The pattern notebook · dry
Madam X
How do you tie a Madam X?
Madam X is a dry fly pattern for Trout. Find its 4 materials and 12 tying steps below.
The Madam X is a versatile dry fly designed to imitate large terrestrial insects. It is effective for attracting trout on the surface, especially during hopper season.
- Difficulty
- 4 of 5
- Target species
- Trout
- Pattern designer
- Doug Swisher
Added to catalog · Updated
At the vise
Materials
- Dry Fly Hook, TMC 5212, sizes 6-12
- Thread (70 Denier), Yellow
- Elk Hair
- Yellow Round Rubber Legs
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Tying instructions
Place the hook in the vise.
Start the thread at the hook eye and build a thread base to the bend.
Stack and measure a clump of elk hair with tips extending a hook gap beyond the bend.
Tie in the elk hair at the bend to form the tail and trim the excess.
Wrap the thread forward to 1/3 shank length behind the eye.
Pull the elk hair back and secure with X-wraps to the bend.
Measure and stack a second bunch of elk hair equivalent to the shank and tail combined.
Tie in the second bunch of elk hair facing forward along the front 1/3 of the hook shank.
Pull the elk hair back over and around the shank, securing with two loose wraps at the 1/3 shank mark.
Tie in a section of rubber leg along each side of the shank.
Trim the legs with the front legs extending to the hook eye and the rear legs extending to the bend.
Whip finish and apply head cement or resin to complete.