How to Tie a Black RS2

The RS2 is a small and simple fly pattern designed to attract selective trout. The RS2 pattern, effective for imitating mayflies and midges on most trout waters, was developed to catch the pressured trout in Colorado's South Platte river system. The colors of the RS2 fly are easily adjusted to match different mayfly and midge varieties and the addition of CDC makes the fly look like an emerging insect.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly tying vise
  • Standard nymph hook
  • Black 8/0 thread
  • Black micro fibbets
  • Black antron dubbing
  • Gray CDC
  • Dubbing wax
  • Whip finishing tool
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the hook in the vise and clamp the jaws to secure it in place. Start the thread at the one-half point on the hook and wrap it forward to the hook bend.

    • 2

      Cut two micro fibbets from a bunch and measure them to twice the length of the hook shank. Hold the two fibers on the top of the hook and make four thread wraps to secure them in place. Adjust the position of the fibers with your fingers to spread them out and replicate the tail of a mayfly.

    • 3

      Apply a small dab of dubbing wax to the fly tying thread. Place a thin layer of black antron dubbing against the thread and twist it with your fingers to create a tight pattern. Wrap the dubbing two-thirds of the way down the hook shank.

    • 4

      Hold a small clump of CDC on top of the hook shank and make four wraps of thread to secure it in place. Cut the CDC to match one-third the length of the hook shank.

    • 5

      Apply a small dab of dubbing wax to the thread. Place a thin layer of black antron dubbing on the thread and twist it with your fingers to create a tight pattern. Wrap the antron to the eye of the hook and stop the thread.

    • 6

      Use a whip finishing tool to tie the thread in a knot at the eye of the hook. Cut away the excess thread.