Baby Gonga by Charlie Craven

[@rbmcdonald1977]

I am a new guppy in the waters of fly fishing at 68. I have found you to be, not just a tire of flies, but a creator and craftsman! Thank you for sharing your joyful art with us!

[@3for5spotshooter]

Thats the Green River Fall colors for sure. Spot on.

[@dylanbarney3290]

What a master of the craft. Already picked up so many nuances and techniques. And as a lefty who ties right handed, very cool to hear of the opposite!

[@deandochterman8182]

Last July on the Gunnison below Almont, the BG accounted for close to 50 fish! We were drifting and hitting fish in every bucket. Capped it off with a 10lb stocked rainbow in a honey hole right before take out. My guide, Matt Galvez even saved a man’s life that day who was tubing on a deflated tube and was close to hypothermia. An absolutely AMAZING day!

[@joefbtg28]

Charlie's videos are the best! For anyone who was having issues with the craft fur. I have found using a long Dubbing Loop Tweezer and getting the portion for the head in your tweezer prior to cutting it from the hide is much easier! Hope this helps someone else.

[@squatchy69]

Thanks so much for the time you spend teaching us how to tie this stuff. You're very kind and generous with your time. Much respect!!

[@Stonefly222]

There are many terrific tyers that share their knowledge on YT, but I find myself referencing C Craven for his insights more than any other, and I just wanted to thank him as he has been a tremendous resource for me and thousands of others with his easily-understood videos. Hats off to a great tyer/teacher!!

[@richardjones2129]

Absolutely a great tyer and teacher!

[@redshaftedflicker]

Impeccable tying and techniques, aces high!!

[@chrisallick]

This is the best streamer ever made (olive... green). I just had another epic day because of it. They are starting to pile up!

[@jimdilmore3361]

Beautiful! Too nice to fish...great video!

[@RollinRollinReelin]

Wonderful fly tying lesson! I need to get some spiderwire!

[@MaxMeridius0920]

You’re instruction is excellent! And you are a true pleasure to watch .. I can’t wait to ty and fish this fly! Thanks

[@mccloskey2011]

Great fly! Thanks for letting us see that.

[@richardjones2129]

Thanks Charlie for an informative tutorial with great tips. Keep up the good work! God Bless n Fish on!

[@mbaird3286]

Great fly. I save the short pieces of tubing cut off when I finish off a tube fly. Put one on that back hook. Just have to remember to remove or wonder why no hookups.

[@flyrodhiker8326]

You are a joy to watch sir! It’s amazing how much I have learned from your videos. Thank you sir!

[@morganeddy1906]

WOW - thanks for featuring one of my pics in this video - you are the man Charlie!!! -VA_muddler

[@Stratollac]

That’s a fishy looking fly. Thanks for the extremely clear instructions.

[@johnwallace2497]

Can you do a short video on how to adjust tension on a pair of razor scissors for different materials? Thanks, Pug

[@johnwihl4689]

Thanks Charlie, great tutorial proving that attention to details make a great fly....killer fly on stream Smallmouth here in the Midwest.

[@DoctorRobert2009]

One of my favorites

[@mikeking453]

Wonderful job of tying! You raise the bar!

[@glennplatvoet7111]

Nice 👍 that Craft fur works well like that I'm going to Make some thanks for the video

[@troutbum98]

Beautiful fly Charlie.

[@thomasgibbons353]

All is good!

[@wildman2894]

nice pattern thanks will be tying it

[@chriscox1618]

Thank you!

[@snell0710]

Cool fly I think it would work good on bass and little late on that hook waiting like a snake lol learned that many times

[@bobfowler9522]

Charlie - great video but isn't the Polar Fibre missing in the Materials section?

[@jad814]

Awesome video, amazing detailed instruction! My question... Would "craft fur" work for that head?

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Justin Dorus yes!

[@jad814]

@@CharliesFlyBox Thanks man, I've watched a TON of your tying videos as I've just entered into the warmwater side of the fly fishing scene trying to learn how to catch bass, and the gonga(s) look like they'd downright work! I appreciate the level of detail in your videos.

[@billknepp1965]

wait a minute the cameras on the opposite side toward you.. so you aren't wrapping reverse...

