The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
Ant
Easy - 1-3 Min
Coldwater
This pattern is just about as simple as it gets. Besides being easy on the tier, the fish can’t get enough when the ants are falling. Despite the short list of materials necessary to tie this pattern, there are some substitutions to point out.
Wing: Any Zelon equivalent, such as Antron, will do the trick for the wing of this ant pattern.
Thorax: Superfine Dubbing in a comparable color is a great substitute for the thorax on this fly.
Always having color, and size options in this bug is a must. Some of the popular colors are black, cinnamon, and the original color shown in the video. As far as sizes go, 12-18 should suit this pattern quite well. Don’t be afraid to try some color combinations of you’re own either. Getting creative at the tying bench often proves to put fish in the net in the river!
Although ants aren’t always around on the river, when they do show up you know you’ve been dealt a good hand by mother nature. Trout love ants when they come out in full force. This pattern is realistic enough to fool pickier fish, but also has enough subtle flash to draw in some eager risers. The fish will obviously love this pattern on the water, but you’ll also love it at the vise. Easy to tie, with a list of common materials going into it. What more could you ask for? You’ll be cranking out plenty of these in no time.
Fish this fly alone during an ant hatch and you’re bound to get some fish coming to the surface for it. Toss it close to the bank, and try to get the least amount of drag possible on the drift. This will give the fly the realistic look it needs to attract the next rise.
| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region: West
Ant Sizes: #12 - #20
|
||||||||||||
|
Region: Northwest
Ant Sizes: #12 - #20
|
||||||||||||
|
Region: East
Ant Sizes: #12 - #20
|
||||||||||||
|
Region: Southeast
Ant Sizes: #12 - #20
|
||||||||||||
|
Region: Midwest
Ant Sizes: #12 - #20
|
Sign up for full access to the Learning Center
and all the FlyBrary Content.
payment methods accepted
Copyright © 2003 – 2025 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2003 – 2025 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved.