Egan's Rainbow Warrior
Imitates: Generic mayfly nymph and small attractor food forms
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #16-20
- Best Season
- Year-round
- Best Conditions
- Tailwaters, clear water, technical trout, dropper rigs, Euro rigs
- Water Temp
- 38-65°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 5X-6X fluorocarbon
How to Rig It
Fish as a dropper under a dry, as a small Euro point fly, or as the tag fly above a heavier nymph in a tandem nymph rig.
How to Present It
Dead-drift it through riffles, runs, and tailwater seams. The flash triggers eats even when no specific hatch is on.
Why It Works
The pearl tinsel body and pink UV ice dub thorax create a tiny attractor that still has a credible mayfly nymph silhouette, which is exactly what selective tailwater trout reward.
History
The Rainbow Warrior is Lance Egan's signature attractor nymph and one of the most copied competition flies in modern fly fishing. It put flashy small nymphs on the map for tailwaters worldwide.
Pro Tip
Don't be afraid to use it in clear water. The size keeps it credible and the flash buys you eats from fish that have refused everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Rainbow Warrior so effective?+
It mixes a buggy nymph silhouette with just enough flash to look alive, which is irresistible to selective tailwater trout.
What size Rainbow Warrior should I fish?+
Most anglers fish #18 most of the time, with #16 in slightly bigger water and #20 when fish get really picky.
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