There are dozens of Ant patterns out there as well as several posted on this site. I have tied a few of them over the years, but don’t remember ever fishing any of them. I have seen a good number of Carpenter Ants around the river this year and figure I should give it a try. Do any of you have a favorite pattern for trout? As favorite, I mean one that produces for you and in what sizes. I think I would prefer foam to fur, but maybe I’m wrong. Your comments will be appreciated.
For a dry imitation of carpenter ants, it’s hard to beat a dubbed parachute style in a size 14.
Don’t forget wet ants as well. A thread ant in a size 16 is my go-to in late summer.
Simple flying ant; never hit a really good ant fall but this has worked pretty well.
Regards,
Scott
Scott, I notice that you didn’t trim the hackle on the bottom as most recommend or do you think it matters? Bob, do you use the wet ant as a dropper? I have never seen an ant fall up here either. Just a few flying ants here and there.
If you mean under a dry fly, no. Usually part of a team of wets, and usually at point. Under trees, the ant gets most of the attention.
It is trimmed on the bottom but doesn’t look like it because of the (slightly overhead) camera angle. Not sure how much it matters to the fish but I like them to lay flat.
Regards,
Scott
Over the years I’ve caught a lot of trout on a simple black fur body ant pattern fished under the water. I often weight my line to get the ant down deep.
I generally tie them on a size #16 hook, with 2-3 separate segments of dubbed fur, and a few turns of black hackle in back of the front segment.
My favorite fur that I used to use to tie this fly was a nice piece of soft, tanned black cat fur. However, a lost my piece of cat fur a few years ago when a friend’s dog got into my fly tying stuff and ate it! 
John
These three patterns have worked for me and my kids from the Eastern Sierras to Montana and on waters around Roscoe, NY:
[b]FOAM FLYING ANT -Nyman/Variant
[/b][b]RAINY’S ORANGE TIP HI-VIZ ANT
[b]UV2 FLYING CARPENTER ANT - Lawson/Variant
[/b][/b]PT/TB
I have had good luck with this CDC Ant.
