Parachute Foam Ant: Step-by-Step Fly Tying Guide

With: Fly Fish 402

This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to tie a Parachute Foam Ant pattern, perfect for adding variety to your ant fly collection. Inspired by a fly purchased in Colorado, this pattern features a foam body and a parachute post for great visibility on the water.

Materials:

• Firehole Sticks 419, Size 14 hook

• Veevus 10/0 thread (black)

• Black 2mm foam

• River Roads Creations Foam Cutters (Chernobyl style)

• McFlylon for parachute post

• Black hackle feathers

• Dubbing (for thorax)

• Super glue (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Start Thread on the Hook
   Begin by attaching your black Veevus 10/0 thread to the hook shank. Start the thread about a third of the way down the shank, leaving enough room for the head.

2. Prepare and Attach Foam
   Cut a thin strip of black 2mm foam using the Chernobyl-style foam cutter. Tie this foam onto the hook shank near the bend, securing it firmly with tight wraps.

3. Shape the Body
   Gradually wrap the foam around the hook shank, forming a football-shaped body. Wrap back slightly down the bend to avoid crowding the hook eye. This creates the ant’s characteristic rounded body shape.

4. Build the Thorax
   Apply your chosen dubbing to the thread and wrap it around the hook to form a small thorax. Ensure you don’t over-dub, as you want a clean, slim appearance. The thorax should be slightly thicker than the rest of the body but still proportional.

5. Trim the Foam
   Trim the foam at the point where the thorax begins, leaving enough foam to cover the back of the fly and form a nice, rounded appearance.

6. Prepare Parachute Post
   Cut a strand of McFlylon for the parachute post. Split the strand in half for a fuller, more visible post. Tie the McFlylon in at the top of the thorax, ensuring it stands upright.

7. Attach Hackle Tips
   Select a pair of hackle feathers and tie in the tips at the base of the parachute post. Ensure the tips are oriented correctly to form the wings of the ant.

8. Tie in Parachute Hackle
   Tie in a black hackle feather beneath the parachute post. Wrap the hackle around the post a few times, ensuring it stays evenly spaced and upright.

9. Form the Ant’s Head
   Use the thread to form a small, neat head for the ant. Make several wraps around the base of the parachute post to secure everything in place.

10. Finish the Fly
    Trim the hackle tips and foam to your desired length. If needed, apply a small amount of super glue to the thread wraps to help the parachute post and foam stay in place. Trim the foam ends to form a clean, rounded shape.

11. Final Touches
    Carefully trim any excess thread and hackle tips, and make sure the parachute post is straight and well-formed. The result should be a neat, durable, and highly visible parachute foam ant.