Welcome to Fishmadman and the world of fly fishing with wake, riffling hitch and dry flies
Fly fishing for salmon and steelhead on the surface is arguably one of the most thrilling pursuits in angling. While this captivating form of fly fishing has surged in popularity over the past 60 years, it’s likely that anglers have been targeting these incredible fish on the surface since the very origins of the sport.
At Fishmadman, we are dedicated to preserving and advancing this tradition. We gather insights and expertise from around the world and design some of the finest flies specifically crafted for surface fishing success.
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THINGS WE WORK WITH
At Fishmadman, we celebrate the art and technique of surface fly fishing. Our goal is to share the craft through expert techniques, insights, and a showcase of captivating fly patterns designed for this incredible sport.
SURFACE FLY PATTERNS ON TUBES – OUR SPECIALTY
We specialize in creating Dry Flies, Wake Flies, Skaters, and Riffling Hitch Flies tied on tubes. These feather-light designs outperform traditional long-shank hook patterns, offering superior performance and buoyancy. Explore our in-depth pages for tips, tutorials, and inspiration for crafting your own tube flies.
THE WORLD OF THE BOMBER FLY
During the summer, we fish the salmon rivers of Norway. When the conditions align, we tie on a dry fly, often a Salmon Bomber. These unique patterns are meticulously shaped to suit specific river conditions, and you’ll find details on crafting them on our site.
Just as we tailor flies to our rivers, anglers worldwide refine their Bomber flies to suit their local waters—whether for trout, salmon, or distinct pools. We continuously gather and share these regional insights on our pages and blog.
BOMBER DRY FLIES ON TUBES
Our Bomber dry flies, first developed in 1995, are tied on tubes—a design we’ve refined for nearly three decades. These innovations provide unmatched durability and versatility. Visit our pages for detailed illustrations and guidance to craft your own surface tube flies.
RIFFLING HITCH & WAKE FLIES ON TUBES
The Riffling Hitch technique has roots in nearly a century of fly fishing traditions. Its origins trace back to Canadian anglers who, in Victorian times, salvaged damaged gut-eye flies, tying them directly to leaders with a series of hitches. This accidental innovation created the iconic surface wake we know today.
Like many European anglers, we tie Riffling Hitch flies on tubes. Our dedicated pages provide step-by-step instructions and unique designs using our proprietary Riffling Hitch tube system. Dive into our resources to master the art of surface tube flies.
THE TUBE FLY – YOUR SECRET WEAPON
Since the 1940s, tube flies have been a cornerstone of European fly fishing, evolving to suit diverse rivers, seasons, and species. These adaptable patterns can mimic classic salmon flies or redefine fly design with unparalleled functionality. Tap into our extensive knowledge base and add another ace to your angling arsenal.
SUPERIOR SALMON AND STEELHEAD FLIES
Our passion for fly fishing drives everything we do. On Fishmadman, we’ve curated a collection of remarkable patterns, including the General Practitioner, Brooks’ Sunray Shadow, Collie Dog, The Frances Fly, and the innovative Micro Conehead Kinnaber Killer.
Tight lines and dry fly regards,
The Fishmadman Team
Our 4 main pages on Fishmadman...
The Fishmadman shop
Some selected pages from our blog
A smart riffling hitch tube fly tying tool
Before You Start Tying Riffling Hitch Tube Flies: A Handy Tool for the Job Before you…
Why we use polyleaders for riffling hitch and dry fly fishing
Sinking poly leaders are the best for wake, dry fly and riffling hitch fishing… The leader…
Keep polyleaders and your tippet in the refrigerator
Longer lasting when kept cold 99% of chemical reactions go slower if they are cold, and…
Riffling hitch tube fly – a bit like building miniature models
A modern riffling hitch tube is related to side planers, outboard riggers and the ottering of…
salmon fly in red
How does a salmon perceive your fly? – Discover the fascinating visual dynamics of Atlantic salmon…
The Collie Dog
Collie Dog fly The Collie Dog fly and Brooks Sunray shadow is found in the Hall…
The Sunray Shadow story
Sunray Shadow Story Read the fascinating story about the late British salmon angler Mr Raymond Brooks…
Squirrel tail – Made for Riffling Hitch flies
The squirrel, a large family of rodents divided into five subfamilies, boasts approximately 58 genera and…
The Mystery of Colours in Salmon Flies
Salmon and trout possess highly specialized vision, finely tuned to detect a range of colours. This…
Bugs for Atlantic Salmon
We wish to further the details on salmon bugs and give you some first-hand usage tips…
Do airline companies allow me to take fishing hooks onboard in my hand luggage
Most airlines do not allow you to bring your flies with hooks on board, so you…
The climate is changing – so is fishing for salmon
The climate is changing - so is fishing for salmon... The last 10 years have been characterized by weather changes and dry and hot summer weather has been dominant...
Fluorocarbon versus nylon
Fluorocarbon has become distinctly popular over the last couple of decades. Many anglers I know do not think twice when buying a spool of fluorocarbon tippet material 6 - 7 times more expensive than a spool of quality nylon tippet material. - But is it necessary to use fluorocarbon tippet material for salmon and trout?
Micro stinger and hitch In Scotland
Micro flies … the essential requirement If the river is low and warm or the fish you have come to fish have gone stale, you will ever so often find that the flies needed to trick such fish into bitting will be some of the smallest flies you may find in your box.
