Fave Ant Pattern?
- Thread starter SurfnFish
- Start date
Westfly Refugee
Steelhead
I'd like to find some of those balsa McMurray Ant bodies for lake fishing.
Wasn't familiar with the G.A.A., here's some pics:
www.slideinn.com
Wasn't familiar with the G.A.A., here's some pics:
Galloup's Ant Acid - Guided Fly Fishing Madison River | Lodging | Kelly Galloup's Slide Inn
The Ant Acid is the most popular dry fly I have ever produced, and one that I fish with confidence everywhere I take it.
www.slideinn.com
I have rows of Culton's Drowned Ant in my box and it fishes great. I often have it trailing 18" behind a small muddler or dry caddis, or trailing behind a heavy nymph to sink it deep.
currentseams.com
Fly tying video: Steve Culton’s Drowned Ant Soft Hackle
By popular demand: You can find my original currentseams write-up on the Drowned Ant here.
currentseams.com
I have used the below with great success on manny a thin blue line
Variations are to use cdc or snowshoe hare in place of the zelon. I have even looped the cdc, works very well
Cheers
Variations are to use cdc or snowshoe hare in place of the zelon. I have even looped the cdc, works very well
Cheers
I’m with Brute here. While they’re a bit more expensive to tie, they’re great. Especially in purple
This is essentially how I tie my ants, but the body segments are generally a bit larger in circumference. I've never tried side-by-side, but I just feel that the profile looks more ant-like by exaggerating the difference between the "waist" (where the legs and wing sit) and the thorax and abdomen.
Harrop's Flying Ant.
I tie them in black, red and black, and cinnamon. Best ant pattern for me in the last 40 years, and a top 5 fly for the Henry's Fork.
I tie them in black, red and black, and cinnamon. Best ant pattern for me in the last 40 years, and a top 5 fly for the Henry's Fork.
I used to think that using foam was "cheating" and would spend a lot of time and effort tying traditional ant patterns. Now that I am older (and lazier and less patient) I tie all my ant patterns using foam. The patterns are simple (there are dozens on the internet) and it is just a matter of matching the size/color of the ants which are around. The fish don't seem to care if I spend 1 minute, or 5 minutes making the pattern. If they float, the fish will take them.
Ants are one of my "go to" patterns as during the warm months they are always falling into the water and the fish are used to seeing them. I often take fish using ants while others are still trying to find the exact match to whatever is hatching.
Ants are one of my "go to" patterns as during the warm months they are always falling into the water and the fish are used to seeing them. I often take fish using ants while others are still trying to find the exact match to whatever is hatching.
Richard Olmstead
Steelhead
Here's a simple flying ant that works for me. 
Swiss straw?
Cowlitz Bottomfeeder
Life of the Party
Another vote for the Bionic Ant. The foam floats forever and the rubber legs and Antron wing are useful additions over the original Sailor Ant.
There are so many great ant patterns out there. I fish with several variations and they all seem to catch fish. The epoxy ant and alpine ant are both effective patterns.
