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LaFleur’s Charlie Fly Step-by-Step:
A local spin on the famed Crazy Charlie, the LaFleur’s Charlie has long been on my list of patterns to share on this blog. The creation of local angler, Mike LaFleur, this flashy, heavier-bodied Charlie variation is a favorite of many south Louisiana anglers. Having accounted for redfish, speckled trout, flounder and even sheepshead, it’s a wonder that this fly’s popularity has not spread well beyond the bounds of cajun country.
Requiring only five materials (including hook & thread), this fly is as simple and effective as they come. Tied here in tan, I’m hopeful this fly can help me finally land one of the sheepshead that have evaded me for years.
| Materials: | ||
|---|---|---|
 Gamakatsu SL11-3H |  140 Denier (Tan) |  Dumbell Eyes (XS; Color of Chocie) |
 Ice Chenille (Tan) |  Craft Fur (Tan) |  UV Resin |
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LaFleur’s Charlie Fly Step-by-Step Tying Instructions:
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Tips and Tricks
- Color Selection – While I’ve stuck with a more subdued, natural color pattern in my example, don’t overlook less natural options as well. Purple & Purple-Black are popular options in the winter months as is Chartreuse in certain situations. Given how easy it is to tie, I’d recommend tying a few of each color before your next trip to the marsh.
- Weight and Movement – It just so happened that the creator of this fly joined us for Flies and Flights this past month. While Mike proved a fount of knowledge, one item in particular that caught my attention was with regards to this fly. While discussing his creation with another angler, he made reference to the importance of weight, and how it effects the creation of his fly. While I did not catch the specifics that evening, a quick google search provided the answer in a similar post to this one published back in January of 2000. In it, Mike states that dumbbell eyes weighing 1/50 oz produce the ideal movement for this fly. Anything significantly heavier or lighter will alter this movement. Moral of the story, be careful when selecting your dumbbell eyes. This may be a situation where substitutions affect the outcome.
Proof of Concept
While I’ve landed a few speckled trout on this pattern in the past, these were tied with the intent of targeting sheepshead. My long standing nemesis in the salt, I was once again thwarted by these Cajun Permit on a recent visit to the marsh. However, my fishing partner on the day managed to land one and miss two others. Spurred on by his success, I’ll plan to return soon armed with a batch of LaFleur’s Charlies.
Tight Line!
Chris
Species Caught on the LaFleur’s Charlie to Date:
- Speckled Trout
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Nice fly – and so simple. I finally figured out the difference between the classic and Lafleur’s Charlies.