How to Tie the Rainbow Warrior
| Part | Material |
|---|---|
| Hook | TMC 2457 #14-20 |
| Bead | silver tungsten, sized to hook |
| Thread | UNI 8/0 red |
| Tail | pheasant tail fibers |
| Abdomen | pearl tinsel, medium |
| Wingcase | stub end of the pearl tinsel from the abdomen |
| Thorax | Wapsi SowScud dubbing, rainbow |
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1
Bead and Thread
Slide the bead to the hook eye and start the red thread, building a base from the bead back to the bend.
- 2
Tail
Tie in about half a dozen pheasant tail fibers at the bend, about half a shank length long. Wrap over the butts forward to just behind the bead and trim.
- 3
Abdomen
Tie in the pearl tinsel behind the bead and wrap the thread back to the tail base in a smooth taper. Wrap the tinsel forward in slightly overlapping turns to the back of the bead and secure it.
- 4
Wingcase
Pull the remaining tinsel back over the top of the abdomen and tie it down flat on top of the hook, wrapping the thread back to the midpoint.
- 5
Thorax
Dub a rounded thorax of rainbow SowScud dubbing from the bead back to the wingcase tie-in and forward again.
- 6
Finish
Pull the tinsel forward over the thorax and secure it at the back of the bead. Fold the stub back over the wingcase, bind it down, trim, whip finish and clip the thread.
How to Fish the Rainbow Warrior
Dead drift deep under an indicator as part of a nymph rig or Euro-nymphing setup. Designed to bridge BWO and midge roles, allowing low-confidence fallback when neither specific hatch is firing. The bright, flashy profile makes it highly visible to both anglers and fish. Effective year-round in tailwater and freestone environments. Works as a search pattern when specific hatches are inactive. The buggy silhouette suggests both mayflies and midges, making it versatile for opportunistic feeders. Essential pattern for Western rivers where BWO and midge activity is common. Most effective when fish are feeding actively but not locked into a specific hatch.
