The Madam X fly pattern, is a great adult stonefly representation that is fairly easy to tie once you get the hang of it. It mimics an adult stonefly really well, but also really great at representing a Hopper or cricket as well. It also could fool trout that are focusing on caddis hatches as well if tied very small, so it is a very versatile fly. I changed up the pattern slightly with these curved hooks to better represent an adult female stonefly depositing eggs on top of the water. However they were originally tied on a straight shank hook I believe. And if you plan on fishing it as a hopper, I would suggest the straight shank hook personally.
The fly floats very well without use of any hackle, which can be a major win for a lot of tiers out there. The price of hackle these days has skyrocketed, and therefor a non hackled dry fly is less expensive to tie. It is also easier than having to deal with hackle as well. The buoyancy of the fly comes from the deer hair wing and underbody. In fact I would argue the underbody, when tied properly (not completely compressed) is essential for getting max buoyancy on this fly. If tied right, this can float really high, and can even hold up some fairly heavy nymphs. Regular brass beaded nymphs usually do just fine underneath these.
Deer hair and thread come in a variety of different colors, so get creative and tie these however you want. These rubber legs I use also come in many different cool colors as well. I really like tying these yellow and orange, but brown, tan, and black are also popular colors. Or tie up some bright attractors and use chartreuse or hot pink thread if you want.
Make sure you check out my sponsor Risen Fly. They have amazing deals on hooks and beads, but also sell some of the best fly rods Ive ever used, and at a price that is very reasonable. With the cost of fly fishing going up every year, it's refreshing to find great quality gear at prices we can all afford. Best off they are offering all of you a discount just for being my subscriber. So go to www.risenfly.com and type in McFly at checkout for 15% off your first order with them.
Also dont forget to pick up one of my fly boxes. I have both magnetic backed and silicone backed, if these sell well I plan on getting more styles as well and maybe even bringing back the shirts that everyone loved years ago. Check out my amazon store front to pick up the boxes. - www.amazon.com/shops/McFlyAngler
Materials Used:
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Hooks: Risen 2312 (size 12) - https://www.risenfly.com/collections/hooks/products/2312-nymph-dry-hook
Thread: UTC 140 - https://amzn.to/4jmOP0s
Tail/Wing/Underbody: Deer Hair (natural) - https://amzn.to/4iZ7vDA
Rubber Legs: MFC Centipede Legs (speckled yellow/Medium) - https://www.jsflyfishing.com/products/centipede-legs?variant=43259203551461
Resin: Solarez Ultra Thin - https://solarez.com/fly-tie-ultra-thin-bone-dry-clear.html
Tools Used:
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Vise: Renzetti Traveler - https://amzn.to/2t2FFmo
Bobbin: Stonfo Bobtec - https://amzn.to/2YWOf39
Scissors: Risen Spring Assist - https://www.risenfly.com/collections/fly-tying-tools-and-accessories/products/spring-assist-scissors
Whip Finisher: Dr. Slick Brass - https://amzn.to/2tGYwDW
Fly Tying Bench: Oasis Walnut Compact Bench - https://www.oasisbenches.com/oasis-benches/compact-bench/
UV Light: Solarez High Output - https://solarez.com/uv-cure-flashlight-high-output.html
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ My Fly Boxes▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Magnetic Fly Box - https://amzn.to/3DBwPQl
Silicone Fly Box - https://amzn.to/40haoIX
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