Bodkin / Patterns

San Juan River Ant

Terrestrial · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook standard dry fly, 14-20
  • Thread black 8/0

Materials

  • Superfine dubbing (body) Black dubbing (2 small balls)
  • Rooster hackle (legs) Black hackle (1 feather)
  • Round rubber legs (optional) Black ostrich herl (2 strands)
  • Hi-vis dubbing dot (optional) Pink or orange hi vis dubbing dot (tiny pinch)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base and dub a tight, shiny rear gaster (abdomen ball) at the bend, about a third of the shank, leaving a pinched waist.
  2. Advance the bare thread across the waist to the front third.
  3. Dub a smaller head ball at the front, leaving a gap at the waist for the hackle.
  4. In the waist take 2-3 turns of a black hackle for legs, then trim the fibers flush top and bottom so the ant sits low in the film.
  5. Optional: figure-8 fine black rubber legs at the waist and add a small pink hi-vis dubbing dot on top for visibility.
  6. Whip finish at the waist between the two balls and cement.

Tying videos

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