How to Tie a Rainbow Warrior Nymph

Learn how to tie the Rainbow Warrior fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

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The Rainbow Warrior is a killer attractor nymph for the pickiest trout. This pattern works well under an indicator or fished in a Euro-style. Small mayflies make up a large portion of a trout's diet and they're always willing to gulp one down if it's presented correctly. This fly can also be used as a dropper off of a dry fly in shallow water when mayflies are making their way to the surface to hatch. This fly is easy to tie and should be a staple in every avid trout angler's box. Follow along as Jared takes us through the steps needed to tie one of the most popular Mayfly Nymph patterns in the game.

Materials:

We've put together a kit that contains all the materials you need to tie this exact fly pattern.

Click the button below to shop the selection.

• Umpqua Competition C300BL Barbless Nymph Hook - Size 12
• Hareline Plummeting Tungsten Bead - Silver
• UTC Ultra Thread 70 Denier - Red
• Hareline Ringneck Pheasant Tail Feathers
• Veevus Pearl Tinsel
• Hareline Rainbow Scud Dubbing

Step One:

Position the bead just behind the eye of the hook and start your thread. Wrap the thread rearward until you get roughly halfway down the bend of the hook.

Step Two:

Select several (5-6) Pheasant Tail Fibers and tie them in to create the tail of the fly. After tying them in, advance your thread up the hook shank and snip any excess fibers. Then wrap rearward to secure the fibers in place.

Step Three:

Next, tie in the Pearl Tinsel and wrap it forward to create the body of the fly. Tie in the tinsel just behind the bead, wrap rearward to anchor the tinsel down, then return your thread to just behind the bead. Wrap the tinsel up the hook shank taking touching turns to build the body of the fly. Tie off the tinsel just behind the bead then wrap rearward leaving the tag end in the fly (this will be used for your flashback later).

Step Four:

Create a small dubbing noodle with the Scud Dub and wrap it behind the bead to create the thorax of the fly. You can add dubbing as you go to obtain your desired profile.

Step Five:

After finishing the thorax of the fly, bring the tag of tinsel over top of the dubbed thorax to create a flashback wing case. Tie the tinsel off right behind the bead and snip off any excess material.

Step Six:

Finally, build up a small hotspot with your red thread, throw a whip finish, and add some head cement for durability.

Step Seven:

And that's our iteration of the Rainbow Warrior! This is a great nymph for a variety of trout fishing scenarios and is an easy one to tie. Crank out a few of these and fish them next time you're on the water.

Questions?

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