Crazy Charlie
The Crazy Charlie is the most famous bonefish fly ever tied, designed by Bob Nauheim and named for his Bahamian guide. Its lead bead-chain eyes cause it to ride hook-up and sink to the bottom quickly — exactly where bonefish feed. A sparse bucktail and flash wing suggest a shrimp or small crab. Strip it slowly along sandy flats with short pauses to imitate a fleeing shrimp. Also effective for redfish and small permit.
- Type
- nymph (Saltwater)
- Hook sizes
- #4–8
- Target species
- saltwater
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Saltwater hook #4–8
- thread: Clear or white 6/0
- eyes: Silver bead-chain eyes
- body: Pearl Krystal Flash or V-rib, wound
- wing: White, pink, or tan calf tail or bucktail
- flash: Pearl Flashabou
Tying steps
- Mount a size 4–8 hook; tie silver bead-chain eyes on top of the shank at the 1/4 mark from the eye.
- Flip hook inverted; start clear or white thread.
- Tie in a few strands of pearl Krystal Flash or V-rib as the body at the bend.
- Wind the body material forward in tight spirals to just behind the eyes.
- Tie in a sparse bunch of white, pink, or tan calf tail or bucktail as the wing.
- Add 4–6 strands of Flashabou over the wing.
- Build a neat thread head between the wing and eyes.
- Whip finish and apply UV resin to the head and body for durability.