FLY
Shad Crazy Charlie
Shad Crazy Charlie recipe
| Hook | Mustad 3366, Size 6 |
|---|---|
| Thread | 6/0, Orange |
| Eyes | 5/32 Dumbbell Eyes |
| Body Flash | Orange Sparkle Flash |
| Body | Medium Vinyl Rib |
| Wing | Kip/Calf Tail, Orange |
About this fly
Shad Crazy Charlie The Nasty Charlie was developed by Charlie Smith around 1977 for fishing for bonefish on the Andros Island. The fly imitates a glass minnow which is common forage for bonefish on the flats. Bob Nauheim, founder of Fishing International, a global sport fishing travel agency returned to California with the fly. Another story credits the fly creator as Bob Nauheim, who frequently fish with Charlie Smith at Charlie's Haven resort on Behring Point, Andros Island. At which Charlie Smith when he studied the fly said to Bob Nauheim, “dat fly is nasty mon". Nauheim took the pattern home to Santa Rosa and showed them to Leigh Perkins, the owner of Orvis outfitters. Perkins liked the pattern and added it to the Orvis catalog and began popularizing it for bonefish and permit. Perkins did not like the name "Nasty Charlie" so the name was changed to Crazy Charlie with Charlie Smith's permission. The pattern rapidly became one of the most popular flies for bonefish, permit and other saltwater flats species as well. So in the fly that I’m tying is for either the American or Hickory Shad. Try tying them in the popular colors for the shad run in your area. Be sure to try other colors like Chartreuse, Pink, or White.
What the Shad Crazy Charlie imitates
- Streamer / baitfish
Inside the vault every material on this fly opens to its own card, and you can save the fly to your own boxes.
