Bodkin / Patterns

Carl's Foam Flying Ant

Terrestrial · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, 12-16
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Gaster (rear body) Black ostrich herl (2mm foam segment)
  • Head (front body) Black ostrich herl (2mm foam segment)
  • Wing White uni stretch (Small clump poly yarn or Zelon)
  • Legs Black ostrich herl (Fine round rubber, 1 pair)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and run a thread base to the bend.
  2. Bind a strip of black foam at the bend, fold it back over itself to build a fat rear gaster, and cinch it down at the 55% mark.
  3. Tie in a sparse white poly wing flat over the body, splayed slightly, reaching to the back of the gaster.
  4. Figure-8 one pair of fine rubber legs at the waist so they stick out to the sides.
  5. Bind the remaining foam forward and cinch it just behind the eye to form a smaller front hump for the head.
  6. Whip finish under the head and trim the foot of the head foam short.

Tying videos

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