Southwestern Montana is famous for its year-round hatches of large
stoneflies, hoppers, and other large terrestrial insects. That’s
precisely why in the early 1980s, Doug Swisher, one of modern fly
fishing’s greatest ambassadors, created his revered Madam X dry fly
pattern.
Large bugs tend
to float high on the water’s surface and put up visible struggles as
they fight the main current, so Mr. Swisher designed this fly to be
heavy on hackle and long on legs. The Madam X is named after its
signature crossed rubber legs which provide the bug with loads of
animated movement. The clever addition of a parachute wing post makes
this fly highly visible, even in the roughest and toughest riffles and
current seams. The Orange Parachute Madam X is an excellent imitation
of that large early season morsel, the giant salmonfly or black
stonefly – put a neat little row of these bugs in your trout fly box
and you won’t be disappointed.
Specifications:
- The Madam X was developed in the early 1980s by fly fishing legend Doug Swisher
- The fly was originally intended to imitate large stoneflies, hoppers, and other terrestrials common to the storied trout water of southwestern Montana
- Addition of parachute wing post renders this fly highly visible even in the roughest water
- Black stonefly (giant salmonfly) imitation in the emerger or adult life stage
- Use as either an impressionistic searching fly or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch
- Drift the fly through different water types; faster riffles and shallower water near the banks of a river with moderate to slow currents are the most productive water types for this fly
- Black stonefly nymphs are available to trout all year long in trout water throughout North America
- Hatches occur consistently and with long duration throughout the daylight hours
- Strikes on black stoneflies are often far from subtle because trout must often be prepared to rip these strong clingers from their rocky homes
- When approaching a shallow water environment with a stonefly nymph, be extremely careful not to spook happily feeding trout
- SIZE 6
When and Where to Fish the Orange Parachute Madam X – Black Stonefly (Giant Salmonfly)
This
large adult stonefly can be fished as either an impressionistic fly
pattern when searching for trout or as a realistic imitation when
matching the hatch. When searching, fish this fly in riffles, well
defined current seams, areas below faster currents, and near exposed
rocky structure and streamside vegetation. Shallow water near the river
bank will also be productive when fishing a black stonefly hatch, so be
sure to survey the scene thoroughly. These adults do not possess strong
flying ability, however, and are often swept into the main current’s
drift – look for these floating specimens in the main drift as well as
shallower, less energetic water near sheltered areas. Prior to and
during emergence, an angler will easily spot these nymphs crawling from
the rocky depths to the shallower water along the river bank and
eventually to the surface of exposed rocks and vegetation to shed their
shucks and hatch into winged adults – this is the sign to begin fishing
the black stonefly hatch.
How to Fish the Orange Parachute Madam X – Black Stonefly (Giant Salmonfly)
Fish
this fly in a variety of water types; because of their aggressive and
migratory feeding nature, strong crawling ability, and widespread
proliferation in all kinds of trout water, just about anywhere within a
healthy aquatic ecosystem can be prime real estate for black stonefly
nymphs. These nymphs will often be carried away by stronger currents.
The giant salmonfly is a poor swimmer and is unable to fight the power
of the main drift and will ride the wave until the energy decreases and
they are deposited back onto the safety of the river bottom. When these
nymphs are caught in the drift, they are quite vulnerable to feeding
trout and will quickly meet their match. A popular strategy is to fish
these patterns on a dead drift right through the main current –
drifting a black stonefly nymph through faster riffles, current seams,
and the slower water just below these areas can yield excellent
results. Stonefly nymphs emerge after crawling to the safety of the
shoreline rather than shedding their nymphal shucks in the water’s
surface film like mayflies. This pre- and during-emergence behavior
renders shallower streamside water quite productive just prior to and
during a black stonefly emergence and hatch. Always be sure to cast far
enough upstream to allow your black stonefly nymph time to sink; this
species spends most of its 2 or 3 years as a nymph in the lower
portions of the water column. Black stones make themselves available
throughout the day all year long. Trout prey on them hungrily and
voraciously, so don’t be surprised when you feel an aggressive take –
set the hook confidently and with care if you happen to be fishing with
lighter leaders and tippet material!
Black Stonefly (Giant Salmonfly)
The
black stonefly is commonly known, especially in the American west, as
the “giant salmonfly.” This relatively large stonefly enjoys wide
distribution throughout well-oxygenated freestone rivers and streams;
when the ecosystem is healthy, an angler ought to be able to turn a
rock or sift through streamside vegetation and find at least a few of
these clinging nymphs. The black stonefly is deep obsidian in color and
takes on a buggy sheen under light. As winged adults, these stoneflies
loose much of their jet black sheen and develop brilliant orange
accents, especially along their undersides. Giant salmonflies are
easily identified by their long, brown-tipped antennae, long segmented
abdomens, and short pair of darkly colored tails. Populations of these
nymphs are active throughout the year, but can be quite prolific during
the early season from as early as April, with solid hatches often
lasting through the mid-summer month of July.
Black Stonefly (Giant Salmonfly) Emerger Life Stage
During
its nymph life stage, the giant salmonfly is most commonly found in the
medium to fast water of riffles and higher energy current seams. Prior
to and during a hatch, these medium-to-large sized nymphs can also be
found in low energy backwaters, eddys, and other shallow streamside
environments. Black stonefly nymphs thrive among the cool,
well-oxygenated water of rocky riffles and these nymphs are most
vulnerable to trout when they are either swept up by strong currents or
when they leave their rocky homes to hatch into winged adults from the
safety of the shoreline. Their swimming ability is quite weak and these
nymphs expose themselves by making adventurous crawling trips away from
safety just before emergence and subsequent on-land hatching. These
easily distinguishable nymphs are available to trout throughout the
waters of North America on a year-round basis and commonly hatch from
morning to evening hours. Golden stoneflies are another important hatch
on many rivers in North America, and in the west, they are often
associated with the prolific hatches of the giant salmonfly.
