Alright, we can all feel it — it’s hotter than a henhouse in the blazing sun out there! So let’s skip messing with the fish for now — if you gotta fish, go early “in the cool of the morning” or maybe catch the evening bite, but for the next few days, stepping outside is basically like opening the oven door… and that’s if you’re even lucky enough to have rivers with water left in them.
So to keep yourself entertained between soccer matches, Tour de France stages, or a few sets at Wimbledon, the best move is to stay cool — and to keep your passion alive, tie some flies! Today, thanks to Flies by Aspeen (there’s a ton of other tutorials out there too…), we’re showing you how to tie an ant you’ll be able to fish all summer long! And not just any ant — a deer hair ant! This fly is a Killer!
Need a quick and effective ant pattern for trout? This deer hair ant comes together in just a few minutes and has become one of my go-to summer trout flies. Despite how simple it is, it creates a natural silhouette that trout have a hard time resisting. In this tying tutorial, I’ll show you how to whip up this quick, effective ant imitation with just a handful of materials. Whether you’re new to fly tying or just want an easy pattern to knock out and stock your box in one evening, this one’s a must-have. In this video, you’ll learn:
- How to tie a deer hair ant imitation
- Tips for working with deer hair
- How to tie this fly in about two minutes
- When and where to fish trout with ant patterns
Materials
Hook (size 14): link
Thread (strong thread recommended): link
Black deer hair: link
Body — American snowshoe rabbit dubbing: link
Optional dubbing: link
Natural CDC: link
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The links above are to give you a rough idea of what you should get. But find the FlyShop near you.