How to Tie the Fur Ant Fly Pattern

Mar 02, 2022 · 2 min read

Learn how to tie the Fur Ant fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

Trident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. We spend a lot of time testing gear and writing reviews to give you all of the tools to make your next trip a success. We are not a blog or a review site. 100% of our funding comes from your gear purchases, so if this blog post helps you on your next fly fishing adventure, please support us by buying your gear from us

The Fur Ant is a simple yet effective pattern and is one of our favorite flies for Maine's wood choked brook trout streams. The Fur Ant is a fantastic late summer option when nothing seems to be hatching, but fish are still looking up. It floats well in faster-moving water but lands softer than foam terrestrials, making it a great choice in low water.

Recipe

Hook: Kona BDF Barbless Dry Fly
Thread: Uni-thread Black 8/0
Dubbing : Hairline Super Dry Fly Dub Black
Hackle: Whitting Grizzly

Buy Material Kit

Step One

Fly tying vise gripping a matte steel curved hook with black thread wrapped on shank, Fur Ant tying on pale gray background

Begin the pattern by laying a thread base down from the hook’s eye to the bend.

Step Two

Black fur ant fly being tied on curved hook in metal vise with black thread and sparse fur body

Now that the thread is tied on, we move on to the body. Apply the black Hairline Super Dry Fly Dubbing to the thread and make several tight wraps on the bottom third of the shank.

Step Three

Black fur ant fly tied on hook in metal vise, grizzly feather tail and black thread visible, fly tying close-up

Tie on the grizzly saddle hackle right above the dubbed body by the tip. Be sure to run the thread along the fly’s neck for a clean look.

Step Four

Black fur ant fly with gray-brown palmered hackle on hook held in silver vise, trailing thread — fly fishing pattern

Pinch the end of the feather and make six turns up the shank, then clip the excess material.

Step Five

Black Fur Ant fly pattern on hook in vise, fuzzy black fur body with brown hackle fibers, fly fishing

The Super Dry Fly Dubbing makes up the pattern’s head as well. Apply a pinch of the material to the thread and make several wraps behind the hook’s eye to form the shape of a small ball.

Step Six

Black fur ant fly pattern with palmered brown hackle on curved hook held in vise, fly fishing tutorial

Finish the pattern by pulling the hackle back, then secure a whip finish behind the head. Now the Fur Ant is ready to entice some rises.

Written by

Stephen D' Angelo

Stephen D'Angelo is a fly fishing expert with a passion for fly tying, gear, and time on the water. From small-stream trout to saltwater flats fishing, Stephen brings hands-on experience across a wide range of species and scenarios — and he's always happy to help you find the right setup for your next adventure.

Comments

(0)

No comments yet. Be the first!