How to tie a Madam X Fly

From: InTheRiffle

Today InTheRiffle is going to show you how to tie the Madam X Dry Fly—a classic pattern that’s simple to tie and still effective on the water. Perfect for mimicking terrestrials, it’s a reliable choice for a variety of fishing conditions.

Materials:

• Hook: Size 12–16 Standard Dry Fly Hook

• Thread: UTC Thread (Color of choice, flossy recommended)

• Tail: Deer Hair

• Body: Thread or Floss

• Wing: Deer Hair

• Legs: White Round Rubber Legs (or Brown, if preferred)

• Head: Deer Hair Bullet Head

• Glue: Super Glue

Steps:

1. Start the Thread:

   • Secure your hook in the vise and start your thread near the hook eye. Wrap back about two hook-eye lengths to create your tie-in point.

2. Prepare and Add the Tail:

   • Place a clump of deer hair in a stacker and tap until the tips are even.

   • Measure the tail length to be no longer than half the hook shank, trim the butt ends, and tie in at the starting point. Pull the hair slightly upward as you wrap to keep it positioned on top of the hook.

3. Build the Body:

   • Use your thread or floss to create a smooth, tapered body, wrapping back and forth until you achieve a desirable shape.

4. Prepare and Add the Wing:

   • Take another clump of deer hair, about a third of the diameter of a pencil, and stack it to even the tips.

   • Tie in the wing facing forward, leaving an extra eighth of an inch of material at the head for folding into the bullet shape.

5. Form the Bullet Head:

   • Fold the forward-facing deer hair back over itself to create the bullet head. Tie it down tightly with wraps near the hook eye.

6. Attach the Legs:

   • Cut two pieces of white round rubber legs. Tie one on each side of the fly with a loose wrap, positioning them as desired.

   • Angle the legs so the back legs point upward and the front legs point downward. Secure with tight wraps.

7. Finish and Trim:

   • Use a whip finish tool to secure the thread wraps behind the bullet head.

   • Trim the legs—front legs should be about ½ inch long, while the back legs should extend to the tail.

8. Glue for Durability:

   • Add a dab of super glue to the thread wraps and bullet head to ensure everything stays in place.

Your MMX Dry Fly is complete! It’s a versatile, durable, and effective fly that has stood the test of time.