Crazy Charlie Variants
The Crazy Charley was developed by Bob Nauheim, a fine California fly-fisherman. Bob conceived this fly while fishing at Andros Island with Charley Smith, of Charley’s Haven. The first time Charley saw the fly, he couldn’t stop saying, “Man, that’s a nasty fly.” So Bob named it the Nasty Charley. Later, a commercial fly-fishing firm renamed it the Crazy Charley, and the name stuck. Many fishermen have added a feather or made a minor change in the pattern, but it is still Bob’s fly.
This information comes from pages 64 and 65 of Lefty Kreh’s Saltwater Fly Patterns book revised edition 1995
Original Crazy Charley (Bob N nil to)
- Thread – white
- Tail – eight to twelve short strands of pearl Crystal Flash or Flashabou
- Body – wrapped to eyes with silver Mylar or Flashabou, over which is wrapped clear monofilament.
- Wing – four to six white saddle hackle tips (many people now substitute some sort of hair, usually calf tail)
- Eyes – lead or bead chain
- Head – white
Crazy Charley — Ben’s Translucent (Ben Estes)
- Thread – white
- Body – Unpainted bead-chain eyes are placed on before body is started. Build a taper with pearl Crystal Flash or Flashabou or Flash Braid.
- Head – white
Crazy Charley – Black/Red
- Thread – black
- Body – small black chenille
- Wing – red calf tail
- Eyes – unpainted bead chain with chenille built around the eyes
- Head – black
Crazy Charley – Brown or Tan
- Thread – brown or tan
- Tail – green or gold Crystal Flash or Flashabou
- Body – Secure a piece of clear 12- to 20-pound monofilament along the hook shank, then overwrap with gold Mylar or Flashabou. Wrap the monofilament around the gold to protect it.
- Wing – brown or light tan calf tail
- Eyes – usually brass (hut can be silver) bead chain, or lead eyes
- Head – brown or tan
Crazy Charley – Gold
- Thread – tan
- Body – gold Mylar or Flashabou, wrapped three-quarters of the hook shank, then over-wrapped with clear monofilament.
- Eyes – bead chain or lead, painted yellow with black pupil
- Head – tan
Crazy Charley – Pearl Flash
- Thread – white
- Tail – few strands of pearl flashabou
- Body – secure clear monofilament to hook shank, then wrap the full length of hook with pearl flashabou overwrap the flashabou with clear mom.
- Head – unpainted bead chain eyes
- Wing – pearl flashabou
- Head – white
Crazy Charley – Pink/Flash
- Thread – pink
- Body – secure clear mono then wrap three quarters hook shank with pink flashabou and then overwrap with the mono.
- Wing – pink crystal flash
- Eyes – lead with red eye and black pupil
Related Posts
