Overview
This Charlie Craven pattern from Charlie's Fly Box takes the proven RS2 foundation and enhances it with modern materials. The original RS2 (Rim's Semblance 2) is one of the most effective small fly patterns ever designed, and this sparkle wing version adds just enough flash to catch attention without overdoing it. The pearl mini flat braid wing provides both the visual cue of developing wings that emergers display and a subtle attracting element that can make the difference on selective trout. The pattern remains intentionally sparse - resist the urge to overdress it. The Tiemco 101 hook provides a wide gape relative to its small size, improving hookup ratios on tiny flies. The white fluorofiber tail suggests the trailing shuck of an emerging mayfly while also serving as a subtle visual cue for the angler.
Related patterns
Behavior & presentation
- Natural Behavior
- Baetis emergers hang suspended in the film with trailing shucks, wings partially unfolded as they transition from nymph to adult. Fish key on this vulnerable stage.
- Where Trout Eat It
- Trout sip emergers trapped in the surface film throughout runs, in tail-outs, and along seams where ascending nymphs concentrate.
- How to Fish It
- Fish ungreased for subsurface suspension or apply light floatant for film fishing. Drag-free drifts through feeding lanes are critical.
- Best Water
- Focus on tail-outs with laminar flow, seams between current speeds, riffle edges where emergers concentrate, and foam lines.
- Strike Type
- Watch for delicate sips barely dimpling the surface or subtle head rises as fish intercept suspended emergers.
Fishing strategy
- Rigging Suggestions
- Fish on a 12-15 foot leader tapering to 6X-7X fluorocarbon tippet. Can be fished alone, as part of a two-fly rig with a slightly larger dry fly above, or suspended under an indicator for lakes applications.
- Seasonal Timing
- Effective year-round, particularly during Baetis (BWO) hatches in and, and midge emergences throughout the year.
- Pro Tips
- The pearl flat braid wing provides some visibility for the angler, though this remains a challenging fly to track. The sparse design allows it to sit naturally in the surface film like a real emerger.
Where to fish it
Rivers anglers pair with this fly, with local shops that stock it.
River details and fly shops from River & Run, our sister site.
Entomology
Baetis emergers drift suspended in the surface film with trailing shucks, their wings beginning to unfurl as they transform from nymph to adult. Trout become highly selective on these transitioning insects because they combine vulnerability with abundance during prolific spring and fall Baetis emergences.
- Order
- Ephemeroptera
- Family
- Baetidae
- Common name
- Baetis
- Organism
- insect
- Life stage
- emerger
Pattern details
- Moving Water
- Stillwater
- Rocky Mountain
- dead-drift
- baetis-hatch
- midge-hatch
- classic
- modern
- beginner-friendly
- searching-pattern
- low-clear-water
- tailwater
- spring-creek
- flats