The missing link salmon Bugs made for dry and wet
There is a fishable layer… just below the surface, where a well-presented deer hair bug can do wonders just before the riffling hitch season picks up -
The Turl Knot – the perfect steering knot for your salmon fly
Those of you who fish a salmon fly with an upturned eye probably know some form…
You have to lose salmon and steelhead on small flies
The tiny stuff Why use such a small tube fly? Small flies are essential to the…
A great knot for shooting lines
If you use shooting lines like SlickShooter from Rio or Ken Sawada Flat Beam… then you're…
The Pötkylä caddis tying Instructions
From Finland, comes this fantastic fly by Janne Kuosmanen Body length is 35-40mm and the body is made from a foam cylinder - See how it is done.
Thoughts on iridescent material in fishing
A substantial percentage of the food Atlantic salmon and steelhead eat at high seas is fish,…
Things to also see on Fishmadman
Much more information about riffling hitch, salmon dry fly, and steelhead wake fly.
Fishmadman.com is a pretty big site and we keep on adding information that we find interesting – We do our best to link the information together so you get the ideal experience when you visit our site – Here we have gathered a list of some of the pages salmon and steelhead anglers visit regularly when they come to fishmadman.com
What do salmon eat at sea?
Who invented the tube fly?
Back issues of the Newsletter
Snell´s window - perception under water
Fishmadman videos... details in film
We don’t have film crews following us around on Fishmadman…but we do put some of the special things we do on film… we hope you will enjoy these highly specialised videos on our sport and the flies you could make
A steelhead wake fly tied on tube - using iridescent foam
The Grantham Sedge - Tied on riffling hitch tube
How to tie the Monster Tube Caddis salmon dry fly
How to add iridescent material to heads on flies
See top angler Mr Alan Vang deploye one of our Hitchman flies to hook up with a big salmon
A short video of a salmon rising to a dry fly
Fishmadman Newsletter - something special
Fishmadman Newsletter is a publication on surface fishing for Atlantic salmon steelhead and various trout, read by many 100 ́s anglers across the Northern Hemisphere, Tierra del Fuego, Novaya Zemlya – Australia and Japan… We try to make a letter worth your time – and our interest in topwater fishing is what determines the editorial tendency`s
Our newsletter will arrive in your mailbox 3 – 6 times during the season depending much on what interesting stuff we can find for you…
Newsletter libary
See some previous issues of the newsletter here… or go to the entire newsletter library here
What customers told us....
Mr. Keith Chaulk, Newfoundland
The quality of workmanship and materials used in creating a musical instrument will have a limiting effect on a musician performing 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… Read more “Mr. Keith Chaulk, Newfoundland”
43 inches Atlantic salmon on Monster Tube Caddis
Hi! Per and Jesper! Many thanks for the set of Monster Tube Caddis received from you last spring. The salmon of several rivers in Gaspésie was quite impressed with The Monster! In early July 2015, Jane — my wife — and I fished the upper Cascapedia River in the Chic Choc mountains, where our pool… Read more “43 inches Atlantic salmon on Monster Tube Caddis”
Angler Mr. Thomas Lykke with super dry fly salmon
Summer of 2010 Angler Mr Thomas Lykke with a beautiful bright summer fish caught on a Tube Bomber ™
Mr. Bill Bryden, NFLD Canada
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… Read more “Mr. Bill Bryden, NFLD Canada”
Mr. Terry Byrne, NFLD, Canada
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… Read more “Mr. Terry Byrne, NFLD, Canada”
+ 30 lb. salmon caught on High VIZ. Green Tube Bomber
Norwegian fly fisherman Mr Jan Harry Åsen caught this wonderful + 14 kilo (+ 30 lb.) Atlantic salmon on one of our Big Tube Bombers. Jan Harry wrote us: “Fish jumped right out of the water to grab the big Bright Green Tube Bomber …from above” The salmon was caught in the fantastic Lakselv River… Read more “+ 30 lb. salmon caught on High VIZ. Green Tube Bomber”
Fraser Heston
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… Read more “Fraser Heston”
Stevie Morrow Lodge manager. Copper Bay Lodge
We see more and more of your amazing flies every year, and I just love the way they fish. Thanks again! Steve Morrow Mr. Stevie Morrow Lodge, manager. Copper Bay Lodge / Professional steelhead guide Babine Steelhead Lodge FRONTIER FAR WEST Copper Bay Lodge BULKLEY BASECAMP Also below a pic of your fly in an… Read more “Stevie Morrow Lodge manager. Copper Bay Lodge”
Mr. Paul Rogers, NFLD Canada
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… Read more “Mr. Paul Rogers, NFLD Canada”
Six 20 lb salmon on the dry fly
Our late pro fly tier Mr Kim Nyborg was in Newfoundland for the second time and got everything right in the summer of 2015 – with six salmon in the 20 lb range, with this giant estimated at + 30 lb as the biggest – Many of these fish were caught on the Monster Tube… Read more “Six 20 lb salmon on the dry fly”
Mr. Joakim Haugen, Northern Norway
The 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… Read more “Mr. Joakim Haugen, Northern Norway”
Mr. Chad Black – Steelhead guide and head manager
We’ve done so well on your flies over the years, and they skate so well that we don’t need to fish anything else when it comes to wake flies!
Bill (Beatle) Abshagen
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… Read more “Bill (Beatle) Abshagen”
Mr. Håvard Vistnes from Kongsfjord elv
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 perfectly and float great – I have had tremendous success with light-coloured Bombers and the Monster Tube Caddis. During the season, I often witnessed how salmon… Read more “Mr. Håvard Vistnes from Kongsfjord elv”