Blue Charm
The Blue Charm is one of the most enduring classic Atlantic salmon flies, equally at home on Scottish rivers like the Spey and Dee, Scandinavian beats, and Canadian salmon rivers. Its black body, silver rib, and distinctive blue Guinea fowl throat produce a striking silhouette under water. Tied on a double or single hook and swung broadside through pools on a floating line, it has been tempting fresh-run salmon since the Victorian era.
- Type
- wet fly (Atlantic Salmon)
- Hook sizes
- #4–10
- Target species
- salmon
- Difficulty
- advanced
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Salmon double or single hook #4–10
- thread: Black
- tag: Fine oval silver tinsel + yellow floss
- tail: Golden pheasant crest
- body: Black floss
- ribbing: Oval silver tinsel
Tying steps
- Mount a salmon single or double hook; start black thread and wrap a smooth base.
- Tie in a tag of fine oval silver tinsel followed by a small length of yellow floss.
- Tie in a golden pheasant crest tail feather curving upward.
- Tie in oval silver tinsel for ribbing at the bend.
- Wind black floss in tight even layers from bend to the 2/3 mark as the body.
- Counter-wrap oval silver tinsel in 5–6 spirals over the body.
- Tie in blue Guinea fowl feather as a throat hackle, fibers sweeping down.
- Tie in a set of bronze mallard wing fibers with optional blue and yellow accents; build a neat black head and whip finish.