The quality of workmanship and materials used in creating a musical instrument will have a limiting effect on a musician performing potential. I feel the same about the equipment and flies I use when trying to make a receptive audience of the stubbornly critical Atlantic salmon.
The tubed dry flies I received from Fishmadman allow me to play the fly just as I want. I treat them meticulously with silicone throughout the winter and again the night before a day fishing. These flies float higher on the water’s surface than any others I’ve seen. I can lay them down ever so naturally, even with a long line in heavy wind. Their tubed fly is as responsive as electronic power steering when mending your line for the perfect presentation and control.
I made a trip to one of my favourite pools in the spring of last year. The winds were high, the rain streaming, and you could see your every breath. Higher than normal water levels intensified the whirlpool-like currents that make this a wet fly kind of place for most anglers. I fixed a tubed orange and grey bomber to my 10lb tippet as my first choice of the day. As I mentioned, the winds were high, “hold onto your hat” high. The type of wind that requires a strong and low cast, timed between the strongest gales if you are to have any control of where and how your fly is going to land. I only made about a dozen cast before I got an encouraging rise. The fish came straight up with its mouth wide open and just missed the fly before disappearing back into the cold freshwater. The trick to getting that fish to “take” is to make sure you duplicate your last cast. It’s in these kinds of fishing conditions that quality equipment and flies can really compliment the skill of the angler. After a short spell, I timed the gusts of wind as best I could and whipped the fly ahead of the fish, leaving mending room to represent the last presentation. This time the salmon gobbled the fly like a dog catching a frizbie. She measured in just over 35 inches of chunky prehistoric silver. There is no doubt in my mind that the tubed bomber from Fishmadman was an essential part of the formula making that dream come true.
I’m convinced that the workmanship and materials behind Fishmadman’s tubed dry flies have indispensably helped me warm up many tough crowds of cold critical Atlantic salmon.
Keith Chaulk