Louisiana Fly Fishing: Fly Patterns

Louisiana Fly Fishing

Remarks:

I developed this variation of Bob Nauheim's Crazy Charlie in the early 90s, utilizing hobby materials that have since become better known as fish fur and estaz. The concept was to build on the proven body format of the charlie, yet give it greater flash and appeal to specks and reds. It's proven to be one of the best all-around flies down on the Louisiana coast.

Materials:

- HOOK: #2 Mustad 34007
- EYES: Lead dumbbell eyes painted red with black ends. I use the Wapsi brand sold at many flyshops and catalogues. The size and weight is most important. I use size X-SM with a 5/32 diameter, weighing 1/50 of an ounce. A change in the weight will change the up and down motion of the fly.
- THREAD: 3/0 light pink
- BODY: Pearl colored Long Flash Crystal Chenille. I get mine from Dan Bailey's catalogue. You can also use Umpqua's pearl Estaz.
- WING: Pink Fly Fur. If you get it from Orvis, make sure that the entire hair strands are pink, not just the base. I now get mine from Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone.

Instructions:

1) Put the hook in the vice with the hook down (the normal way). Tie in the thread behind the eye of the hook and wrap down about half of the hook shank and then back towards the eye to about one lead eye length from the eye of the hook, leaving enough room for a nice head. Tie in the lead eye using figure-eights, etc.
2) Tie off the thread and remove the hook from the vice.
3) Coat the eye on the hook with a super glue. I use Zap-A-Gap CA+ and I usually do a batch at a time. Let the glue dry.
4) After the glue is dry, put the hook back in the vice with the hook point down and the lead eye on top. Tie in the thread behind the lead eye and wrap back to the bend above the barb. Tie in the Crystal Chenille using several tight wraps to make sure it is secure. Then advance the thread to behind the lead eye. Wrap the Chenille forward in close wraps to the lead eye. Make several tight wraps of the thread and cut off the excess Chenille. Bring the thread in front of the lead eye and then take the hook out of the vice and turn it over so the eye is down and the hook point is up.
5) Take the patch of Fly Fur and grab some of the strands that, when twisted together at the base, will be about 1/8 inch in diameter. Cut off as close to the base as possible. This will give you a length of about twice the length of the hook shank. Tie in the Chenille in between the lead eye and the eye of the hook, on the hook point side of the hook (on the top as it is sitting in the vice). Continue wrapping the thread between the lead eye and the eye of the hook to form a nice conical head. Whip finish and cut off the thread. Coat the head with a head cement. I use Hard as Nails.

top of page