Euro NymphsEgan's Rainbow Warrior Perdigon
Egan's Rainbow Warrior Perdigon combines the proven color scheme of Lance Egan's original Rainbow Warrior with the Spanish perdigon style for a dense, fast-sinking nymph. The pearl tinsel body wrapped over red thread creates the signature flash and color combination, while UV resin coating produces a durable, slick profile. This quick-tying pattern excels in Euro rigs, under indicators, or as a dry-dropper for reaching depth quickly.
Year Round
Intermediate
Trout
Overview
Lance Egan's Rainbow Warrior has proven itself as one of the most effective modern nymphs, and this perdigon variant enhances its fish-catching qualities with increased density and durability. The perdigon style originated in Spanish competitive fly fishing, where rapid sink rates and durability are essential. The UV resin coating not only protects the fly from teeth and repeated use but also creates the smooth, fast-sinking profile that makes perdigons so effective. The red thread underbody showing through pearl tinsel maintains the Rainbow Warrior's signature look.
Pattern Characteristics
Materials
Hook: Hanak H 400 BL Jig Hook, size #16 (or Umpqua XC400BL-BN, size #14; or Fulling Mill 5045 Jig Force Barbless Hook, size #14)
Bead: Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten, silver nickel, 3.2mm (or Hareline Slotted Tungsten, 2.8mm; or Hanak Round+ Slotted Tungsten, 3.0mm, silver)
Thread: UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier, red
Tail: Spanish Coq De Leon
Body: Veevus Pearl Tinsel, large (or Mirage Tinsel, opal, medium)
Resin: Loon UV Clear Fly Finish, Flow (or Solarez UV Cure Resin, Bone Dry, 0.5 oz)
Fishing Tips
Season
Year round effectiveness makes this a staple pattern in any nymph box; particularly productive during spring and fall mayfly hatches but works consistently through all seasons due to its attractor qualities
Presentation
Dead drift in Euro nymphing rigs for precise depth control and strike detection; also works as a dropper below a dry fly or fished under an indicator in traditional nymphing setups
When to Use
Ideal when you need to get deep quickly in fast water or pocket water; the flash and red accent make it effective in stained water or low-light conditions; works well as a searching pattern when no visible hatch is occurring
Water Type
Most effective in moving water including freestone streams, pocket water, riffles, and runs; the tungsten bead and slim profile cut through current to reach feeding lanes quickly
Rigging Suggestions
Fish on 4X-5X tippet in Euro rigs as a point fly with lighter patterns above; in indicator setups, use 9-12 foot leaders; the fast sink rate means less added weight is needed compared to traditional nymphs
Visibility & Floatation
Sinks extremely fast due to tungsten bead, jig hook, and resin coating; the dense construction reaches bottom quickly in water 2-5 feet deep; pearl flash provides excellent underwater visibility to attract fish from distance
