Fly Tying Inventory
Mercury RS2
A Mercury (glass bead) variant of Rim Chung's classic RS2 (Rim's Semblance 2) emerger, one of the most effective patterns for technical tailwater fishing. The sparse, low-profile design with a CDC wing imitates mayfly and midge emergers stuck in the surface film. Adding a clear glass bead provides subtle flash and faster sink. Devastating during BWO and Trico hatches on pressured waters.
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Materials
TMC 101 or TMC 2487, sizes 16-24
Extra small clear glass bead (Mercury style)
Gray or black 8/0 (70 denier)
2-4 dun Microfibetts or mayfly tail fibers, splayed
Gray or olive beaver dubbing or fine thread
CDC puff, gray or dun (kept low and sparse)
Slightly darker gray dubbing
How to Tie the Mercury RS2
- 1
Step 1
Slide the clear glass bead onto the hook, small end first. Secure hook in the vise.
- 2
Step 2
Start thread behind the bead and lay a thread base to the bend of the hook.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in 2-4 dun Microfibetts at the hook bend. Splay them with a figure-eight wrap so they fan out slightly. Trim to about half the shank length.
Splayed tails give the fly a wider footprint in the surface film.
- 4
Step 4
Dub a thin, even abdomen with gray or olive dubbing from the tail forward, stopping about 1/3 from the hook eye.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in a small CDC tuft using a pinch wrap, keeping it low and flat so it lies at a low angle over the body.
- 6
Step 6
Add slightly darker dubbing just in front of the wing for a subtle thorax behind the bead.
- 7
Step 7
Build a neat head with thread behind the bead, whip finish, and optionally add head cement.
Keep everything extremely sparse—the RS2 is meant to be slender and understated.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNX7p2MQkx0
Credit: Rim Chung (original RS2) / Mercury variant