The crazy Charlie.

This particular fly is a fairly versatile fly and can befished to represent small bait fish, shrimps, and the like. It isslightly weighted with bead chain eyes, which give it the abilityto be fished in different water depths and because of theposition of the bead chain, the fly can also be fished on thebottom and will ride hook up to avoid snagging. This fly can befished in estuary situations as well as in harbours and sandflats and is a good pattern to start on because of it’srelative simplicity to tie.

For those who are just getting into tying your own flies, thebasics you will need are a vice, bobbin cradle, thread, andscissors. You will also need to purchase the materials needed totie each particular fly. For the Crazy Charlie, you will needwhite bucktail, bead chain eyes, rainbow crystal flash, and bodymaterial (eg: chenille, tinsel wrap). It is to your advantageto either find a friend who has previously tied, or hire out avideo that shows some of the techniques before starting.

Crazy Charlie recipe.

Hook: #2 Mustad 34007 or equivalent.

Thread: Danville’s flat waxed nylon-white.

Body: Red tinsel wrap.

Eyes: Medium sized bead chain eyes.

Wing: White buck tail, topped with tan buck tail.

Flashing: Rainbow crystal flash.

Tying procedure: Before beginning any pattern,place the hook firmly in the vice, crimp the barb, and check thatthe hook point is sharp- if not, sharpen the point using a hookfile.

Step one:Fix the thread onto the hook by over wrapping it, then run itdown the hook to a point just before the bend. Attach the bodymaterial, and wind the thread up to a point 1 1/2 hook eyesbefore the eye.

Step two:Wind the body material up to meet the thread and fix it therewith a few wraps.

Step three:Place the eyes on the top of the hook and fix the eyes with thefigure eight wrap (4-6 full wraps will be fine). Bring the threadto a point just in front of the eyes.

Step four:Turn the hook upside down in the vice and attach the first smallsection of buck tail just in front of the eyes with a few goodwraps. Keep in mind that the buck tail should be no longer than 11/2 hook shank lengths.

Step five:Tie in 3 strands of flash on either side of the white. Attach aslightly shorter tan section of buck tail on top of the white.

Step six:Whip finish the head of the fly and seal with head cement if youwish.

Tips: * Be sure to wind the body material onto the hookin the opposite direction to

what you are winding the thread.

Instead of using head cement to seal the finished fly, you can use your own choice of coloured or clear fingernail polish.
Be sure not to dress the fly too heavily, as this will restrict its action.
Try different variations of material colours and hook sizes to match the size of bait and fish you are targeting.
Spend the extra time to make sure the materials are all symmetrical on the fly as this is the main difference in the success of a fly and will determine how well it swims.