Tying the Chernobyl Ant Fly

One of the best foam dry flies ever created.

January 19, 2016 By Charlie Craven

Chernobyl Ant Recipe

Hook: TMC 5263 #4-12
Thread: 3/0 Monocord, black
Back: 3mm Black Foam and 2 mm Yellow Foam
Legs: Medium Round Rubber Legs
Hackle: Brown rooster saddle
Underbody: Olive Krystal Chenille

Tying The Chernobyl Ant

Tying The Chernobyl Ant

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 1 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 1 of 14

Start the thread behind the eye and wrap back to the bend of the hook. Cut a strip of each color foam that is about as wide as the hook gap. Notch the ends to a point as shown here.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 2 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 2 of 14

Lay the black foam on the hook and ti it in place at the bend of the hook.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 3 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 3 of 14

Lay the yellow strip on top of the black foam overlapping the length on the back. Tie the yellow foam in place with several tight turns of thread.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 4 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 4 of 14

Tie a single strand of rubber leg in on each side of the hook at the point where you tied the foam down.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 5 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 5 of 14

Pull the foam back out of the way and tie in the butt end of a rooster saddle feather at the base of the foam.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 6 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 6 of 14

Tie in a length of krystal chenille e at the base of the foam.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 7 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 7 of 14

Wrap the chenille forward to the eye of the hook and tie it off. Clip the excess.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 8 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 8 of 14

Palmer the hackle heavily up the hook to the front and tie it off and clip the excess.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 9 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 9 of 14

Trim the hackle fibers short all along the body.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 10 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 10 of 14

Fold the black foam forward over the body and tie it down behind the eye with a couple tight wraps of thread.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 11 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 11 of 14

Fold the yellow foam over the top of the black and tie it down on top of the black foam.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 12 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 12 of 14

Tie a rubber leg in on each side of the fly at the front.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 13 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 13 of 14

Trim the foam on the front end of the fly straight across. Lift the front of the foam and whip finish the thread behind the eye.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 14 of 14

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 14 of 14

Trim the legs to length.

Finished Chernobyl Ant

Finished Chernobyl Ant

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