Rainbow Warrior
Description
The Rainbow Warrior is Lance Egan’s flashy attractor nymph for trout feeding on small mayfly and midge nymphs. The pearl body, iridescent wing case, red thread collar, and bead give it enough flash for fast water, deep runs, and pressured fish without adding much bulk.
Recommended sizes: 14-22
Materials
- Body: Pearl Mylar
- Tail: Pheasant Tail
- Torak: Rainbow dubbing
- Thread: Red 8/0 or 70-Denier Thread
- Hook: Scud/Emerger Hook
Tying Instructions
- 1.
Slide the silver tungsten bead onto the hook, small hole first, and seat it behind the eye.
- 2.
Start the red thread immediately behind the bead and trim the tag end. Wrap the thread back to about the hook point.
- 3.
Strip 5–6 pheasant tail fibers and align the tips. Measure a tail about one hook gap long. Secure the fibers on top of the shank and wrap rearward into the bend. Trim excess.
- 4.
Tie in a single strand of wide pearl mylar just behind the bead. Secure it along the top of the shank back to the base of the tail.
- 5.
Wrap the red thread forward to the bead, creating a smooth red underbody.
- 6.
Wrap the mylar forward in overlapping spiral wraps to just behind the bead. Secure with thread.
- 7.
Pull the mylar backward over the top of the body and wrap thread back toward the hook point to set the wing case length.
- 8.
Apply a thin noodle of rainbow dubbing to the thread. Wrap a short, slightly bulbous thorax just behind the bead.
- 9.
Bring the mylar forward over the thorax and secure behind the bead with several tight wraps. Fold the mylar back and wrap again to lock it in. Trim excess.
- 10.
Use the red thread to build a small, bright collar behind the bead.
- 11.
Whip finish with 4–5 turns, cut the thread, and apply a small drop of head cement.