[@johnmurphy6511]

Would have been super helpful if polar Fibre was in material list....

[@BK3411]

Wow that’s a gorgeous fly. What weight rod & line do you recommend for fishing it?

[@CharliesFlyBox]

I usually fish a fast action 9’ 6 weight with either a floating line or a ten foot type six sink tip.

[@bobfowler9522]

Fun tie after some practice - one problem I can't figure out is the articulated hook wants to flip when I begin working on the front hook with material - not a problem when connecting them. Any idea what I am doing to encourage this?

[@nicolelewis9812]

Love this! Now I have to tie some! :-)

[@skolson]

LMAO - "Jasmin, in America we call that yellow". Great video and a great streamer Charlie. My largest rainbow trout to date was caught on this in black and was 30.5".

[@benbortner3404]

I love this fly. You're right, it does get a lot of eats! My problem is that it does not get a lot of hookups for me. I think the hook gap in the front, when combined with the lead eyes, is not wide enough and is too easily pulled out of the fish's mouth when they eat head first. Have you thought about using a size larger hook and/or a hook with a wider gap in the front? Why did you decide to use the same size hook in the front as the back? Thanks

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Ben Bortner I’ve never really had much issue with the hookups on this fly myself. As a matter of fact, I’d have to say I’ve always been amazed at just how sticky it is! That being said, you’re not the first person to mention this to me and thus I am now experimenting a bit with some other options for that front hook.

[@benbortner3404]

@@CharliesFlyBox maybe it's the difference between a Craven tied fly vs a commercial? Anyways, love the fly. Have just been thinking about experimenting with a different front hook

[@bradygwiggle3813]

I caught my biggest bow ever last night on the baby gonga I tied a couple weeks ago... 27” and 8 lbs

[@bradygwiggle3813]

Where do you like to fish in colorado the most

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Brady Gwiggle I’m not picky!

[@bradygwiggle3813]

@@CharliesFlyBox awesome! i live in boulder and i have found some honey holes!

[@bradygwiggle3813]

hey this video was made on my bday nice present

[@plitz]

Charli could you please tell me exactly what hen saddle you use. I'm new and find several styles. I find hen hackle,wet fly hackle, American hackle etc... Thanks any help would be greatly appreciated !

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Chad Plaskey on this one I used a Hebert Miner Hen Saddle in light ginger/cream. These feathers are very webby and have enough length to palmer up the shank.

[@plitz]

@@CharliesFlyBox Do you currently have this in stock ?

[@MatthewEvey]

I just M-I-G-H-T be able to do that, but if successful, it's snagged in a tree within 3 minutes. Hahaha

[@onemorething100]

I'm not even gonna try to tie. Ill just buy them from you.

[@ciromaione3660]

Gonga is my moms nickname…and I fly fish…wtf lol

[@snakeoiler2921]

OCD

[@3for5spotshooter]

Next time just go to the bathroom. But remember to write down the pattern😮😮😮.

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Dude. Wtf?

[@3for5spotshooter]

Meaning... when I get an "inspired thought" it likely means I need to pee so I get up and head for the bathroom.. Then I write down the inspired thought that I will forget in the AM. Glad you remembered this inspired thought. Fall browns on the Green love the BG colors. Spawning tigers like it as well showing their genetic disposition. @@CharliesFlyBox

[@tinoyb9294]

Using the scissors right handed???

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Kevin Hall I tie left handed but I’m really right hand dominant. So yes, scissors in the right.

[@tinoyb9294]

@@CharliesFlyBox Only someone similar would even notice. I write left handed but throw right so I learned to use scissors right handed. Mostly because that's the only way they work!

[@flyfishing739]

any fly that takes 35 minutes to tie isn't worth it.

[@nickvargasfishinfool9612]

It probably took 35 minutes because he’s talking through the process, so people like you and me, who don’t know how to tie the pattern understand the techniques and steps.

[@realityobservationalist7290]

It's all relative to your interests and opinion. There are the overseas commercial bulk tiers, and there are the masterclass realistic-fly artistic tiers, and everyone in between. I'm about 3-4 years in as a tier, and I can say for certain that I LOVE spending 30, 40, or 60+ minutes one one fly. It's a relaxing hobby for me.