Foam Carpenter Ant

Attachment 13832

The ant can rule the dog days of summer, so to be caught without them on the water can at times be the deciding factor on a days fishing. I tend to fish and tie one version which is a larger Carpenter Ant version. It's easy to see, floats well and the fish seem to enjoy them as well.




Foam Carpenter Ant Recipe


Hook: #14 Caddis Emerger
Thread: Black 6/0
Body: 1/8" wide thin Razor Foam
Hackle: #12 Black Dry
Post: Flo Orange Antron Yarn

For a full tying video, click on the link below:

http://ralphsflybox.blogspot.com/2015/09/tying-foam-carpenter-ant.html

Nice pattern, I tie a parachute ant in a size 14 that has produced very well for me. I dub the body on it but I think I will try the foam instead the way you did it. Yours would be very easy to turn into a parachute

Hook.....I imagine you are right. Love to see it when you're done.

Very nice tutorial and well thought out tying sequence. The antron wing tie in is much quicker than the way I've been doing it. I've used a ton of ants this summer and experimented with many different patterns. My go to ants have been dubbed parachutes, but I like to use foam because it keeps floating after catching a fish with no maintenance.
I had a great day with a #14 foam ant experiment that was much like yours - doubled foam head and body, hackle legs and orange antron wing. It worked really well, but I've had a hard time replicating all the aspects. I was using 2 mm craft foam, and it's a little too thick. I'll pick up some razor foam.

Thanks