George Leonard Herter - Professional Fly Tying Manual and Guide

Professional Fly Tying, Spinning and Tackle Making Manual and Manufacturers Guide

Written and Illustrated by George Leonard Herter

Revised Nineteenth Edition 1971 – Softcover – 220mm x 140mm – 584 pp – 15 colour pages. Published in Waseca, Minnesota by Herter’s, Inc.

Professional Fly Tying and Tackle Making Manual and Manufacturers’ Guide by George Leonard Herter was first published as early as 1941. Originally it was called the Complete Fly Tying Instruction Book and had 119 pages. Over the years the book was constantly expanded and improved. It covers an amazing range of subjects, so many and varied that I have decided to include the full index so you’ll get some sense of the scale of the book’s contents.

Surprisingly, George Herter’s book often goes unnoticed and unlike many angling classics, the paperback version can be purchased for a very modest sum of $10.00 or less. The hardcover version of course rightly sells for about $50.00 plus. There are a couple of odd things about this excellent book. Firstly, the chapters are not listed at the beginning of the book but are instead included in the index at the back. Although the page numbers are included for the 37 chapters, the subject pages themselves are not numbered, or at least this is the case in the edition that I have. I understand there were many changes over the years so not all editions will be the same.

Secondly, I have the paperback version which is not stitched in any way. The pages are held in place by what appears to be PVA glue down the spine. As a consequence, the pages are vulnerable to becoming loose and falling out. Be aware that you’ll often see paperback versions for sale that have pages missing for this reason.

Despite the long-winded title Professional Fly Tying and Tackle Making Manual and Manufacturers Guide, Herter’s book is mostly about fly tying, methods, techniques, and materials in great detail that I’ve not seen covered elsewhere. It is wonderfully illustrated throughout.

Professional Fly Tying and Tackle Making Manual and Manufacturers Guide is a wonderful angling classic. Any fly tyer, in particular, will not be disappointed on purchasing this book. You’ll find endless enjoyment within its massive 584 pages.

Copies are usually available on Amazon.

INDEX

OFFICIAL DEFINITION OF THE PARTS OF A FLY .. 1
CHAPTER I – TOOLS AND MISCELLANEOUS .. 3

Vice, Moth Prevention, Hackle Pliers, Reconditioning Feathers, Taking Out Curvatures, etc
Bodkin, Stiletto or Dubbing Needle
Scissors, Silver Tinsel Bodied Streamers
Wronski Method of Holding Scissors, Tapered Fly Bodies
Fly Tying Wax Cementing Jungle Cock and Shoulder
Head Cements and Head Varnishes and Cheek Feathers in Place
Tying Threads Tying Off Heads On Small Flies
Wing Cutter Using Gut and Nylon Streamers on
Wing Maker Gang Hooks
Thread Clips and Bobbins,
Waterproof the Dry Flies and Hair and Bodied Bugs Before Selling Them
Razor Blades and Fly Tyer’s Lance,
Magnifying Glasses, Setting the Color and Waterproofing Fly and Streamer Bodies
Hackle Guards, Mirrors, Etc.
The Whip Finish and Whip Finisher, Weed Guards on Flies and Cork Bugs Oddity
Tying the Half Hitch and Jam Knot, Hofmeister‘s Pins, Fly Tying in the Educational Field,
Picking Up Spilled Hooks

CHAPTER II -HOOKS ..25

Methods of Making Points on Fish hooks – Types of Finishes Used on Hooks
Hook Patterns
Types of Points and Terms, Hook Patterns for Flies
Hook Point Positions, Hooks for Spoons, Squids, Trollers Etc,
Position of the Spear in Relation to the Bend of the Hook, Double Hooks
Types of Hook Shanks and Terms, Treble Hooks
System for Measuring the Length of the Hook Shank, System of Hook Specifications
Testing the Penetration and Bite Qualities of a Hook
System for Measuring the Shortness of the Hook Shank
Brief Discussion of Bait Hooks,
Position of Eyes and Terms, Bait Hook Sizes
Types of Eyes and Terms, Hook Sizes for Fresh-Water Flies
Types of Wire Used in Hooks and Terms

CHAPTER III -HACKLES .. 57

Common Breeds of Domestic Chickens and the Colors They Produce, Other Uses of Hackle
Colors of Hackles, A Few Tips on Winding Hackles
Grades of Hackle, Rubber Hackle
Gathering Hackles, Hackle Used for Bodies
Hair Used as Hackle
What to Order in Hackles Artificially Coloring Rooster Neck and Saddle Hackles to Badger, Coch-y-bondhu and Plymouth Rock
Trimmed Hackle, General Materials Used for Wet and Dry Fly Hackle
Wet Fly Hackles in General

