Foam Ant
Description
The Foam Ant imitates a drowned or struggling ant riding low in the surface film. This hackled black-foam variant floats better than a bare thread ant and is easier for beginners to keep on top. Fish it along grassy banks, under overhanging trees, and on stillwater edges through summer when ants are active.
Materials
- body: Black 2mm Fly Foam
- thread: Black 6/0 Thread
- hackle: Grizzly Hackle
- hook: Standard Dry Fly Hook
Tying Instructions
- 1.
Secure the hook in the vise and start the thread one eye-length behind the eye.
- 2.
Wrap a smooth thread base back to the bend.
- 3.
Cut a narrow strip of black 2mm foam about the width of the hook gap.
- 4.
Tie the foam strip in at the bend with the long end extending forward over the shank.
- 5.
Bind the foam down to form a short rear segment, then advance the thread to the middle of the shank.
- 6.
Tie in a grizzly hackle at the middle of the shank with the dull side facing rearward.
- 7.
Pull the foam forward over the shank and tie it down at the middle to form a narrow waist.
- 8.
Wrap the grizzly hackle two or three turns around the waist and tie it off.
- 9.
Pull the foam forward again and tie it down behind the eye to form the front segment.
- 10.
Trim the foam close behind the eye, leaving a small blunt head.
- 11.
Build a neat thread head in front of the foam.
- 12.
Whip finish and apply a small drop of head cement to the thread wraps.