Bodkin / Patterns

Foam Ant

Terrestrial · Trout · Beginner · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry fly, 14-20
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Body Black foam (2 segments)
  • Hackle Black hackle (2-3 wraps between segments)
  • Legs Black rubber legs (optional)

How to tie it

  1. Mount hook, tie in a narrow black foam strip at the bend.
  2. Fold the foam over itself to form a plump rear bump. Tie down at the waist, just past midshank.
  3. Wrap 2-3 turns of black hackle in the waist.
  4. Fold the foam forward again into a smaller front bump, tie down behind the eye.
  5. Optional: a thin rubber leg each side at the waist. Whip finish.

Substitutions

  • Body instead of Black foam: Cinnamon foam — Cinnamon ant variation, very effective; Brown foam — Brown ant variant
  • Hackle instead of Black: Grizzly — Adds barring, more visible on water; No hackle. Flush ride — Sits in film like a real ant

Tying videos

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