CHAPTER IV – GENERAL FLY TYING MATERIALS .. 75

Tinsel
Mylar Plastic
Floss
Chenille
Synthetic Yarns for Fly Tying
Wool Yarn
Fur
Kapok
Quill
Spun Fur
Hackles for Bodies
Gut or Nylon for Bodies
Gum Rubber Crepe
Dense Grained Sponge Rubber Body Material
Seclin Body Material
Lifex Body Material
Hair or Woven Bodies
Feather Bodies
Cellophane Bodies
Plastic Bodies
Wing Material
Tying Dry Trout Fly Wings
Herter‘ s Particular Parachute
Herter Heliflot Fly
Making Parachute Dry Flies with Pig‘s Bristles
George Leonard Herter Method of Natural Cone Hackling a Dry Fly
Alex Martin Method of Tying the Parachute Fly
Tying Wet Trout Fly Wings
Edward Hewitt Aluminum Foil Wing Wet Fly
Hair Wing Flys Dry and Wet, All Kinds
Bass Fly Wings
Streamer Wings, Both Hair and Feather
Hairlon Nylon and Dacrons for Streamer, Fly and Jig Wings
Marrying Feathers for Wings, Tails, Cheeks and Shoulders
A Few of the Birds Which Furnish Fly Materials

CHAPTER V – INSECTS FISH FEED ON ..148

Insects Particular Species of Fish
Prefer Under Qualified Conditions
Color of Insects
Emergence Dates of Insects
Stocking of Insects for Fish Feed
Importance of Fly Patterns
The Detrimental English Influence
on Fly Patterns
Order Ephemeroptera or May Flies
Descriptions of the Different Species of May Flies
Ephemerella Invaria May Fly
Ephemerella Dorothea May Fly
Iron Pleuralis May Fly
Stenonema Vicarium May Fly
Stenonema Fuscum May Fly
Stenonema Ithaca May Fly
Isonychia Bicolor May Fly
Isonychia Albomanicata May Fly
Ephemera Guttulata May Fly
Acentrella May Fly
Potomanthus Distinctus May Fly
Blasuirus Cupidus May Fly
Heptagenia May Fly
Leptophlebia Johnsoni May Fly
Hexagenia Belineata May Fly
Hexagenia Recurvata May. Fly
Ephemera Varia May Fly
Siphlonurus Quebecensis May Fly
Callibaetis Skokianus May Fly
May Fly Nymphs
The Burrowing May Fly Nymphs Family Ephemeridae
The Clambering, Running or Sitting May Fly Nymphs: Family Baetidae
The Stone Clingers or Rock Sprawlers: Family Heiageniidae
The Great Variance in the Size of May Fly Nymphs
Examples of May Fly Nymphs
Potomanthus Distinctus May Fly Nymph
Ephemera Guttulata May Fly Nymph
Blasturus Cupidus May Fly Nymph
Ephemerella Fuscata May Fly Nymph
Leptophlebia Johnsoni May Fly Nymph
Isonychia Albomanicata May Fly Nymph
Siphlonurus Quebecenis May Fly Nymph
Stenonema Fuscum May Fly Nymph
Iron Pleuralis May Fly Nymph
Trichoptera Caddis Flies or Sedges
Stenophylax Scabripennis Caddis Fly
Rhyacophila Lobifera Caddis Fly
Psilotreta Frontalis Caddis Fly
Chimarrha Atterima Caddis Fly
Hydropsyche Slossonae Caddis Fly
Order: Megaloptera
Family: Sialidae or Alder Flies
Sialis Infumata Alder Fly
Family Corydalidae Genus Chau1i0des Fish Flies
Chauliodes Serricornis Fish Fly
Chauliodes Pectinicornis Fish Fly
Family Corydalidae Genus Corydalis the Dobson Flies
Corydalis Cornuta Dobson Fly
Order Plecoptera Stone Flies
Isoperla Bilineata Stone Fly
Alloperla Imbecilla Stone Fly
Order Diptera
Order Diptera Family Chironomidae the Midges
Chironomus Plumosus Midge
Chironomus Modestus Midge
Chironomus Lobiferus Midge
Order Diptera Family Tipulidae the Crane Flies
Tipula Bicornis Crane Fly
Antocha Saxicola Crane Fly
Tipula Bella Crane Fly
Order Diptera Family Simulidae the Black Flies
Order Diptera Family Bibionidae the March Flies
Order Diptera
Order Diptera Family Tabanidae the Horseﬂies or Deerflies
Order Diptera
Order Diptera Family Sarcophagidae the Blowﬂy
Order Diptera Family Syrphidae the Drone Flies
Order Diptera Family Stratiomyiidae the Soldier Flies and Cow Dung Flies
Order Diptera
Order Diptera Family Empididae the Dance Flies
Order Odonata Suborder Zygoptera the Damsel Flies
Order Odonata Suborder Anisoptera the Dragonﬂies
Order Odonata
Order Coleoptera Aquatic Beetles
Order Hemiptera the Water Bugs
Order Hemiptera Family Gerridae Water Striders
Order Hemiptera Family Nepidae the Water Scorpions
Order Hemiptera Family Nont0nectidae the Back Swimmers
Order Hemiptera Family Corixidae the Water Boatman
Order Hemiptera the Cicadas
Order Hydracarina the Water Mites
Order Hymenoptera Family Formicidae the Ants
Order Isoptera the Termites
Order Orthoptera The Grasshoppers, Crickets, Locusts and Katydids
Order Mecoptera Family Panorpidae the Scorpion Flies
Order Hymenoptera the Sawflies
Order Lepidoptera the Moths
Elophila Fulicalis Aquatic Moth
Nymphula Maculaus Aquatic Moth
Order Neuroptera the Lace Wings
Order Amphipoda the Scuds or
Fresh-Water Shrimp
Order Isopoda the Sow Bugs

