The Purple Reign is an all-purpose nymph that is an excellent choice for scouting new water, where you may not be familiar with the bug life. Inspired by the flashiness and effectiveness of the Rainbow Warrior but with a slimmer profile—and tied on a barbless, jigged hook with a tungsten bead—this fly is a staple pattern that can be fished year-round for even the most selective trout.

In smaller sizes, the Purple Reign can effectively mimic midge larvae. From size 20 to size 14, it is an excellent choice for imitating a mayfly larva matching the size of bugs you encounter when flipping rocks or observing adults that are hatching nearby.

Our favorite ways to fish it: 

• As the top nymph with a smaller weighted or unweighted natural imitation below, or as the bottom nymph below a larger weighted nymph like a stonefly.

• As the bottom fly in a dry-dropper or dry-dropper-dropper setup. 

Type of Water: Rivers, Creeks 

Imitates: Midge / Chironomid Mayfly 

Target Species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout

Insect Life Stage: Larva

Pair it with: Crackleback Midge, Lip sticker, Funky P, Green Machine, Soft Hackle Purple Reign