In This Newsletter
- A vintage Lenox by Brampton fly reel brought back to life — from silence to sound
- Wingman — the story behind a small riffling hitch fly
- Podcast conversation with Dave Stewart on the Wet Fly Swing Podcast
- Arctic Semi Seal — when experience becomes fly-tying material
We at Fishmadman wish you all a wonderful start to the season — and hope these stories offer a small moment of reflection.
In times when long-standing bonds, shared knowledge, and hard-won experience can no longer be taken for granted, choosing to preserve what truly matters becomes a conscious act — whether it’s an old English fly reel, a tradition passed down, or the friendships that connect us across waters, borders, and generations.
On behalf of Per and Las,
Jesper — Fishmadman
From Silent to Singing
Breathing Life Back into a Vintage Reel
Some reels are simply tools. Others carry a soul.
My beloved 3½-inch Lenox by Brampton fly reel from around 1927 has been with me for many years. It carries that unmistakable sound only old British reels seem to possess — mechanical, honest, alive. For nearly a century, it did exactly what it was made to do, until one day the sound stopped, and silence took over.
The reel finally failed during a fishing trip. When I fell on the riverbank, a large section of the frame broke away. The silence that followed felt heavier than expected — not just because a piece of tackle was broken, but because something familiar and trusted was suddenly gone. The salmon season went on, but under slightly greyer skies.
Back home, help came from an unexpected direction. The reel was entrusted to John Mackenzie, an exceptionally skilled precision engineer, who carefully dismantled it and put it back into working order — without altering the reel’s character or function.
The images below show parts of that journey, shared to encourage repairing old reels rather than replacing them — and to show how far careful, well-executed work can take us.
At the bottom, you’ll find a short video. Here, the reel lives again, focused on what matters most: that familiar, screaming sound, once more ready for the riverbank as we look toward the 2026 season.
If you wish to learn more about John Mackenzie and his work, you can visit
John has now officially retired from public repair work, but continues to help friends and people he has worked with in the past.
Jesper Fohrmann
This was the gruelling outcome after I fell on the riverbank.
The impact left a visible crack in the frame, and a section of the frame had broken away, making it immediately clear that this was not a simple repair. 😵
After the season ended, the repair began with a complete cleaning of the frame, followed by an extremely precise undercut to ensure the repair could be properly anchored without weakening the material. The broken frame was then reinforced by carefully drilling and tapping through the edge, fitting an extremely small-diameter threaded silver wire rod.
Using adhesive and alloy paste, the structure was stabilised from within, and the frame gently bent back to its original shape.
Once reinstalled, the repair area was cleaned and finished. The frame was finally treated using a process known as leading, making it difficult to identify where the break originally occurred.
My beloved 3½-inch Lenox fly reel was restored to its former glory.
The Sound Returned
Wingman – the story behind a small riffling hitch fly
Wingman – the story behind it
I had a bundle of stiff Twinkel Flash fibres in pearl, originally bought to tie droppers (Sabiki rigs) for sea fishing — purely for catching bait.
That’s often how my flies start.
Materials bought for one purpose end up in a completely different place. Not because it’s clever or planned, but because something about the material feels right. In this case, it was the stiffness of the Twinkel fibres.
A Conversation About Tube Flies – and a Podcast Worth Following
I was recently invited on the Wet Fly Swing show with Dave Stewart, to talk about tube flies, the riffling hitch, and surface fishing for Atlantic salmon. Naturally, the conversation gravitated toward fishing under difficult conditions — low water, warm summer temperatures, and salmon that begin to behave more like trout than “classic” salmon. That is exactly where my own fascination lies, and where small details in fly design, angle, and presentation make all the difference.
Dave from the Wet Fly Swing Podcast
Over the years, Dave has built an impressive body of work covering a wide range of fly fishing topics: Atlantic salmon, steelhead, trout, spey casting, travel, gear, and fishing strategies — always with a strong focus on experience, curiosity, and the craft behind fly fishing. With hundreds of episodes published, Wet Fly Swing has become a true hub for fly anglers, particularly in North America, but increasingly far beyond.
