Notes:As a streamer, Hornbergs represent baitfish. This unique fly was
created by Frank Hornberg, a Game Warden from Central Wisconsin, in the 1920's as a dry fly, named the Hornberg Special, to imitate caddis. At some point, Frank must have realized that the fly did well when sunk and retrieved as a streamer, which also lead it to being tied to larger hook sizes. In conjuction with the
Weber Tackle Company in the 1940's, Frank developed this fly to be "multi-purpose" in that it might be
used as either a dry fly or a streamer depending upon the line used. In our Sierran waters, most use
the hornbergs, today, are used as a streamer. A common technique with this fly is to let the fly sit on top of the
water for a few seconds, it will sink and you can retrieve with 2-3 foot strips. The depth will vary
depending upon the type of line you are using.You can also do an upstream cast and let it drift down as a dry fly, once the fly reaches the end of it's drift it can be retrieved as a streamer back upstream.
There is a Eastern version which does not use head cement to point the mallard wings, as is also true in Frank's original design. In the Western
version, we do that. The fly consists of a flat silver tinsel body enclosed by a pair of yellow hen
hackles or yellow calf tail. The outer "Wing" is a pair of mallard breast feathers tied flat against
the yellow underbody. A drop of head cement is applied to the ends of the mallard feathers to create
a point. Jungle cock is normally applied as cheeks, although other materials will do. Try using a Guinea Hen Hackle, trimming the hackle so that only one eye shows or use a small black hen neck hackle and apply a nail finish color for the eyes. Two grizzly hen
hackles are wrapped in opposite directions behind the black threaded head.
Hornbergs are popular on Crowley Lake, Silver Lake (June Lake Loop), and many of the Mammoth lakes.
The pattern has been adapted to smaller hook sizes down to #14 for use on streams. It is a popular streamer pattern for Hot Creek. For color variations, try using different colors of bucktail for the inner wing and dyed Mallard Flanks for the outer wings.
As a streamer, Hornbergs represent baitfish. This unique fly was
created by Frank Hornberg, a Game Warden from Central Wisconsin, in the 1920's as a dry fly, named the Hornberg Special, to imitate caddis. At some point, Frank must have realized that the fly did well when sunk and retrieved as a streamer, which also lead it to being tied to larger hook sizes. In conjuction with the
Weber Tackle Company in the 1940's, Frank developed this fly to be "multi-purpose" in that it might be
used as either a dry fly or a streamer depending upon the line used. In our Sierran waters, most use
the hornbergs, today, are used as a streamer. A common technique with this fly is to let the fly sit on top of the
water for a few seconds, it will sink and you can retrieve with 2-3 foot strips. The depth will vary
depending upon the type of line you are using.You can also do an upstream cast and let it drift down as a dry fly, once the fly reaches the end of it's drift it can be retrieved as a streamer back upstream.