Foam strip (2mm) Black craft foam mm (1, a hook-gap wide)
Dry hackle Black hackle (1 feather)
Hi-vis foam or poly (sight dot) Pink or white hi vis foam poly (small tuft)
How to tie it
Start thread at the 60% mark and lay a short base.
Bind a black 2mm foam strip (a hook-gap wide) at the 60% mark, wrap back to the bend binding it down, then return thread to the 60% mark.
Fold the foam forward over itself to form the fat rear gaster segment and lock it at the 60% waist with 3-4 tight turns. This pinch is what shapes the ant.
Palmer 2-3 turns of black hackle right at the waist, then sweep the fibers to the sides for legs and snip any pointing straight up.
Fold the remaining foam forward over the front and lock it behind the eye at the 20% mark to form the smaller head segment.
Bind a small hi-vis tuft upright on top for the sight dot. That bright speck is what you track on the water.
Whip finish under the sight post, snip, and add a tiny drop of cement.