Black Stonefly (Giant Salmonfly) Adult Life Stage
After
migration to the foliage and rocks of the shoreline, black stoneflies
shed the remainder of their nymphal shucks and quickly find mates under
the protective cover of streamside vegetation. The fertilized females
will then fly clumsily above the water, quickly darting to the surface
to deposit eggs, making themselves easy targets for aggressive
surface-feeding trout. Many adults will also fall from the safety of
streamside trees, weeds, and other vegetation. These unfortunate bugs
wind up swept along with the main current and will often collect in the
slower water of eddys and along deeper cut banks. Black stoneflies in
their adult stage are easily spotted as they are quite active during
and after their streamside mating time. Adults of the species can be
quite large and take on a distinctive black coloration with bright
orange highlights.
About the Tyer: Doug Swisher
Engagement
is one of the most reliable predictors of success, and for the last
several decades no one has been more engaged in the sport of fly
fishing than Doug Swisher, a man who has touched nearly every aspect of
the sport. Indeed Swisher has been instrumental in shepherding the
sport from its old-fashioned roots to the technology-centered modern
world. Over the years Doug has written volumes and volumes on the ins
and outs of fly fishing, his most famous written contribution,
“Selective Trout,” has become one of the definitive resources on
fooling finicky fish with a fly. Swisher can also be credited with
positioning himself at the center of the video revolution in modern fly
fishing instruction; he has participated heavily in the production of 7
instructional videos that have helped thousands become better anglers
on the fly. Despite all this creative activity in the writing and film
businesses, Doug has also found the time to become an accomplished fly
tyer, and many of his patterns have become standards in well-stocked
fly boxes around the globe.
Leland on Umpqua
In
1972 a man named Dennis Black and his fly tying skills found themselves
in high demand. Mr. Black, then a professional production fly tyer, was
famous in the industry for his unsurpassed skill and speed with
whipping up tremendously beautiful and precisely constructed flies. It
wasn’t long until this young fly tying superstar realized that he ought
to take his consistent approach to quality to the next level. Shortly
after this realization, a small army of fly tyers had banded together
to support Mr. Black’s vision. With the likes of Dave Whitlock, Jack
Dennis, and Andy Puyans, Mr. Black was officially in business.
Dennis
Black’s new company Umpqua Feather Merchants quickly extended its reach
and fly production capabilities with expansion into India, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand, where the world’s first and full blown “fly tying
factories” were built. Since those early days, only the highest
standard of excellence has marked Umpqua and this commitment to quality
and efficiency continues to spur the company forward. Dennis Black’s
innovative vision for “fly production” has truly revolutionized how the
fly industry operates and has ultimately made the majority of
production flies better. From the first “royalty system” for rewarding
the most creative professional fly tyers to streamlining production
systems and offering a range of other products, Umpqua Feather
Merchants just seems to “do it all.”
Today, Umpqua Feather
Merchants is without a doubt the world’s best and most prolific
supplier of hand tied fly fishing flies as well as fly tying hooks and
materials, and they recently got better! Umpqua’s brand new, state of
the art headquarters in Louisville, Colorado marks another paradigm
shift in the way fly tying business is done. From its vast warehouse to
its specially designed inventory management and tracking system, Umpqua
is poised to continue its energetic trajectory and lead the way for the
next generation of flies and fly tyers.
Umpqua on Umpqua
"As
you may or may not know, we're the largest producer of quality
hand-tied flies in the world. We also make available through your local
fly shop a wide array of the finest fly-tying hackle and Tiemco hooks.
At
Umpqua we offer everything the angler needs to a have a first class
fishing experience. (Everything that is, but the water and the fish.)"
Umpqua on Dennis Black and the “Obvious Quest”
“The
idea first took shape in the hands of our founder, Dennis Black, back
in 1972. As a fast and facile professional fly tyer, Dennis was known
for his skill and speed at producing hundreds of dozens of flies each
year for the larger mail order houses. But he was also quick to realize
how fast the demand for excellent flies would outstrip the abilities of
cottage industry types like him.
The Obvious Quest: To create
excellent flies in sufficient supply – without sinking his standards.
In response, Dennis developed (with characteristic care) a methodical
plan: First, he enlisted the tying expertise of the likes of Dave
Whitlock, Jack Dennis, Andy Puyans and others, to help him set the
standard of excellence for Umpqua flies.
Next, Dennis
established the first of what would eventually be five separate
fly-tying “factories,” first in India, then in Sri Lanka, and finally
in Thailand. The primary focus at each of these factories was on
producing the very best fishing flies possible, constructed of the very
best materials available. From the beginning, the quantity of flies
produced was secondary to the quality and excellence of each fly
pattern. These high standards were assured by the personal involvement
of the fly designers themselves, and by the ever-increasing skill,
imagination and creativity of the Umpqua production fly tiers. Today,
you will find no flies more skillfully tied than those available from
Umpqua Feather Merchants.
Finally, Dennis created a system of
royalty payments, to reward professional tyers like Whitlock, Lefty
Kreh, Randall Kaufman, Larry Dahlberg, and Bob Popovics for uniquely
good patterns.
The Result: Today, Umpqua produces umpteen
thousand dozen flies, from micro-scopic midge imitations to the huge
patterns favored by marlin and sailfish. And the "Umpquality" – you’ll
see for yourself.”