A great knot for shooting lines
Strong. Slim. Perfectly centred. We reposted this blog post from 2020 to bring it in line with the other loop blogs in the series. As part of the update, we also created a new set of illustrations to make the…
Why We Use Polyleaders for Riffling Hitch & Dry Fly Fishing
At Fishmadman we have used polyleaders for many years — especially for riffling hitch and dry fly fishing for salmon and sea trout. While lightly sinking leaders for surface fishing may sound controversial, we have found several major advantages in…
How to Build a Strong and Slim Fly Line Loop
Slim. Secure. Quiet. Built to Perform. Most factory-made fly line loops are built for production efficiency — not necessarily for fishing performance. A slim and properly constructed loop creates smoother guide transition, less disturbance and a cleaner overall fishing system…
How to Remove Coating From Welded Fly Line Loops
Modern shooting heads and fly lines are better than ever, but one small detail still tends to bother me on many factory-made lines — especially on heavier setups. The welded loops found on shooting heads and fly lines in AFTM…
Wingman — Holding Position
Wingman is not about being first. It’s about holding a position. A riffling hitch tube fly built for balance, angle control, and clean movement in fast water.
A smart riffling hitch tube fly tying tool
Before You Start Tying Riffling Hitch Tube Flies: A Handy Tool for the Job Before you dive into tying riffling hitch tube flies, it’s a good idea to create a specialized tool for poking a hole in the belly of…
Keep polyleaders and your tippet in the refrigerator
Longer lasting when kept cold 99% of chemical reactions go slower if they are cold, and as a guide, for artificial age testing of polymers, the rule of thumb is 10 degrees Celsius = doubling of the time. This is…
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 boats. Riffling hitch tube flies is a relatively new design in fly tying – English salmon guide and author Mr Crawford Little was one…
Why Do Red Salmon Flies Work Better Late in the Season?
Many salmon anglers have experienced it. A fly that seemed almost invisible earlier in the season suddenly becomes highly effective as autumn approaches. Red, orange and brown salmon flies often start out-fishing brighter patterns, sometimes to a surprising degree. For…
The Collie Dog
Collie Dog fly The Collie Dog fly and Brooks Sunray shadow is found in the Hall of Fame of salmon flies. The Collie dog is originally a Scottish fly from the late 18´century. It was probably one of the very…
The Sunray Shadow story
Sunray Shadow Story Read the fascinating story about the late British salmon angler Mr Raymond Brooks and how he, through ingenuity and dedication to salmon fly fishing, came to make the most famous tube fly in the world - Read…
Squirrel tail – Made for Riffling Hitch flies
The squirrel, a large family of rodents divided into five subfamilies, boasts approximately 58 genera and around 285 species. Among these, the Eastern Grey Squirrel and the Pine Squirrel have long been prized as top materials for fly tying. Hair…
Ken Milton – Hand-Tapered Mono Leaders Before Poly Leaders
What We Learned from Ken Milton in the 1980s
