Bodkin / Patterns

Missing Link Honey Ant

Terrestrial · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook standard dry-fly, 14-16
  • Thread rust brown 70 denier

Materials

  • Thread / dubbing gaster Amber/honey (pinch)
  • Krystal Flash rib Pearl flashabou (1 strand)
  • Ice Dub thorax Peacock or rust herl (pinch)
  • Antron legs Gray antron (small bunch)
  • Elk hair wing Natural deer hair (1 small clump)
  • Rooster hackle Brown hackle (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Start the thread at the bend and dub or build a distinct honey-amber gaster (rear ball) over the back third to suggest the swollen ant abdomen.
  2. Tie in a strand of pearl Krystal Flash and counter-rib the gaster in 4-5 turns for a segmented sheen, then tie off.
  3. Advance the thread and split a few gray Antron fibers to each side as legs.
  4. Stack a small clump of elk hair and tie it in as a low downwing over the body, tips to the bend, butts trimmed short.
  5. Tie in a brown hackle at the wing base and wind 3-4 turns through a pinch of peacock or rust Ice Dub for the head/thorax, then tie off.
  6. Whip finish and add a tiny drop of cement.

Tying videos

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