Ant Swap flies

[DonO1]

Flies just finished for an ant swap on the VFB site. This was fun- gave me some ideas to do for dries like parachutes & partly drowned, using foam and parachute posts for visibility. Will do a few realistics, too.

Ants-C2-800.jpg

[jimsnarocks]

Those are some nice looking ants. I think I saw one moving. Can you post a recipe or are they a secret? Jim

[DonO1]

They're not hard. Size 14-18 stout hook, use a style with turned-down eye.
30# test mono x 1" long.
Triple bead one end (pick your colors) and single bead the other end- melt mono tips like for eyes.
Seal beads fore and aft in Loon's Wader UV repair goop- cure in sun or with black light.
Lash body to hook and tie in legs- I used black horse hair, mono, odds & ends- horse-hair worked well for black legs.
(I have some blonde horse-hair I am going to dye green for the leaf-cutter ant color.
Once you have lashed the legs down, use a pin to apply the Loons to the leg area, set the legs, and cure it.
If you have the black light or ease of access to direct sunlight, it makes shaping easier. I do then in sets of six for ease.

red-ant.jpg