Chernobyl Ant

The Chernobyl Ant is one of the most influential foam flies ever created. Despite its name, it isn’t really an ant. It’s a high-floating foam attractor designed to imitate large terrestrial insects like grasshoppers, beetles, and stoneflies—and sometimes just a big, edible “something.” This popular cold water terrestrial pattern has racked up impressive numbers of trout for me on Western trout streams. As it turns out it is a damn good warm water pattern as well! In smaller sizes it is a panfish killer and tied on a larger hooks it has racked up good numbers of bass for me over the years.

Materials List:

Hook: Long shank hopper hook or streamer hook

Thread: 6/0 Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread

Body: Two identical pieces of 2mm foam cut by hand or with a Rounded End Chernobyl Ant Foam Cutter. Alternatively you can use bi-color laminated foam

Underbody (optional): Segmented foam, natural or synthetic peacock herl, dubbing or dry fly poly yarn

Legs: Round Rubber or Silicone leg material

Indicator(optional): Bright colored 1mm foam or yarn

Tying Tip: I like to create an underbody of segmented foam using the first layer of foam. It is a little more labor intensive than a wrapped or dubbed body put provides a cleaner look and there is no worry of the underbody getting water logged and effecting floatability.