Here is a picture of a Sea Run caught on one of the Sun-Rays you sent me for my trip to Despedida Lodge in Tierra del Fuego Argentina a few weeks ago.—Fish were actually eating small Skuds (14 & 16’s), but this fish was hungry, and couldn’t resist an appetizing smaller Sun-Ray.    I’m looking forward to working with you & Per on some larger Tubes and Partridge doubles for the higher water conditions we might face in late June?—NOT my preferred conditions for smaller and lighter lines and flys, but at least I’ll be prepared.—Thanks.

Most Sincerely,

Bill (Beatle) Abshagen Durango, Colorado

These sea-run brown trout are most often caught with a small nymph, a scud pattern in size 14 or even 16 (try landing a 20 pounder on a size 16 nymph hook!). But they will also come to swung flies (like Collie Dogs or Sunray Shadows) or even skaters. The guides thought your Fish Madman Flashback Bug reflective foam-backed skater (which I know from personal experience is just a killer pattern for steelhead in B.C.) was too big, but I gave her a go and pulled up two nice fish from the depths! Next time I go down to the Rio Grande I will start every morning (it’s calmer in the morning, by noon it’s blowing 30 miles/hour or more) by gently skating one of your flies across the run before ripping it up with sink tips. I’d also try some of your smaller hitch flies as well and I’m going to try all the above on steelhead next summer and fall in BC.

Cheers

Fraser

Hi Jesper & Per Here is a photo of a 40 inch by 21 inch Atlantic salmon we landed on one of your Monster caddis tube flies the last week. You can see the fly hanging from the fish’s mouth (barely). I’ve hunted large salmon for 20 years throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and that fly moves them unlike any other. We’ve had many large fish come to that fly in the last week when other flies just would not move them.

Salmon season 2013 at the Kongsfjord River Just in time for the start of season 2013 I received my selection of tube dry-flies from you - They were tied perfect and float great - I have had the greatest success with light-coloured Bombers and the Monster Tube Caddis. During the season I often witnessed how salmon would rise to the Monster Tube Caddis multiple times...without breaking the surface... I then trimmed the tail of the fly - with success in form of a solid hook-up One morning in late July, I arrived at a pool that almost always holds salmon. The pool has a fast narrow inlet with fast water extending further down into the pool. Here I have found that the procedure is to add the dry fly to the edge of the current and let it run down - on both sides. This morning I started at the bottom on the east side casting upstream along the edge´s. The previous day I had had salmon up for the Monster Tube Caddis. Already on the third cast I had a salmon up for the fly - I hooked it. Some minutes later she was safely unhooked and returned to the river. A female salmon of 76 cm (30 inches) . More fish was showing when I took a coffee break in the sunshine and was soon fishing again - First the eastern side with no results, then the mid-current of the pool. Still fruitless I waded across to the west-bank to be able to fish the fly somewhat slower - A few cast later I had hooked yet another female salmon. This one at 85 centimetre and also safely returned. A perfect and wonderful morning up the river at the end of the world. This season also gave me the opportunity to fish with friends and seeing one of them catching his first ever dry-fly salmon - What great days this summer...catching salmon in the very north of Norway I 'm looking forward to next season with more dry fly for wild Atlantic salmon - Lots of greetings to Jesper and Per at Fishmadman ! Best Regards Håvard Vistnes  

First fly I tried was the smaller of the Monster Tube Caddis. After just a few casts with this fly a huge fish came for the fly but missed. I did two more casts before it re- appeared – This time it got hooked. Salmon weighed 17.1 kg (37.7 lb.) and is the biggest salmon I have ever caught... I love your flies” Joakim Haugen Salmon Angler from the North Norway

The quality of workmanship and materials used in creating a musical instrument will have a limiting effect on a musicians preforming potential.  I feel the same about the equipment and flies I use when trying to make a receptive audience of the stubbornly critical Atlantic salmon.

The tubed dry flies I received from Fishmadman allow me to play the fly just as I want.  I treat them meticulously with silicone throughout the winter and again the night before a day fishing.  These flies float higher on the waters surface than any others I've seen.  I can lay them down ever so naturally, even with a long line in heavy wind.  Their tubed fly is as responsive as electronic power steering when mending your line for the perfect presentation and control.

I made a trip to one of my favourite pools in the spring of last year. The winds were high, the rain streaming, and you could see your every breath. Higher than normal water levels intensified the whirl pool like currents that makes this a wet fly kind of place for most anglers.  I fixed a tubed orange and grey bomber to my 10lb tippet as my first choice of the day.  As I mentioned, the winds were high, "hold onto your hat" high. The type of wind that requires strong and low cast, timed between the strongest gales, if you are to have any control of where and how your fly is going to land. I only made about a dozen cast before I got an encouraging rise. The fish came straight up with its mouth wide open and just missed the fly before disappearing back into the cold fresh water. The trick to getting that fish to "take" is to make sure you duplicate your last cast.  It's in these kinds of fishing conditions that quality equipment and flies can really compliment the anglers skill.  After a short spell, I timed the gusts of wind as best I could and whipped the fly ahead of the fish, leaving mending room to represent the last presentation.  This time the salmon gobbled the fly like a dog catching a frizbie.  She measured in just over 35 inches of chunky prehistoric silver. There is no doubt in my mind that the tubed bomber from Fishmadman was an essential part of the formula making that dream come true.

I'm convinced that the workmanship and materials behind Fishmadman's tubed dry flies have indispensably helped me warm up many tough crowds of cold critical Atlantic salmon.

Keith Chaulk

Hi Fishmadman,

Photo of a 44 inch Atlantic hooked on a Black Bomber tube fly in August 2017 on the Lower Humber River, Newfoundland. After chasing the fish over 500 yards down river from where it was hooked, she was promptly released and swam away very strong. I have to thank my good friend and fellow guide Bill Bryden for putting me onto these tube flies which he obtained through FISHMADMAN. I have been a Lower Humber Guide for a number of years and Needless to say, after hooking multiple large Salmon on various Tube Bombers, I am very Impressed! 🙂

Thank you and tight lines!

Paul Rogers

I can tell you this fly and other tube dry flies will definitely be in my arsenal from this point on! Several times I hooked and landed large Atlantic salmon on their creations when my traditional flies and Bombers had no effect on the salmon. The Atlantic Salmon world is continually changing with new gear and techniques, Don’t miss the boat on this new and exciting way to fish dry flies! Give these flies a try! You’ll be more than happy that you took the time!! Thank-you Jesper and Per” Tight Lines!