The Hornberg

Posted on May 20, 2023 by Ed Mitchell

The Hornberg

Colonel Joseph Bates, in his fine book “Streamers & Bucktails the Big Fish Flies”, reports that this fly was created by Frank Hornberg, a conservation warden in Portage County, Wisconsin. Designed to mimic a small minnow, the Hornberg was born almost 100 years ago and sold commercially by the Weber Tackle Company, becoming widely popular in many waters.

The Hornberg

The Hornberg had no tail, the body was flat wound silver tinsel, over which two yellow hackles made an underwing. Over that wing, were tied pale grey mallard feather cheeks that extended back beyond the hook bend. Jungle-cock eyes were added on top of both cheeks with several turns of grizzly hackle forming a collar up at the eye.

Upon landing on the water, the grizzly collar had a tendency to momentarily cause the fly to float. This allowed anglers to briefly fish the Hornberg as a dry fly, perhaps imitating a caddis, or stonefly, or even a hopper. Once submerged it became a conventional streamer, making it a versatile fly.

Originally this fly was tied upwards of size 6, but today size 10 is the most common on a hook such as the Mustad 9671. Silver braid has replaced the tinsel and the yellow hackle has given way to yellow bucktail. Otherwise, the fly is much the same. In his “Book of Fly Patterns”, Eric Leiser tells us over the years many variations of the Hornberg popped up, often utilizing colored mallard wings, noting that well-known tyer Dick Steward even made a flat wing version of this fly.

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Days on the Delaware River

Posted on May 14, 2023 by Ed Mitchell

Days on the Delaware River

Just got back from a few days on the Delaware River, in upstate New York. Magnificent country, endless trout waters, funky little towns, all of it surrounded by the Catskill high country, part of the Appalachian Mountains.

The Delaware was new water for me. Eons ago I  fly-fished the Beaverkill River and the Willowemoc Creek, but not the Delaware. Somehow it never made it on my radar screen back then. That changed when I got an invitation to spent a few days on the Delaware River with Captain Pete Farrell, who knows these waters well.

So how was the fishing? Well, first the bad news. During the prior week the Catskill experienced heavy rains and all the rivers were swollen. And the high water not only affected the wading, it greatly reduced the hatches the Delaware is famous for at  this time of year. As always Mother Nature holds the cards.

So, as you can imagine. there were long faces in the fly shops. We should have been seeing rafts of Hendricksons, March Browns, Blue Quills, Grannon caddis, and Yellow Sally Stones.  Oh well.

But hold on, there was some good news too. Our days on the Delaware did have a few shining moments. Both Pete and I  managed to land a large trout. Pete had a big beautiful “bow”. Nice going Pete! And I got a thick 23″ butter yellow brown on a Hendrickson dry. It was one of the most beautiful trout I had ever seen – fat, a perfect specimen in every regard. Captain Pete estimated it to weight 5 or 6 pounds. Ahhh, days on the Delaware!

 

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Phil & Catherine Get a Boat

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Ed Mitchell

For over a year, Phil has been jonesing for a boat. And his girlfriend Catherine was onboard with the idea too. So Phil has been searching far and wide for the right one. Looking in the paper, looking on the internet, looking on Craigslist, looking on Facebook, looking, looking, looking. High and low.

The Proud Owners

Well last week the stars aligned – bingo. All that planning finally came together. Phil found a 15′ Stonington Skiff in super shape. Recently remodeled, and recently rewired, it was priced right and has a decent trailer and a dependable motor. Done deal. You gotta love it.

Yeah, there are still things to do before they can launch. Registration, ship to shore VHF marine radio, life jackets, rod racks, extra rope, cushions, and beyond. But that’s no big deal.  Next thing you know Phil and Catherine will be on the water smiling big time. Let the fun begin!

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A Day on the Salmon River

Posted on April 11, 2023 by Ed Mitchell

A Day on the Salmon River

Salmon River Angler

I’ve mentioned this small trout stream several times over the years. Fun spot. Now there are a zillion Salmon Rivers in the USA, so allow me to zero in. I’m referring to the Salmon River in Colchester, Connecticut. Its springs from the union of the Blackledge River and the Jeremy River. And then runs a few miles to the Connecticut River, through a forested landscape.

Recently I did a day on the Salmon River. The water level was low due to the lack of snow.

Salmon River Angler

When I was a kid, Connecticut averaged about  48″ of snow each winter. These days the average is 37″ inches, and this winter I figure we got upwards of  a whopping 10″.  Quite a drop!

Eight-foot or 8-foot 6, 4-weight fly rod is perfect, although a 9- foot rod is helpful for nymph fishing. Wading is not particular difficult and there is handicap access point roughly midway in the fly-fishing only area. Expect it to be crowded.

You’ll see the majority of anglers from a bit above the fly fishing only area, downstream to the picnic park a few hundred yard below the  Comstock Covered Bridge. The state had stocked the Salmon River very well with some chunky trout.  I saw several landed that were 15″ or larger and one angler reported releasing a 24″ trout the prior week. Yes a brood stock fish no doubt, but you gotta lover that. I did see a caddis hatch in the morning, but the best way to fish the river is subsurface. If the river is up with snow melt, streamers are effective. When it is low, like it is now, small nymphs rule.  Hope to see you on the water.

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A Look at the Nirvana 4/6 Reel

Posted on April 1, 2023 by Ed Mitchell

A Look at the Nirvana 4/6 Reel

Nirvana Reel 4/6

For more years than I care to remember, I’ve been relying on a Hardy Princess for freshwater. Its a great trout reel. Looks perfect on my classic fiberglass fly rods. And I love the sound of a click & pawl drag.

Recently I was over on the Fiberglass Manifesto website and came across a reel being offered by Moonlit Fly Fishing. It caught my eye. Like the Hardy, it had a wonderful vintage look, simple mechanical design, and a click & pawl drag. Sweeting the mix, it was being offered at a decent discount. So I jumped on it.

Similar to the Hardy, the Nirvana is a spool-in-cage design. Neither the front nor the back is ventilated. The body is anodized aluminum in a gun metal gray, standing 3.5″ tall and about 7/8″ thick. Ready for a 4 or 5 or 6 line. With a 5 weight floating fly line and backing aboard the reel tips in at 7.15 ounces. It is easily reversible. And before I forget the reel seat and the line guard are brass. Nice touch.

Have not have a chance to take this Nirvana 4/6 reel to the water yet, but that will happen. If there is anything more to report, I’ll be sure to do so. In the picture up top, the Nirvana rides a Winston fiberglass fly rod

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