In this episode, we dive into topics that are close to my own fishing and tying philosophy:
– why tube flies were invented in the first place
– how the riffling hitch can bring life to even very passive fish
– and why I often prefer light tackle, short leaders, and small flies — even when the fish are large
If you are not already following Wet Fly Swing, I can genuinely recommend spending some time in their podcast archive. There is an incredible amount of knowledge and inspiration there, whether you fish for salmon, steelhead, trout — or simply enjoy fly fishing as a craft and culture.
Later in 2025, I also took part in a Wet Fly Swing webinar focused entirely on wake flies for steelhead. In that format, we went much deeper in a practical and visual way, covering fly design, rigging, and fishing techniques — and showing how many of the same principles from Atlantic salmon surface fishing transfer directly to steelhead. We hope to be able to share that webinar with you in an upcoming newsletter, so you can see the techniques unfold in practice.
I hope some of you feel inspired to listen in — and as always, thank you for following along and giving me the space to share what I continue to learn and explore.
Best regards,
Jesper
👉 You can listen to the episode here:
🎧 Tube Flies and the Riffle Hitch for Atlantic Salmon – with Jesper Fohrmann
🎙 Follow Wet Fly Swing & Dave Stewart
If you’d like to explore more from Dave and the Wet Fly Swing podcast network:
Together with Dave from Wet Fly Swing, we’re taking part in a current giveaway where some of our tube fly-tying gear is included in the prize pool. The final days leading up to the January 29 deadline are soon.
If you’d like to take part—or follow along—keep an eye on Wet Fly Swing on Instagram and via their updates here
🧊 Arctic Semi Seal – When experience becomes material
Trout specialist Per Fischer developed Arctic Semi Seal by Fishmadman in close collaboration with experienced sea trout and salmon anglers. Created locally, yet designed for salmon fishing across the Western Hemisphere, the material is firmly grounded in the aquatic life of oceans, coastlines, and rivers.
A modern, seal-inspired dubbing with roots in Nordic rivers, lakes, and coastal sea trout fishing, Arctic Semi Seal is engineered to perform wherever salmonids are pursued. It has proven highly effective for both Atlantic salmon and steelhead—species that demand the same essential qualities from a fly: movement, control, and translucency.
The blend of fine and slightly coarser fibres delivers:
Natural, lifelike movement in the water
Precise control when dubbed tight or loose
Easy handling, both in a dubbing twister and when twisted by hand
Reliable performance in low water, high water, and cold conditions
Arctic Semi Seal is available in carefully selected colours, matched to natural prey and varying light conditions, with generous amounts of material in every bag.
👉 Explore the full Arctic Semi Seal range here
When the material we previously relied on became unavailable, we chose not simply to replace it—but to develop our own. A limited stock of the original Arizona Seal-Sub dubbing remains available while supplies last, but Arctic Semi Seal represents our vision of how a modern salmon-fishing dubbing should perform in real conditions.
Developed by anglers – for anglers.
When experience becomes material.
About Christian Krogh
Christian Krogh is a passionate fly tyer and angler sharing his craft and fishing experiences on Instagram, with a strong focus on realistic patterns and functional design.
Pro Fly Tying with Arctic Semi Seal
Christian Krogh is a skilled Scandinavian fly tyer known for clean, practical patterns rooted in real fishing. In his recent Instagram reels, he demonstrates how Arctic Semi Seal dubbing by Fishmadman delivers translucency, natural movement, and versatility in modern fly designs.
As true dubbing nerds, we’d love to hear from you.
If you have thoughts, ideas, or insights on colours and dubbing materials, feel free to reach out at fishmadman@gmail.com.
We’re always happy to connect and compare notes.
Limited Time Offer on Arctic Semi Seal
For a limited period, enjoy 25% off Arctic Semi Seal dubbing — our translucent, lively wool-based material developed for real fishing and modern fly design.
As always:
• Free shipping on orders over $125
• Extra 15% off when your total exceeds $170
A perfect time to stock up on dubbing that delivers movement, depth, and durability on the water.
Offer valid until March 26. 👈🏻
This newsletter is part of the Fishmadman archive, where we document ideas, materials, and experiences from the water and the vise.