Without a doubt the Crazy Charlie is the number one bonefish fly. It is considered to be the "Father of modern bonefish fly designs". It has also been adapted for many other species, including steelhead and salmon. It was originated by Bob Nauheim while fishing with the well-known Bahamian fishing guide, Charlie Smith, on Andros Island in the late 1970s. Charlie was born there in 1936 at Abaco and caught his first bonefish at the age of 6. The fly was so successful that Charlie would say, "Dat fly Nasty!!", so the fly was originally called "Nasty Charlie".
I met Charlie on Pot Cay while fishing for bonefish on South Andros Island at the AIBC in 2006. At 70 years of age he was rebuilding an old set of camps by himself on an isolated island in a style that can only be described as quirky, but which is now open and looking pretty stylish. It is now called The BangBang Club, a name which originates from the '30s when Al Capone is reputed to have used it as a hideout.
The original fly was tied with clear v-rib over silver flashabou, but tan, yellow, gold, brown or pink work well too. It was originally tied to imitate a small baitfish but was soon found to be taken by bonefish as a sand shrimp. It is an excellent choice for any fish that eats shrimp, including permit and redfish. The fly is very light weight and therefore doesn't splash when it hits the water, but because of the bead chain eyes sinks quickly For fishing over a clear sandy bottom, use pink, white or gray. Use brown or tan over grassy bottoms. Small strips work best and sizes 4, 6 and 8 are the most effective. My wife and I used a white Crazy Charlie exclusively on the sand flats of Anegada in the BVI with excellent results. Please see http://www.flatsfishingflies.com/ for a selection of saltwater flats flies. Tight lines!!!
