Tying the Mad Tom
Begin wrap of thread about one-third down the hook shank from the eye. Secure eyes with figure-8 wraps. Take a 3- to 4-inch-long zonker strip, and secure it to the hook shank behind the eyes and over the crisscrossed thread.
Secure a small amount of red bucktail at the hook eye, wrapping the thread back to the eye and then under the eye and around the bucktail to finish the bottom of the fly. Wrap the thread back up to the nose of the fly.
Turn the fly over in the vise and add six to eight strands of pearl flash, wrapping the thread back behind the eye.
Tie in three bundles of chartreuse kip tail (or similar hair) behind the eye. First, tie one small bundle at about 45-degrees from the hook shank on one side of the fly. Do the same on the opposite side to form the cheeks. Then place the final small bundle on top, adn secure. Wrap the thread forward to the hook’s eye.
Tie in a medium bundle of chartreuse bucktail at least as long as the bundle on the bottom of the fly to complete the head, then whip finish and cement thoroughly. Epoxy if you like.