CHAPTER VI – TYING STREAMERS, HAIR OR FEATHER WINGED ..238

Putting Eyes on Streamers
Making Large Heads on Streamers
Guy Hi1debrandt’s Cellulite Floss Streamer
Making Trolling and Spinning Streamers with Wiggling Discs
Orange Ghost
Herter’s Hook Harness
Double and Triple Tandem Streamers
Making Streamer Wings with Rooster Neck and Saddle Hackle Feathers
Making Britain’s Ythan Type of Streamer
Old Indian Type of Bone Streamer
Alaskan Troller Streamer
Scotch Tube Fly
Saint George Dragon Tube Streamer
Chief Needahbeh Biplane Type of Streamer Dressing
New Zealand Bloody Lure
Jacques P. Herter Attractor Method of Fishing Streamers and his Famous Christmas Tree Streamer
Jacques P. Herter Famous Balloon Streamer
Jacques P. Herter Trolling Streamers with Live Minnows
Hook Sizes for Streamers

CHAPTER VII – TYING THE WET TROUT FLY ..254
CHAPTER VIII – TYING THE CONVENTIONAL TROUT DRY FLY ..259

Dry Flies Tied In Reverse
Hook Bend-Up Dry Flies

CHAPTER IX — TYING THE BIVISIBLE DRY FLY … 266

Jacques P, Herter Method of Making Dry Flies
Tying a Dry Fly with Wild Boar Dry Flies or Javelina Belly Hair Legs

CHAPTER X – TYING THE CRANE FLY, SPIDERS AND VARIANTS ..272
CHAPTER XI – TYING NYMPHS AND LARVAE ..275

Tying Nymphs, Larvae and General
Information on Nymphs and Larvae
General Principles to Follow in Tying Nymphs
Weighting Nymph and Larvae Bodies
Making Translucent Nymphs and Larvae
Making Fur Bodied Nymphs and Larvae
Belgian Method of Making Flies, Nymphs and Streamers with Felted Fur Bodies
Making Flat Nymphs and Larvae
Probable General Preference of Trout for Some Well-Known Nymphs and Larvae
Historical Note
One General Method of Tying a Burrowing Type of May Fly Nymph
Imitations of Cased Caddis Larvae
Nymph and Larvae Made from Liquid Rubber
One Method of Tying an Attractor Type of Nymph
Attractor Type Nymphs and Larvae
Ray Bergman Nymph No. 1
Hewitt Nymph No. 1
Ed Burke Nymph
Ray Bergman Translucent
The Gray Nymph and Schmitt’s Nymph
A Word on Nymph Fishing
The Cicadellidae Tiny Land Beetles
Herter’s Inchworm
Making Caddis Flies From Natural Caddis Cases

CHAPTER XII – SALMON FLY AND STREAMER TYING … 293

Salmon Dry Flies
Other Salmon Fly Patterns
Cains River Type Salmon Streamer Flies
Rifﬂing a Salmon Fly or Streamer
Moulded Transparent Plastic Salmon Flies as Used in Norway
Mills Method of Making Wet Salmon Flies
World Famous “Sixteen” Classic Salmon Fly Patterns
Hair Wing Salmon Flies
Palmer Dry Flies for Salmon
Cains River Type Hackle Wing Salmon Streamers
Norwegian Rubber Wing Salmon Flies
Treble Hook Salmon Fly

