Sexi Floss / Flexi Floss Black floss (one strand, tied as a loop each side)
Whiting grizzly hackle Grizzly hackle (1 feather)
How to tie it
Start black 70 denier behind the eye of the size 14 hook and lay a full base back to the bend, then forward and back again. The foam grips a threaded shank far better than bare wire.
Tie the Loco Foam in at the bend by its tip, shiny side up. That looks backwards, but once you fold the foam forward the shiny surface ends up facing down toward the fish.
Pull the foam forward and lock it down around the 40% mark to form the rear abdomen, then take the thread up another third and secure it again, then once more near the eye. Each tie-down is a body segment, and stopping short of the eye leaves room for what comes next.
Tie a tuft of orange Antron indicator yarn into that last segment, whip finish the black thread right over it, seat the knot and cut away. Trim the indicator as tall or short as the water demands.
Start red 140 denier on the middle section. It does double duty. It is the long waist of the ant and it is a hot spot.
Tie one strand of black Sexi Floss in as a loop on each side for legs, then tie a grizzly hackle in on the near side. Be miserly with thread wraps here: every extra wrap eats into the front section, which is easy to run out of.
Palmer the hackle forward with open, spaced wraps rather than touching turns so the red shows through as a hot spot, tie off, whip finish, then trim the legs short. Real ants have short legs.