Then tie in the D Rib with the flat side down, again, right behind the bead chain eyes. I like adding a strand of black Krystal Flash on each side of the wing of shrimp imitating Crazy Charlies. Wrap the V-rib around the Krystal Flash and hook shank. Your email address will not be published. Build a slight taper when wrapping the Krystal Flash. Wrap the body material forward with touching turns until you reach the eyes. Many other materials create amazing Crazy Charlie wings. This will prevent material coming loose and twist around the shank. This step-by-step guide will show you how to tie a Crazy Charlie. Bring the thread back to the bend of the hook. Tie in more Krystal Flash to add dimension to the Calf Tail. Great for light bottomed flats in the Bahamas. WELCOME TO FLY TYING 14 15 WELCOME TO FLY TYING Some thoughts on the art of fly tying, the theory of imitation and what to expect from this book There are plenty of good reasons to start tying your own flies, but These include: A Crazy Charlie can be used to imitate a small baitfish or a shrimp. The Crazy Charlie is still a widely used and deadly fly. Recommended Flash Material:→ Phecda Sport 10 Pack Colorful Fly Tying Flash. The Crazy Charlie bonefish fly needs no introduction, so lets cut the fluff and get right to the good stuff! After wrapping the D Rib up to the bead chain eyes, wrap the D Rib in a figure 8 pattern around the eyes then tie it off in front of the eyes. Lock the thread in place between the hook eye and weighted eyes. Food and housing are included. Different materials can be used for the body of a Crazy Charlie. The hook point and barb need to be exposed and the shank must be level. Pierre is a fly fishing guide and professional photographer who has guided and hosted trips for top fly fishing outfitters. For thread, he’s loaded a bobbin with a spool of tan Veevus 8/0. The number of fibers should be less than the white calf’s tail. Trim off excess material. Many great variations have been developed over time. The classic Crazy Charlie is tied on a standard, short shank stainless steel saltwater fly hook in sizes eight through two. Jul 17, 2013 | Fishing. Invert the fly and tie in the hair securing both in front of the eyes and behind. Everything you need to know about the best fly tying wire including different wire materials, colors, when to use, what flies need it and 3 sets to buy now. No travelling fly fisher should leave for a tropical trip without a diverse selection of Crazy Charlie’s. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Tying a Crazy Charlie fly. This is really more of a style of fly than a particular pattern and materials can be mixed and matched according to the anglers needs. Required fields are marked *. For most bonefish applications it’s important to lead the fish by a rod length or two. To most non-fly-tying people these books might seem both very identical and quite boring. My small book database says that I currently have 115 pattern books. ... Learning to tie flies, well we have an instructional HD library of fly tying videos which you can search by species, destination, color or imitation. Crazy Charlie in size 6 white. Look no further. Crazy Charlie Pattern Description: The Crazy Charlie is the most popular fly for bonefish throughout the world. 100% of our funding comes from your gear purchases, so if this blog post helps you on your next fly fishing adventure, please support us by buying your gear from us. Trim the excess material once locked in place. The Ultralite replaces the Zephrus as Hardy’s high-end, freshwater rod series. Since its inception, the Crazy Charlie has become one of the most popular Bonefish flies in the world. Trim the flash to the same length as the wing. Please feel free to leave any comments, questions, or even criticism at the bottom of the page. Hold the end of the tying thread in your left hand and the … It also works as a killer smolt pattern in a pinch. Grab three or four strands of the Krystal Flash and tie them in right behind the bead chain eyes. The Crazy Charlie was developed in the Bahamas by local guide, the late Charlie Smith, in 1977. We hate spam like losing fish. Keep the wraps tight to create an even body. Home Information Fly Fishing Fly Tying Gallery Calendar Photos Links. He has extensive knowledge on specific gear and tackle selection for various salt- and freshwater species. Tying the Crazy Charlie Match the color of the flash to suit the fly. The best colors to have at hand are white, tan, and