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Terrestrial / Pattern notes

Fur Ant

Two dubbed segments separated by a narrow waist create a simple ant silhouette.

At the vise
Beginner friendly
Common sizes
#14–20
From hook to fly

At the vise.

4 steps

Follow this base recipe in order. The materials list specifies one hook size; adjust proportions together when tying another size.

  1. Rear segment

    Cover the shank with thread. Dub a rounded abdomen over the rear third.

  2. Waist and head

    Leave a narrow thread waist, then dub a smaller front segment. Keep space behind the eye.

  3. Legs

    Tie a small hackle at the waist and wind two sparse turns. Secure and trim.

  4. Finish

    Whip finish at the eye and cement. Clip hackle above and below to leave fibers projecting sideways.

Beyond the bench

On the water.

Use near banks or during ant falls. Fish dry or just beneath the film when drowned insects are being taken.

Tied by independent makers

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Recipe references

Original written instructions adapted from the sources below. Materials and methods may vary between versions.

For the same fly box.

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