Fishing with Ants
The ant pattern is the best fly you have never used.
This is true of many fly anglers. When it comes to fly fishing we have been conditioned to match the hatch focusing on midges, mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies and terrestrials. However, ants are always around during certain seasons.
There are about 14,000 ant species through-out the world with about 800 available in North America. Alberta has about 90 species. This makes ants an important terrestrial to us fly fishers.
Why do trout eat ants? Good question. Because ants are very acidic, maybe trout just like the taste of them. Trout’s predatory instincts are such that they will gorge themselves on ants often ignoring other food items that are present.
Ants normally live their lives in various places. We see them all the time. When the time is right, certain ants develop wings which take flight in order to create new colonies. Not all ant species hatch at the same time, therefore us fly fishermen can experience a flying ant hatch at different times when the conditions are prime.
The annual swarming event usually occurs in July and August and coincides with a period of hot humid weather. Flying ants can emerge over several weeks if conditions prevail but can vary from year to year.
The common ants that are available in Alberta are the Little Black Ant, New York Carpenter Ant, Western Harvester Ant, Western Black Carpenter Ant, and Western Thatching Ant.
Fly fishermen whether they focus on lakes or river/streams can have success using ants. A wind can blow ants over any part of the water’s surface but fishermen should focus on certain areas for the best success. Areas with overhanging vegetation and water that is fairly shallow (6-24 inches deep). Rivers and streams offer unique areas that should be explored such as foam lines, eddies and undercut banks.
Ants are only available to the trout when they fall from bank vegetation or the wind blows them into the water. When ants hit the water, there is no escape.
When ants fall on the water’s surface, they float for a while imprisoned in the surface film not on the surface film. After a short while they sink below the surface film and drown.
Black is considered the basic colour for any ant pattern, however, brown and red (cinnamon) shades should also be considered
There are many different ant patterns that have been developed for today’s fly fishermen. Some have realistic profiles while others are abstract imitations. Sizes range from 12-20, winged and non-winged versions. These patterns can be tied using various styles such as the Fur Ants, Wet Ants, Foam Ants, Parachute Ants, Flying Ants, and the Chernobyl Ants.
The objective is not to have every style, size and colour of ant pattern, but to have a few in different sizes and colours, winged and non-winged.
When fishing with ants, any dry fly setup will work, using a standard floating line with a 5x leader with about 18 inches of 5X or 6X tippet. You need a thin, light and flexible tippet so as not to influence the way the ant drifts drag free. You can also setup a dry-dropper rig or go with a full Euro-style nymphing rig. Drowned ants can be anywhere within the water column including the bottom.
Whether the trout are rising or not, ants can be a great searching fly pattern. Trout are always on the lookout for their next meal, ants above others are an important item in a trout’s diet. There will be days when nothing else works, but you will be glad you had some ants in your fly box.
Chernobyl Ant
Hook: Tiemco 5263 Size 6 – 3X long
Thread: UTC 140 Black
Body: 3mm Black Foam (Bottom)
2mm Tan Foam (Top)
Legs: Medium Rubber Legs Black
Underbody: Medium Crystal Chenille Olive
Underbody Hackle: Saddle Feather Brown
Sighters: 2mm Yellow Foam
Hook: Mustad 94831 Size 12
Thread: UTC 70 Black
Body: Black float foam small and Black Ostrich herl
Wings: Two cream cock hackle tips
Head: Black float foam small
Legs: 10-15 Black deer hairs
Fur Ant
Hook: Tiemco 100 size 14
Thread: UTC 70 Black
Body: Superfine Dubbing Black
Hackle: Saddle Feather Black
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