Tying the Blue Charm Atlantic Salmon Hairwing Fly

[@larrycipollone7202]

Great job explaining every detail throughout the tie.

[@harleymandk]

10 years later.. still a good video !

[@vincentcoppola9832]

Nice pattern. Think I'll make some up to try on steelhead this fall.

[@kevinjtoner]

Very nice fly and video. Excellent, thorough, instruction! Best regards......Kevin

[@lordchimp9538]

kevin j. toner yeah, its nett

[@mikelundrigan2285]

I add a drop of Sally Hansen on the squirrel hair at the head before wrapping it with thread. This will add strength and bind those hairs, in effect “glueing them together”. I do not stack the squirrel as I prefer a tapered wing style. I also minimize use of materials such as floss and tinsel by pulling them when loosely wrapped to the length required to position them at the return and virtually eliminating cutting any excess as it will be absolutely minimized. You will be surprised how many more flys you can tie with the same amount of materials if you aim to reduce cutting loss at each step that you can! Less waste equals more flys at less cost per fly! When making fly’s for sale this is an important consideration as few actually want to pay you for what your time and skill are actually worth in my experience! This is partially because a well made fly that will hold up is difficult for the average fly fisher to recognize! For me, personally, I want to tie fast but at the same time, take pride that I have created a well made fly that won’t fall apart after a few casts! That is my opinion after 50+ years tying! Tight lines and good luck! The “Blue Charm” in all its’ variations is one of the most popular Atlantic Salmon flys in use on the East Coast especially here in NL! Mike L

[@hooked4lifeca]

Rob Clarke was a guest tier for me and he did up a few salmon patterns including this one. Rob is a production tier (I'm not), but when shooting a video, we're not worried about waste, nor are we teaching production technique. With videos, we wouldn't want to screw up one of the material lengths, then have to start all over. It would be interesting though to do a video one day, on production tying methods. I have a video on tying in slippery hairs using a technique that helps to lock them in place. I've also used water based head cement as it penetrates the spaces between the hairs. I had a bad fishing experience with Sally Hansen nail polish, so I tend not to use it. The only nail polish product I use in tying, is top coat. With regard to stacking, for my own ties, I tend not to stack, but both Rob and I were trying to stay within the usual approaches and looks for these flies. If I'm tying for myself, I don't usually stack, my wings are very low set and often quite sparse.

[@jasons184]

cracking flee mate fishes well here in salmon and thanks for a great video and great tying instructions all the best jason

[@linze4017]

Good video

[@Tillflyfisher]

On of my fave low water flies over here in the UK I fish this on low water doubles (partridge willson) retrieved quickly across the pool.

[@jordanpayne6838]

When fishing like that, tie two half hitches behind the eye. You get a much better ripple behind the fly

[@allenvdb]

Could you use different colors on this pattern other than blue grey and yellow? Great instruction thanks!

[@hooked4lifeca]

We certainly could, however then it wouldn't be a Blue Charm. There are many hairwing variations on this theme. If you're interested in this style, the book by Chris Mann, "Hairwings & Tube Flies for Salmon and Steelhead" would be a good choice.

[@avandenboom1]

hooked4lifeca Awesome, thank you I will check that book out.

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Very handsome classic. :-)

[@mazay1106]

very good👍👍👍👍🐟🐟🐟🐟

[@lordchimp9538]

mmmmhhh, i like Salmon

[@mikelundrigan2285]

Some observations which could make you more efficient.....You are a decent flytyer but I notice you seem to waste a fair amount of material with your methods . By cutting the oval tinsel after adding your tag you are wasting a peice of tinsel which is already tyed in and then adding a step by tying a new peice back in for the ribbing. Why not simply leave the first peice there after tying in the tag and then use it to rib the floss? Why not tie in the floss in position with the proper length by sliding it under the thread and then pulling it from the tail end to shorten it to just behind the eye leaving enough room for tying in your hackle and wing etc. You would save floss and not have to cut it to cut it? It would be faster as well. I can make almost two flys with the same amount of floss and tinsel you use to make one. Also, you did not tie this fly "low water" style so why use a low water hook or even mention it? I like to minimize waste when I tie and try to minimize the number of steps to save time. I have almost fifty years at the bench so I have figured out a few things in that time. All the best!

[@pierreduguay8637]

If you are so efficient why dont you make your own video

[@termite122]

terrible looking blue charm..the worst thread to use for a fishing fly is that terrible nylon utc..has way too much stretch and having it lay flat and mounting squirrel tail witch is a completely solid hair that doesnt compress will easily pull out..at least cord the thread up so it sumwhat bites a lil into the hair or use wax...i dont know of any other tyer of salmonflies that doesnt use wax..

[@dylanbitney6562]

termite122 troll lol this was made 5 years ago

[@termite122]

i dont give a shit if its 20 years old..its still a shitty looking fly