"A very interesting point for the dry fly man, founded on solid facts, is that trimmed rooster hackle will float longer than untrimmed. It will stand more abuse and will take as many fish as the untrimmed: chances are such hackle will take more.
Sounds like the words of a hackle-pusher who couldn't get decent hackle to sell. Remember, their were no genetic necks in George's day.
Herter's sold a "hackle trimmer" that looked like an oversized pair of tweezers with a single edge razor blade mounted on each leg, and a thumb screw for adjustment. Unfortunately, the device didn't work any better than trimmed hackles. I still have one, but haven't used it in close to thirty years.
Bob VanAmburg
Kearney, NE
