Foam Army Ant
Foam Army Ant
While the Foam Army Ant may look like a “Match the Hatch” exact copy of a futuristic zombie apocalypse red ant, this pattern is more than just a fun bug to tie. It floats well, is visible, and the legs create a lot of fish attracting movement. This fly is really more of an attractor pattern that works great for feeding the numerous trout species found in the smaller creeks and rivers in Alberta and Montana.

Materials
Hook: Kumho 017, Size 10 (Available at Pieroway Rod Company Canada),
Thread: UNI-Thread 6/0 red
Dubbing: Ice Dub UV red and Ice Dub UV black
Body: Foam at The Mouth custom cut foam fly body; Size 1 Red Army Ant
Underwing: Midge Flash pearl
Wing: Ice Fur black
Legs: Life Flex black

Tying Instructions
Step 1. Insert the hook in the vise, attach the thread, and wrap a 3-layer thread base onto the hook. End with the thread opposite the point of the hook.
Step 2. Place a drop of Zap-A-Gap onto the thread wraps and spread with bodkin. Then twist a pinch of red UV Ice Dub onto the thread and wrap forward three turns.
Step 3. Place the custom cut foam fly body on top of the hook shank so that the rear taper in the body lines up with the location of the thread. Bind down the rear half of the foam body with 3 or 4 firm wraps.
Step 4a. Prepare a set of Life Flex legs by cutting one individual piece off the hank, folding it in half, then in half again and cutting. This should result in 4 roughly equal length legs.
Step 4b.Bind down a leg on each side of the rear segment tie in point of the foam body with 2 or 3 thread wraps.
Step 5. Twist another pinch of red UV Ice Dub onto the thread and wrap forward four turns so that the dubbed thread lines up with the front taper in the foam body. Remember to cover the thread wraps that tie in the legs with dubbing.
Step 6. Bind down the front half of the foam body with 3 or 4 firm wraps.
Step 7. Bind down four short strands of midge flash, on top of the foam body at the front taper tie in point, with 2 or 3 firm thread wraps. Trim the strands so that the overall length of the flash extends just short of the end of the foam body.
Step 8a. Prepare the wing by cutting off a sparse (approximately ½ a matchstick in diameter) amount of Ice Fur from the hank.
Step 8b. Fold the Ice Fur wing strands around the thread and bind down, on top of the flash material tie in point, with 2 or 3 firm thread wraps. Trim the fibers so that the overall length of the wing is roughly equal to the length of the flash.
Step 9.  Bind down a leg on each side of the front taper tie in point of the body with 2 or 3 thread wraps.
Step 10. Twist a pinch of black UV Ice Dub onto the thread and wrap forward so that the dubbing covers the thread wraps that tie in the wing/legs.
Step 11a. Advance the thread forward to the hook eye and build up a small head in front of the foam.
Step 11b. Whip finish and carefully apply a small amount of head cement to the exposed thread wraps at the head of the fly.
Step 12. Flip the fly over in the vise so it is belly up and catch all of the legs together between your thumb and forefinger. Trim them off so that they are all of roughly equal length.

Your Foam Army Ant is now complete and you are ready to head out On The Water!

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