Crazy Charlie

beginnersaltwaterbonefishshrimpflatsbaitfishsummer

Description

The Crazy Charlie is a sparse flats fly for bonefish, small permit, and other saltwater fish feeding on shrimp and tiny baitfish. This standard bonefish variant uses bead-chain eyes so the fly rides point-up and a slim pearl body that shows well over sand or turtle grass. It is a good first saltwater pattern because the tie is simple, but the proportions need to stay sparse.

Materials

Tying Instructions

1.
Secure the hook in the vise and start the white thread one eye length behind the eye.
2.
Tie in the bead-chain eyes on top of the shank with firm figure-eight wraps and post wraps.
3.
Wrap the thread back to the bend in smooth touching turns.
4.
Tie in the fine gold wire at the bend and leave it hanging to the rear.
5.
Tie in the pearl mylar at the bend and wrap the thread forward to the bead-chain eyes.
6.
Wrap the pearl mylar forward in touching turns to form a slim body and tie it off behind the eyes.
7.
Counter-wrap the gold wire forward over the body in open turns and tie it off behind the eyes.
8.
Turn the hook over or rotate the vise so the hook point is up.
9.
Tie in a sparse clump of white calf tail on the underside of the shank behind the eyes, extending about one hook shank past the bend.
10.
Build a small tapered head in front of the eyes.
11.
Whip finish and apply head cement.