Ant Fly Patterns

[TroutMedic]

I saw this awesome ant pattern on hatches.com. Are ant patterns really that effective? Would it be a good fly to have in my box for fishing in south Texas?

[Danny S]

Probably can't hurt to have some--especially if fishing after a good rain. I personally haven't fished with ant patterns but I think some folks have had success with them.

[mccjames]

I have not seen ant patterns in anyones suggestions for Texas, but let us know if it works.

I used several ants with success in the Rockies but have never tried them here.

[mickmcco]

Fish don't look up much on the Guad, but I bet a drowned ant pattern would work. Unfortunately, we get some big fire ant falls in the late spring after a big rain, and they can do major damage to trout who decide to key on them. It's one of those Darwinian decisions with lethal consequences.

[BigCliff]

I caught dozens of sunfish this summer on an ant like this-


The Tackle Box carries those foam cylinders.

Edit- not sure it matters but I think I tied mine in three sections, with hackle in two places where the foam is compressed by the thread. (like so- tie in the hackle above the barb, tie on the foam. Wrap hackle 3-4 times around where the foam is tied down, tie off the hackle. Lift the foam and wrap thread around the shank and hackle 2/3's of the way to the eye. Tie down the foam again, another 3-4 wraps of hackle, tie off hackle, whip finish and yer done.)

[Jimbo Roberts]

I have caught Guadalupe Rainbows on Parachute Ants.
It is also one of my go to attractor/searching patterns when fishing the Rockies in the summertime especially in meadows.
It has worked better than even the much ballyhooed Hopper most days.
Jimbo

[LabRat]

Jimbo, you scared me..I thought for a moment you said you had caught rainbows on the Guad in parachute pants!

Can't touch this...