Bodkin / Patterns

Elk Ant

Terrestrial · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, #14-#18
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Body Black ostrich herl (Fine dry-fly dubbing, two humps)
  • Hackle Black hackle (1 feather, a few turns at the waist)
  • Overwing Natural tan material (Small bunch elk hair, tented over the body)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and start thread at the 30% mark above the barb.
  2. Dub a tight, shiny rear hump (the gaster) over the back third of the shank, then leave a bare pinched waist.
  3. Tie in a black hackle at the waist.
  4. Dub a smaller front hump (the head) to the 80% mark.
  5. Wrap the hackle two or three turns across the waist only, then tie it off and trim.
  6. Clean and stack a sparse bunch of elk hair and tie it in tent-style over the whole body, tips reaching just past the bend; use half the hair you think you need.
  7. Whip finish at the eye.

Tying videos

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