Tom Jones            Click for Full Size image of the Tom Jones

Hook:   Tiemco 5263 # 8 - 16 

Thread: Black Uni Thread 6/0

Body: Olive rabbit, wallaby or synthetic to suit

Wings: Wallaby Fur Dyed Olive

Tail: Black Squirrel Tail

Rib: Copper Wire

1/ First off wrap a nice even base of thread starting from near the front of the hook and extending to the point where you are going to tie in your first part of the fly, the tail. This point should be roughly level with the barb on the hook. Once this is completed go to the next step.

 

Step 1 of tying the Tom Jones
2/ Take a clump of black Squirrel Tail Fibres equal in length to the hook shank. Tie these in extending to the rear of the hook, giving you a nice tail. Trim the excess stubs and wrap over with the thread with several wraps. Don't worry about using too many as this is a wet and besides there being no bulk considerations and extra strength is welcome as this fly is going to get well and truly eaten. Step 2 of tying the Tom Jones
3/ Next take a piece of copper wire and secure it to the hook at the rear of the fly. This wire should be tied in so that it protrudes out from the rear of the fly and is out of the way of your working space for constructing the rest of the fly. Once this is done trim the excess wire and cover with a few well placed turns of thread. Step 3 of tying the Tom Jones
4/ Next up pinch an amount of dubbing from the packet. Form an even (not tapered) rope of dubbing. It may take several goes to get the right amount but once you are familiar with the particular hook size you are tying the fly in you should be able to grab the correct amount pretty much first time, every time.  Step 4 of tying the Tom Jones
5/ Wind this rope forward to the mid point of the hook. Try and get a very even body as shown here. Add dubbing if you have to to achieve the desired look. If on the other hand you have added too much dubbing to the thread in the previous step then simply remove some and place it back in the packet. Once the aesthetics of it are acceptable proceed to the next step.  Step 5 of tying the Tom Jones
6/ Now take a small amount of Wallaby fur. This is very crinkly stuff and is ideal for wet flies such as this. It should be dyed the appropriate colour for this fly which is olive. The wing should be sparse and roughly the length of the hook shank. Tie it in at a 45 Degree towards the rear of the fly. Use your scissors to remove the excess stubs from the wallaby fibre wing and add a few wraps of thread. Step 6 of tying the Tom Jones
7/ Again add some dubbing to the thread. The same amount as the previous step four is needed. We again want a non tapered, evenly sized body section. That means we need the dubbing rope to be even along it's entire length. When this has been done go to the next step.

 

 Step 7 of tying the Tom Jones
8/ As in Step 5;Wind the dubbing rope forward to a point just behind the hook eye. Try and get a very even body as shown here. Add dubbing if you have to to achieve the desired look. If on the other hand you have added too much dubbing to the thread in the previous step then simply remove some and place it back in the packet. Once the aesthetics of it are acceptable proceed to the next step.  Step 8 of tying the Tom Jones
9/ Just like in Step 6 add a wing of Wallaby fur. This wing should be of the same length and density and should also be at the same angle. Once this is completed take your scissors and remove whatever excess material is left from making this second wing. Wrap several turns of thread over the clipped stubs which will also start the build up of a thread head. Step 9 of tying the Tom Jones
10/ Lastly take the copper wire and using between 3-5 turns rib the fly from back to front. Be very careful not to crush the wings when doing this. Also wind the wire very softly to prevent it from cutting through the body of the fly and disappearing from sight below the dubbing. When you reach the front trim the excess wire, add several thread wraps to cover it and to build up the head. Whip finish and there you go! Step 10 of tying the Tom Jones

The Pattern

The Tom Jones has very humble origins despite the name it carries. Developed for use on Victorian stillwaters by John Lanchester it has set the benchmark by which all others are judged. A great blind searching pattern it is equally as successful when chasing active, sighted smelters in the lakes around Ballarat. 

It's slim profile and subtle colouration make it a good all round pattern. It can be taken for any one of a number of insects from stick caddis to smelt, damselflies to scud. It works in both still and running waters and has rather ironically developed a bit of a following in Wales where undoubtedly some would think it's one of their inventions. 

Regards

Antony