbasser/?m=200901
Also look in the Archive of old flies at this site.
Personally I think that the hornerg is a much nicer looking fly with the wing left natural.
Either way it should be a nice fly for a swap - your choice.
Tim
I’m with Panman on this. I’ve never seen a Hornberg with pointy cemented tips. I’ve only seen them naturally tied. But that’s just me. Good luck.
Beaver
i like them tie like this
Thanks for the input… I’m doing these a touch different than a standard Hornberg. A bit shorter, different hook than normal… I’ll post some pics before I send them off.
Panman, I’m going to try some with wood duck and teal breast feathers after I get these done. They should look cool!
I have never seen a Hornberg with pointy ends. I like them natural.
I use lots of Hornbergs always do natural wings ends
wet
You can certainly tie this fly either way. I usually tie it with the natural feather and no shaping on my part. I believe this is the way the pattern was originally tied. The feather will skinny down in the water and will assume a naturally tapered, ‘pointy’ tail if you will. I wonder if the others we see are not tied using some sort of adhesive to point the tail thus simulating in a display fly the appearance of the fly when wet.
I suppose if your purpose is the later, than pointy makes sense. If it is the former however, the water will take care of shaping the fly naturally.
Tight lines,
George
I would say that if you cement the feather tips it is, by definition, no longer a Hornberg.
Hi All,
According to Richard Talluer in his book “Mastering the Art of Fly Tying”, copyright 1979, the hornberg was the pattern of Frank Hornberg, a Wisconsin Game Keeper, with some kind of association with the Weber Tackle Company. Because of his research on the fly, he thought it was developed some time shortly after world war II.
He points out that at the time he wrote the book there were several versions of the Hornberg, including tent wing versions, a version with a single flat wing mallard flank feather, and one tied with bronze mallard that Talleur thought was particually good looking.
There were also debates as to how broad the feather should be, and states that the debates at that time also included whether to us a dab of cement to point the tips and glue them together. Thus the debate has gone on for years. He does point out that the original form of the Hornberg had the tips glued and pointed.
If I was going to tie the Hornberg, I would not glue the tips.
Regards,
Gandolf
Gandolf: Thanks for the update.
I have seen recipes that tell you to cement (glue) the top edge of the feathers together