CHAPTER XIII – STEELHEAD TROUT FLIES …315
CHAPTER XIV – MAKING WIRE BODIED FLIES AND STREAMERS ..322
CHAPTER XV – HOW TO MAKE BUBPLERS …327
CHAPTER XVI – MAKING CORK AND PLASTIC BUGS AND LURES …329
CHAPTER XVII – HAIR BODIED MICE, FLIES, MOTHS, FROGS ETC …336

Making a Hollow Hair Bodied Mouse
Hollow Hair Headed Minnows
Making a Hollow Hair Moth
Tying a Hollow Hair Frog
Making a Hollow Hair Grasshopper
Hollow Hair Bodied Flies or Streamers
Making a Hollow Hair Crayfish
Making the Whiskerbug

CHAPTER XVIII – THE MISSISSIPPI BUG …353
CHAPTER XIX — FLIES FOR WINTER FISHING … 356
CHAPTER XX – SPINNING OR THREAD LINE LURES …362

How to Make Spinning Streamers That Wiggle
La Guilloisette and the Petit Poisson
Jacques P. Herter Wobbling Streamers and Bucktails for Trolling, Spinning and Casting
Brass Tube Trolling and Spinning Streamers or Bucktails
The Scotch Bully Minnow
Special Poppers for Spinning
How to Make French Type Spinners for Spinning

CHAPTER XXI – DENSE GRAINED SPONGE RUBBER LURES . 380

CHAPTER XXII – MAKING MOLDED RUBBER LURES …. 383

Rubber Pilken Fish or German Crab

CHAPTER XXIII – MAKING MOLDED SOFT PLASTIC LURES. .. 336
CHAPTER XXIV – MAKING PLUGS, PLASTIC AND WOOD …. 388

CHAPTER XXV – SPINNER AND METAL LURE MAKING .. 391

Jacques P. Herter Controlled Action Spoon
Fresh-Water Lead Headed Jigs
Gapen Min-O-Mate Lead Headed Jig

CHAPTER XXVI – SALT-WATER FISHING FLIES AND LURES ..397

Flies for Sailfish
Making Effective Bonefish Lures with Indiana and Colorado Spinner Blades
Jacques P. Herter Type of Salt and Fresh-Water Jig

CHAPTER XXVII – WINTER ICE FISHING JIGS AND WINTER ICE
SPEARING JIGS …406

CHAPTER XXVIII – IMPORTED AND DOMESTIC NYLONS ….408

Nylon
Limp Diameters and Tests of Nylon
General Characteristics of Nylon
Knots to “Use to Fasten Flies or Hooks to Leaders
Nylon is Made in Two Distinct Grades of Suppleness
Bait Hook and Swivel Knots
Crimped Nylon
Leader Making Knots
Knotless Nylon Leaders Leader End Loop Knots
Removing Shine of Leaders
Leader Dropper Knots
Nylon Covered Wire
Line to Leader Knots
Scientifically Tested Knots to on Nylon
Use AFTMA Fly Line Standards

CHAPTER XXIX – STREAMERS, WET AND DRY FLY PATTERNS … 427

General Guide to the Patterns
Wet Flies with Woven Hair
Streamers
Joe Herter Lushbugs
Streamers and Flies with Translucent Polyethylene Bodies
Dry Fly Patterns
Hair Wing Fly Patterns
Wet Fly Patterns
Feather and Hair Equivalents

CHAPTER XXX – HERTER BAIT FISH HVIITATIONS FOR ADVANCED
FLY TYERS 505
CHAPTER XXXI — HERTER’S RUDDER FLIES AND STREAMERS 540

CHAPTER XXXII — GRAYLING FLY PATTERNS … 542

CHAPTER XXXIII — THE BEST NON—IMITATION PATTERNS … 545

Herter’s Leader Fly Attractor

CHAPTER XXXIV — TYING BUCKTAIL TREBLE HOOKS …548

The Roy Conn Method of Making Bucktails

CHAPTER XXXV – SELLING FISHING TACKLE, DISCOUNTS ETC … 559

Federal Excise Tax on Fishing How the Sportsman’s Dollar is
Tackle Items Spent

CHAPTER XXXVI — FACTS ABOUT FISH .. 554

Daylight Fluorescent Colors to Attract Fish
Do Fish Have a Memory?
Do Fish Sleep‘?
Daylight Fluorescent Paints and Lacquers?
What Colors Can Be Seen the Furthest
Can Fish Distinguish Colors?
Why Fish Strike
What Fish See Can Fish Smell?
How Far Do Fish See‘? ‘
D0 Fish Have a Sense of Taste?
Do Fish Hear Sound?
Water Radar
Can Fish Talk?
Porpoise Responsible for New Submarine Speeds
Are Fish Intelligent’?

Herter, George Leonard – Professional Fly Tying, Spinning and Tackle Making Manual and Manufacturers Guide