Fly Tying Inventory
Madam X
A classic deer-hair attractor dry fly created by Doug Swisher. The bullet-shaped deer hair head and rubber legs make this pattern one of the most versatile searching flies available. It imitates everything from grasshoppers to stoneflies to caddis. Floats high in fast or turbulent water, making it excellent for hopper-dropper rigs. A must-have in any Western fly box.
🪶 Ready to tie this?
This pattern needs 7 materials. Sign up free to check which ones you already own.
Materials
Curved or straight shank dry fly hook, sizes 6-14 (Mustad R43NP-BR or TMC 5262)
Yellow, cream, or tan 6/0 or 8/0
Natural deer hair
Yellow dubbing, floss, or fine synthetic yarn
Natural deer hair, tied bullet style over the hook eye
Medium round rubber legs (white, brown, or speckled)
Orange or yellow synthetic yarn or bright dubbing at head
How to Tie the Madam X
- 1
Step 1
Place hook in vise and start thread near the eye. Wrap back to the bend to form a solid thread base.
- 2
Step 2
Stack a small clump of deer hair and tie in for the tail. Tips should extend about one hook-gap past the bend.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in body material (floss or dubbing). Create a tapered body wrapping from the tail forward to about two eye-lengths behind the eye.
- 4
Step 4
Stack and measure a clump of deer hair for the wing and head. Tie in so the tips extend forward past the eye, then pull them back to form a bullet-shaped head. Secure with tight thread wraps.
The bullet head is the signature feature—use enough deer hair for a full, dense head.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in two rubber legs on each side, one set angled forward and one set backward. Front legs about half an inch, rear legs extending past the tail.
- 6
Step 6
Build up a neat head with thread behind the deer hair bullet. Whip finish and secure with head cement or UV resin.
- 7
Step 7
Trim rubber legs to desired length and tidy up any stray deer hair fibers.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voeK9qJMfbY
Credit: Doug Swisher