Umpqua Crazy Charlie Bonefish Fly

Overview

The Crazy Charlie was developed on Andros Island in the Bahamas in 1977, credited to local guide Charlie Smith and popularized by angler Bob Nauheim. It became one of the flies that defined bonefishing.

It was tied to imitate glass minnows, the young anchovies bonefish feed on near shore, and it also passes for small shrimp. Bead chain eyes add a little weight and flip the fly so it rides hook point up, which keeps it from snagging grass and coral as you strip it along the bottom.

How to Fish It

• Lead the fish: cast a few feet ahead of a cruising bonefish and let it sink.
• Short strips: 4 to 8 inch strips with pauses; when the fish tips down, keep stripping and strip-set.
• Mud and tailing fish: drop it right into a mud cloud or just ahead of a tailing fish.
• Leader: 9 to 12 feet, tapered to 10 to 12 lb fluorocarbon.

Choosing Color and Size

Pink is a long-time bonefish color that shows up well and suggests shrimp. Size 6 is the all-around choice for 1 to 2 feet of water, and size 4 sinks a bit faster for deeper flats, wind and bigger fish.