Bill Charles
Manitoba, Canada
I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada and despite 38 Manitoba winters, I still proudly call it home.
I actually started tying several years before ever picking up a fly rod. A $9 Weber fly tying kit got me hooked in 1975 and I’ve never looked back.
I feel very fortunate to be involved in a sport that combines the enjoyment of nature with a measure of artistic expression. It’s great to see all the unique and varied ideas of so many fellow addicts shared here and I hope you all enjoy my contribution.
Ed's note: I've had the opportunity to inspect Bill's flies up close and must say, they are some of the best tied flies I've seen. He is very talented and I am honored to have him participate on this site. I have a feeling the tying community will hear more about his abilities as time goes on.
Select one of Bill's flies below:
Be sure to visit our on-line store at
http://www.flytyingworld.com/angling/index.html
for your tying needs.
Tier: Bill Charles
Hook:
TMC 5263.
Thread: Black 6/0.
Tail: Olive marabou 1/3 of hook length.
Body: Olive pearl diamond braid.
Underwing: High voltage gold.
Wing: Bar-dyed yellow/black rabbit
zonker strip.
Collar: Olive/yellow dyed squirrel
crosscut strip.
Head: Gold conehead.
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Tier: Bill Charles
Hook: Mustad
3582F.
Thread: Black 6/0.
Tag: Silver oval tinsel.
Body: Metallic black/green diamond braid.
Wing: Black Arctic Fox.
Hackle: Blue peacock breast feather.
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Tier: Bill Charles
Hook:
TMC 5263 #4-10.
Thread: Olive 6/0.
Tail: Olive grizzly mini-marabou
(aka chickabou).
Body: Pearl Super Weave mylar.
Head: Silver or gold bead, hidden
under the mylar.
Gills/Guts: Red chenille wrapped
behind the bead with tag left long.
Tying Notes: This pattern was designed to take advantage of the translucent nature of the mylar tubing available today. By placing the beadhead under the mylar it opens up the body so that light can past through.
Use Pantone markers to match the minnow and stick on eyes to complete the fly. In this case the fly is marked as a small perch.
I have had good success with this pattern, particularly when the trout are chasing minnows in the shallows.
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Tier: Bill Charles
Hook:
TMC 2487 #12-20.
Abdomen: Gold holographic tinsel overlay with
clear midge larva lace.
Thorax: Fluorescent yellow floss coated with
green glitter nail polish.
This is a high voltage version of a standard
chironomid pupae pattern.
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Tier: Bill Charles
Hook: TMC
7999.
Thread: Red 6/0.
Body: Silver oval tinsel.
Wing: White Arctic Fox topped
with peacock sword fibers.
Hackle: Natural Guinea Fowl.
This fly was ‘designed’ by my 4 year old Liam who picked the materials off of my cluttered desk to include in the dressing. I think he may have something here!
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Tier: Bill Charles
These
realistic flies do not float and are for
display only. The hook eye and bend are
clipped off after tying.
There really isn’t a set pattern for these
flies and many of the material used are not
traditional tying materials. The flies pictured
contain such diverse materials as sheet
packing plastic for the wings, crushed miniature
beads for the eyes and surgical glove latex for
the bodies.
They are fun to tie, but a bit time intensive.
I clip off the hook at the bend and the eye
after completion.
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Tier: Bill Charles
Hook: TMC 7999, sizes 6, 8.
Thread: Pale Yellow 6/0.
Wing: Gray squirrel tail.
Tag: Fine oval silver tinsel.
Tail: Peacock sword fibers.
Rib: Silver oval tinsel.
Veiling: Purple floss.
Body: Rear half, purple floss; front
half peacock.
Hackle: Purple Guinea Fowl.
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Tier: Bill Charles
Hook:
TMC 5263 or 5262 #10-12.
Thread: Olive 6/0.
Tail: Olive grizzly mini-marabou
(aka: chickabou).
Body: Crosscut olive dyed Pine
Squirrel.
Head: Gold bead.
Note: I love the look and action that cross-cut fur wrapping gives to Pike/Bass flies but the hair length of the commonly used rabbit fur makes it unsuitable for smaller flies. I found that Pine squirrel fur is just the right length for size 8 to 12 streamers. It is not available, as far as I know, in crosscut strips so you have to make your own.
This is by far my most productive streamer pattern and has saved many a day.
Select Another Fly:
Return to Bill's Introduction.
Be sure to visit our on-line store at
http://www.flytyingworld.com/angling/index.html
for your tying needs.