Ants blown onto the water surface trigger some of the most selective feeding trout exhibit all summer. Two foam bubbles — abdomen and thorax — perfectly suggest the pinched waist of an ant. Black is most common; cinnamon matches carpenter ants; red imitates flying ant swarms that trout gorge on in late summer.
1. Thread base — Attach black thread behind the eye and build a base to the bend.
2. Abdomen — Tie in a piece of black foam at the bend. Pull forward and tie down at the midpoint, then pull back slightly to form a round, bulbous abdomen bubble. Secure with several tight wraps.
3. Legs — Wind 2–3 turns of black hackle at the midpoint (the pinched waist), then tie off. This creates the legs.
4. Thorax — Pull the foam forward again and tie down just behind the eye. Leave a small tab extending forward for the head. Pull back slightly to form a smaller thorax bubble.
5. Indicator (optional) — Tie in a tiny wisp of orange poly yarn on top of the thorax for visibility.
6. Head — Trim excess foam at the eye. Build a small thread head. Whip finish and apply head cement.
