| Crazy Charlie | |
|---|---|
| Artificial fly | |
 Traditional Crazy Charlie in white | |
| Type | Saltwater fly |
| Imitates | Glass minnows, shrimp, crabs |
| History | |
| Creator | Charlie Smith/Bob Nauheim |
| Created | 1977 |
| Other names | Nasty Charlie |
| Variations | Blind Charlie |
| Materials | |
| Typical sizes | 8-2 |
| Typical hooks | TMC 811S stainless saltwater |
| Thread | 6/0 or equivalent |
| Tail | optional |
| Body | pearlescent tinsel underbody, clear vinyl/mono overbody |
| Wing | calf hair |
| Topping | pearlescent flash |
| Bead | bead chain eyes |
| Uses | |
| Primary use | Saltwater bonefish, permit |
| Reference(s) | |
| Pattern references | Whitelaw, Ian (2015). The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies. New York: Abrams. pp. 162–163. ISBN 9781617691461. |
The Crazy Charlie is a bonefish fly for saltwater fly fishing developed on Andros Island in 1977 in the Bahamas by local bonefish guide Charlie Smith and popularized by San Francisco angler Bob Nauheim. They fly was developed to imitate glass minnows (young of anchovies, genus Anchoa), a common forage for bonefish on the nearshore flats of south Florida and Caribbean islands.[1] The Crazy Charlie has become a staple fly for bonefish and permit anglers around the globe.
- ^ Whitelaw, Ian (2015). The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies. New York: Abrams. pp. 162–163. ISBN 9781617691461.