Caddisflies can be fished below or above the surface and there are plenty of imitations available. These flies work well for a variety of trout and rainbow trout will eat these flies too. Drift them slowly in the current and you should be able to catch some trout.
Egg flies are a popular way to target trout in streams and rivers when the spawn is happening. They work well for rainbow trout too. Drift them in the current during the spawn and you can expect to catch some cutthroat trout on these flies.
Single egg patterns are one of the more effective ways to fish the rivers and streams for trout when the spawn is going on. It is no different for rainbow trout. Drift a single egg pattern in the current and you can expect to catch some rainbow trout.
Hellgrammite Flies can be very effective for many species of trout and rainbow trout can be fooled with a hellgrammite imitation too. Work these flies in the current and you should be able to find some feeding cutthroat trout.
Mayflies hatch is such big numbers on most bodies of water and when this happens, it can create a feeding frenzy for trout and other species of fish. As these mayflies swim towards the surface, trout can be found feeding on them throughout the water column. Mayflies will also be found all over the surface, so a good dry fly imitation can be very productive too. Rainbow trout feed on mayflies too and they can be caught with a variety of mayfly imitations that may be fished below or on the surface.
Midges are readily available throughout the seasons and they are excellent flies for targeting a variety of different trout species. Whether midges are in the nymph, larvae or adult stage, you can find a fly to imitate them and you should be able to catch some rainbow trout with them. On some rivers, rainbow trout gorge themselves on midges. These are great flies for catching a lot of rainbow trout.
Fishing with nymphs works well for rainbow trout. There are so many different types of nymphs available that do a good job of matching the variety of underwater nymphs that may be in a stream or river. Drift them in the current and fish them in pools and you should catch plenty of rainbows.
Stoneflies are great flies for targeting a variety of different trout species. Whether you use them as nymphs or dry flies, they both work. Anglers use stoneflies to target rainbow trout. These flies can be a big numbers bait depending on the time of year. Fishing them on the surface and below can be very effective.
Streamers have their time and place for most trout and it is no different for rainbow trout. Some anglers will cast streamers upstream and let them drift down in the current and this can be effective, but you will usually get more strikes with the streamer by mimicking a bait fleeing the scene or a wounded bait fish. A strip followed by a pause will usually draw more strikes than just drifting it downstream and you can do well by fishing across the current as well. Mix up your retrieves until you find the better technique for that particular day.
Woolly Buggers work great for so many different species of trout. You can use them for rainbow trout as well. Drift them in the current or use a strip, strip, pause technique to draw strikes. These flies are known as a numbers fly and they will catch bigger rainbow trout too.