Foam Carpenter Ant

[NJTroutbum]

Foam Ant.jpg

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

[1hook]

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

[NJTroutbum]

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

[Bruce Norikane]

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