chartreuse. Bring your thread forward right behind the eyes. Home; Fly Tying: An Enjoyable Hobby; Salt Water; Crazy Charlie; Fly Name Hook 8-2 Thread black Wings grizzly hackle Tails none Body braided tinsel Hackle hair Wrap thread onto the hook shank from about 1mm behind the eye to the start of the hook bend. The following materials are needed to tie a Crazy Charlie: A saltwater specific hook in sizes ranging from 2 to 8 is ideal. With Trident,  you get all of that, plus great customer support from real, professional anglers who can help you shop for the best gear. We are raffling off many items, a custom made fly rod, a three day guided fly fishing trip for the winner and a guest, at a cabin North of Port Mansfield. Crazy Charlie A simple fly but you can catch bonefish anywhere in the world with nothing but this fly in different sizes and colors. Instead of flash, you can make use of rubber legs that incorporate flash or glitter. And now, they're back. The contents of my fairly well stocked fishing book shelves bear witness to the fact that I love fly pattern books. Thank you for taking the time to work through the step-by-step guide with me. Run the thread forward to just in front of the eyes. Description: A very successful fly for estuaries and gullies. Tie the wing in just in front of the hook eye by making use of pinch wraps. Splay the fibers out, equally, on either side of the white wing and locking in place. Cover the white thread and all the exposed material. Crazy Charlie Fly Tying Recipe: Hook: #04-08 Tiemco 811s Thread: Pink UTC 140 Eyes: Small to Medium Beadchain Eyes Wing: Pink Calf Tail Flash: Medium or Large Pearl Tinsel Body: Clear or Pink Medium D-Rib Please see our Privacy Page for more information. If you don’t know how to do a whip finish, check out our easy-to-follow guide that has step-by-step video instructions just like our fly tying tutorials. The length of the chartreuse fibers should be the same as the white wing. Throw a whip finish and add some head cement to the head of the fly for added durability. The "Skinny Water Charlie" that we offer features a … The Crazy Charlie is a classic Bonefish pattern that was developed on Andros Island in 1977 by Charlie Smith, a local Bahamian Bonefish guide. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Here’s Don’s recipe and instructions for the Crazy Charlie Fly: 1. How To Tie A Crazy Charlie (Step-By-Step With Video). Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. Fly Tying, The Crazy Charlie Bonefish Fly Here's a classic bonefish fly that you need to have in your box on any bonefish trip. "Crazy Charlie" bonefish flies are simple to tie and will most likely catch every fish you cast at. Before becoming a full-time guide, he worked as an Electrical Engineer in South Africa. Cut a tuft of white calf’s tail from the skin and remove any loose fibers. The most popular options are: Recommended Bathroom Plug Chain:→ Basin Plug with 450Mm Chain. Tie in the tip of the chosen body material right behind the eyes. Although they have unique names, they still remain a Crazy Charlie variation. Wind the rib forward and secure. Disclaimer: IntoFlyFishing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We review and recommend the gear, and you can shop with confidence and security on the Trident Website with free shipping on almost all orders and satisfaction guarantees on almost all products. In both cases remember to keep your rod down – do not lift the rod to set. Charlies Grip the chosen hook between the thumb and forefinger of your right hand and place the hook bend between the jaws of the vise. Wrap the Krystal Flash forward to create the body. In this post and video we show you how to tie a Griffith’s Gnat fly and everything you need to tie it including tools & materials. Some of his writing work includes blogposts for Alphonse Fishing Company and African Waters. On this page you’ll learn all about tying flies, including the right tools and material you’ll need, individual tying techniques and how to tie the most popular patterns of fly. Whip finish the fly twice and pull the nail knot tight. Chapter 29 Crazy Charlie 199 Chapter 30 Wrapping Up 203 Contents. This is Part 4 of the my HD Bonefish Fly Tying Videos Series. Recommended UV Glue / Resin:→ Loon Outdoors UV Clear Finish, You’ll need the following tools to tie a Crazy Charlie. Start the thread between 1/8-inch and ¼-inch behind the hook eye. The Crazy Charlie can be tied in many colors and sizes, with a #06 being the most popular.