Bodkin / Patterns

Red Ant

Terrestrial · Trout · Panfish · Beginner · 3 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook standard dry fly, 1X fine, 14-18
  • Thread rusty brown / red 8/0

Materials

  • Rear gaster Rusty red/cinnamon dry-fly dubbing (small ball)
  • Hackle Brown or furnace cock hackle (1 feather, 2-3 turns)
  • Front thorax Rusty red/cinnamon dry-fly dubbing (small ball)

How to tie it

  1. Start the thread at the bend and dub a shiny rusty-red ball for the rear gaster over the rear third of the shank.
  2. At the mid-point tie in the brown/furnace hackle by its butt.
  3. Take 2-3 turns of hackle at the waist for the legs, secure and clip.
  4. Dub a second slightly smaller rusty ball in front of the hackle for the head.
  5. Whip finish at the eye and cement. Trim hackle flat underneath if you want it flush in the film.

Other versions

2 more in the app: Joe Penich, Gregg Dressing (1940).

Tying videos

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