Just back from Christmas Island and thought I'd share a new pattern that was a huge success. For anyone familiar with my fly tying philosophy (less is more) this pattern really lived up to my expectations.
After my first trip in 2010 where I literally had bones taking a bare hook with eyes after some patterns were mauled to the point of not having any dressing at all I figured some elements of typical Crazy Charlies may not be required.
So away with the body, the Naked Charlie is a wing over a bare hook with eyes. Does it work? My most successful fly of the week - followed by Darrens Ring Burner CI Special.
The Testicle Variant deserves a mention here as well. For the Two years we have been planning the trip I've been telling Darren not to worry so much about the flies as the bonefish will damn near take a bare hook with eyes. In Fiji on the way over to CI while recounting the story in what may have been an alcohol fuelled moment one such fly was tied.
For the first few days Andrew and Darren asked if it had gotten wet yet - reply being no each night. On day four part way into the second session I thought what the hell, lets give it a go. I turned my back on the guide (who I didn't want to startle) and tied it on. The guide must have been suspicious and asked to see the fly before I'd even cast it. "No, no, we change fly..." was his response as I saw three bones cruise into range. I extracted the fly from the guide politely and made the cast - first fish that saw it raced over ate it. I fished the testicle regularly for the next two days before loosing it and cannot say how many fish it took (many, many) - it also succeeded when allot of my other flies were rejected. I know I will have several in the box next trip.
What did the guides think? Hilarious once I described using body language what testicle meant. They all wanted to see the fly over the next couple of days and had a laugh.
Anyway enjoy tying.
Cheers
Dion
After my first trip in 2010 where I literally had bones taking a bare hook with eyes after some patterns were mauled to the point of not having any dressing at all I figured some elements of typical Crazy Charlies may not be required.
So away with the body, the Naked Charlie is a wing over a bare hook with eyes. Does it work? My most successful fly of the week - followed by Darrens Ring Burner CI Special.
The Testicle Variant deserves a mention here as well. For the Two years we have been planning the trip I've been telling Darren not to worry so much about the flies as the bonefish will damn near take a bare hook with eyes. In Fiji on the way over to CI while recounting the story in what may have been an alcohol fuelled moment one such fly was tied.
For the first few days Andrew and Darren asked if it had gotten wet yet - reply being no each night. On day four part way into the second session I thought what the hell, lets give it a go. I turned my back on the guide (who I didn't want to startle) and tied it on. The guide must have been suspicious and asked to see the fly before I'd even cast it. "No, no, we change fly..." was his response as I saw three bones cruise into range. I extracted the fly from the guide politely and made the cast - first fish that saw it raced over ate it. I fished the testicle regularly for the next two days before loosing it and cannot say how many fish it took (many, many) - it also succeeded when allot of my other flies were rejected. I know I will have several in the box next trip.
What did the guides think? Hilarious once I described using body language what testicle meant. They all wanted to see the fly over the next couple of days and had a laugh.
Anyway enjoy tying.
Cheers
Dion
| tying_the_naked_charlie.pdf |
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