I used to get elaborate with tying ants with adding hackle point wings and such but that is more of a waste of time. I've reduced my ants to basic "trigger points" - an hour glass profile and and a blue dun hackle about one size smaller than the fly.
Blue Dun??? Why not black for a black ant and brown/red for a red ant? Simple. The hackle doesn't represent the insect body or its legs BUT ITS WINGS which reflect sunlight like glass. Blue dun will do that!
One more thing - use synthetic dubbing for this pattern. You will be able to shape that hour glass profile and it doesn't like to absorb water.
Another thing - take a black sharpie and color the hackles on the underside of the ant near the waist.
Exaggerate the hour glass profile. Maybe we should call it the Kardashian Ant!!!!
Last Nights Rain
The skies opened up out in Western and Central Ma and some much needed rain was the result. The Millers went from 110 cfs to 229 cfs (very good) and the EB went from 30 to 80. I'd like to see one more storm on that river this week.
Tricos??
It came to my attention that someone is claiming that the Farmington Trico hatch is over and they just missed it. In response I posted the quote from Upcountry Fly Shop dated August 14 ( top of this post) stating that the tricos are just starting to appear and will be with us for the next couple of weeks. I don't know about you but I'd trust Upcountry's reports before anyone else's concerning the Farmie!!!!
Their river reports are updated twice a week all year long. Before you leave for that Farmie trip check out their site!!!
Ken
14 comments:
Most ants i tie for the Swift are parachute patterns w/dun hackle down the post. For a flying ant, rather than tying the post on the head, was thinking of tying the post/hackle on the rear section or stomach of the ant. Anyone try this? Thoughts?
mattk,
I've moved away from parachutes because the hackle obscures the fly profile.
Ken
I am not sure what he is talking about-I saw that too...the Tricos run right up to October and even a little later. I am looking forward to finding some on the Henry's Fork in about 3 weeks but until then-ants have picked up quite a few fish over the last two outings-truthfully they always do. I have long thought of the Ant like an Adams or Soft Hackle or PT...they pick up fish all the time even without the "hatch" I recall using them the day after Thanksgiving on the Swift many many years ago...successfully.
Tried posting earlier so apology if this dupilacates: Fished the lower c&r section on the Millers last night up until dark. Beautiful evening and caught a ton of smallmouth and sunfish on hoppers. Stayed until dark and never saw any risers. I wonder if the storms moving through had something to do with it?
HI Ken,thanks for expertise ,it is the most enjoyable reading on line.Love the kardasian ant! Fished on the Farmington a couple of days ago just below the dam.The little rainbows were hopping for a Royal Wulff. The Farmington is a real nice spot! Too bad its an hour and a half drive. Cheers,Chet
Chet,
Glad that you like the blog! The Farmie is a good place. That and the Swift.
BobT,
I've seen lots of tricos on the Millers, like mica falling from the morning sky and lots caught in spider webs alon the shore and bridges but no rising trout!! My latest ant caught trout was on theS wift in early December years ago. No ants around but the trout have a good memory!
Anonymous,
I think your comment got tagged onto a previous post. I still think there are trout to be had on the Millers but we need more water. We have it now!!!
Ken
Good post as usual.
A.N.
On the MB this morning, enough water to fish and not harm the trout. Fooled 2 chunky, butter colored browns 16-17" with a #12 Chernobyl,vicious hits on top,got them in quick and released. On another note I have been trout fishing for over 50 yrs. never lost or misplaced a net. This year I have lost 2, 1 on the mighty Swift and 1 this morning on the MB. Now I still have 2 left but I'm starting to worry.
Gary,
The perfect morning!!! I'll look for the net. Watch for my next post because it's a bit of a surprise.
You do know those rivers!!!
Ken
Hey Ken That's a nice picture of you in Eastern Fly Fishing! Congratulations! Chet
Had a blast with big hoppers off the bank at the Swift today then was dodging falling branches and lighting running out of there about 3pm. Very heavy storm blew through. Anyone who was there knows how heavy it was. Good fun. :)
Falsecast,
I could see that storm to the south of me and then saw it on the evening news. It was a mess.
Chet,
Thank you!
Ken
( )-() <ant pattern
P
O
S
T
Post on the rear section of the ant to represent wings...like the real thing. Wasn't hard to tie. Will it work? Probably. Just a different way of constructing a fly. Parachute patterns sit down on the surface. Good for slow glass like water. I'll use catskill style flies in slightly choppier water.
mattk,
I stopped with Catskill style dries years ago. A lousy style. Now everything is in the film. Parachute dries are on the way out for me too. Fun to tie but the same result can be had with a comparadun style.
Ken
Post a Comment