On the Fly: Could one trout fly rule them all?      

It’s rare that a single fly pattern can work every day and in every situation on a western trout stream, but I’d argue that Rim Chung’s RS2 Emerger comes pretty darn close. Rim’s personally tied RS2s don’t look much like the ones in fly bins the world-over, but most variations fish incredibly well. The main takeaway is that less is more when it comes to an effective trout fly pattern.

At the fly shop, we consider this fly a “BMW,” which longtime guide Tripp Dobson (may he rest in peace) referred to as a “baetis-midge-whatever.” Usually, the RS2 is fished submerged, but I certainly learned last summer that it fishes great dry (on the surface) also. When you forget your blue winged olive and midge dry fly box at home, you’ve got to be creative.

The variations are plentiful — we carry this fly in a plain (no bells or whistles) gray and black, the same colors in “sparkle wing,” plus plain with CDC wing buds, mercury (glass beaded) styles, extra slim versions for the Fryingpan, and foam-top styles in black and gray, too. I’ve seen olive and even purple ones in other shops’ bins, but we rely heavily on gray and black here locally.

This fly probably isn’t called for if you’re in the middle of a summertime green drake or golden stonefly hatch, but it can certainly be fished in tandem with other insects. Give the RS2 a try the next time you’re having a tough day — it seems to work most of the time, all year long, and especially so if you can’t decipher what the fish are keyed in on.

Fish it wet, fish it dry, just be sure to fish it!

This report is provided every week by Taylor Creek Fly Shops in Aspen and Basalt. Taylor Creek can be reached at 970-927-4374 or TaylorCreek.com.