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The pattern notebook · terrestrial

Foam Ant

How do you tie a Foam Ant?

Foam Ant is a terrestrial fly pattern for Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Panfish, Bluegill. Find its 6 materials and 9 tying steps below.

Difficulty
2 of 5
Target species
Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Panfish, Bluegill
Pattern designer
Traditional

Added to catalog · Updated

At the vise

Materials

  • Dry Fly Hook, TMC 100, sizes 14-20
  • Thread (8/0), Black
  • Body: Black Closed-Cell Foam, 2mm sheet
  • Hackle: Black Dry Fly Hackle
  • Indicator: Fluorescent Orange Foam or Yarn (optional)
  • Super Glue

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Tying instructions

  1. Secure the hook in the vise. Start black thread behind the eye and wrap to the bend.

  2. Cut a strip of 2mm black closed-cell foam, about 1/8 inch wide and 1.5 inches long.

  3. Tie in the foam strip at the bend of the hook.

  4. Fold the foam forward over itself and tie down at the midpoint of the shank to form the rear body segment (abdomen).

  5. Tie in a black hackle feather at the waist between the segments.

  6. Wrap 2-3 turns of hackle at the waist. Tie off and trim.

  7. Fold the foam forward again over the hackle and tie down just behind the eye to form the front segment (head).

  8. Trim the excess foam. Optionally, tie in a small tuft of fluorescent orange foam or yarn as a sighter on top.

  9. Whip finish and apply a drop of super glue to the thread wraps for durability.

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