Stuck on Black Ant

All about flies Fly Tying
1

Not sure if this is a good thing - but it probably is the intent of flyfishing.

Over the winter, I tied a dozen black ants. Well it came to be June so fast and I tossed them on some slow moving water - and bam! Rainbow after rainbow.

Well, I have been in the same black ant fishing mode for the last three weeks with great success and I have no reason to change. It is the only fly that is working - even after I tried others. So, I keep going back to the well and tying and fishing and catching!

Such a simple pattern - yet so effective.

2

Hey PFF,

Simple but effective flies are my
favorites. Lots of fish will readily go
out of their way to eat a simple ant or
spider pattern.G Both warm and cold
water fisheries.G Ain’t it great.G
Warm regards, Jim

3

I saw an easy ant pattern in fly fishing america magazines last issue that looked very easy to tie.

4

I fished some creeks in WVA and SW PA a couple of weekends ago and a black parachute ant with a grizzly hackle in a size 18 was the hot pattern for the 4 days I fished. This time of year terrestrials are always a good bet to have in your box. Glad to hear you discovered the virtues of the ant!

Joe B
SW Ohio

“The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable; a perpetual series of occassions for hope.” John Buchan

5

A small black foam ant, #18, is the pattern I go to when all else has failed. It works most of the time. Fish can’t seem to resist an ant.
Eric

6

I love summer for the ant and hopper hatches! No more worrying about having the exactly right fly or watching an indicator. No more getting skunked.

The latest issue of Fly Fisherman magazine has a good long article on ants along with a number of fly patterns.