Hook Gamakatsu S10 standard down-eye dry fly (fine wire), 14
Thread Black 6/0
Materials
Rainy's float foam Black craft foam mm (1 small strip, split lengthwise)
UV Ice Dub Black dubbing (Small amount for body and thorax)
Saddle hackle spade feathers White schlappen (2, paired for wings)
Dry fly saddle hackle Black saddle hackle (1 feather)
Head cement (Small dab)
How to tie it
Start the black 6/0 thread and dress the full shank. Cut a small strip of float foam and split it in half lengthwise with scissors.
Tie one foam half down along the top of the shank, binding it firmly. This fly takes some thread pressure, which is why 6/0 beats 8/0 here.
Dub black UV Ice Dub tightly over the rear half of the shank, covering the foam and building a plump, smooth abdomen. Keep it tight and shiny, not buggy. Most of the fly's bulk belongs at the rear.
Bring the thread in front of the abdomen, leaving a small gap, and tie the foam down snugly to form the ant's waist.
For the wings, pair two white spade saddle feathers back-to-back so they splay apart. Trim the tips to length, then tie them in flat over the back at the waist with a soft loop, so they lie delta-style over the abdomen. Trim the butts close.
Tie in the black dry-fly hackle at the waist and take several turns over the wing butts for legs.
Dub a small black Ice Dub thorax forward to just behind the eye.
Pull the remaining foam forward over the thorax, pinch it down, and tie it off just behind the eye. No need to crowd the eye. Whip finish there.
Trim the foam head short and snip the corners off for a neat profile, then add a small dab of head cement at the tie-off.