Fly of the Month - June 2009
Bob's Blue Butt Ant
A series of events caused me to develop this ant pattern. While dry fly fishing a lake in Colorado several years ago, my partner and I were almost attached by the unpredictable flying of a hatch of blue damsel flies. The flies landed on our rod tips, cap bills, and our pontoon oars. The trout went into an acrobatic frenzy leaping for these blue morsels. Few were taken during the leap. Between the two of us, we no doubt had 400 flies--but nothing blue. We both caught several good fish by “splashing” a dry fly, but knew there had to be something simple to tie that would work. The Blue Butt Ant was born. This fly has produced on the Gunnison, Frying Pan, Roaring Fork, and Crystal Rivers in Colorado, Hat Creek in California, and the Walker River in Nevada. Last week, I caught some nice fish on the Norfork River with this fly.
Hook: Lightning strike 16/18 dry fly
Thread: Black 8/0
Blue “Butt”: SLF Prism II Electric Blue
Body: Ant bodies small soft foam black
Wing: Small flat pearl tinsel
Hackle: Black (positioned center of hook)
Post: Parachute posts small soft foam white
Procedure:
1. De-barb hook. Back thread from eye to center of curve.
2. Take a small pinch of electric blue, moisten palm, roll the blue in a string. There should be enough for one fly, double over and roll the blue at least ¼” extending beyond end of hook. Tie blue to just behind eye. Blue should be visible from the bottom of fly and hook. Cement top of fly.
3. Tie black foam in three segments to top of hook leave room behind eye for post.
4. Tie in 2-3 turns black hackle in center hook body segment.
5. Tie in wings, cut on slant.
6. Tie in small piece of white parachute post. Cement, whip finish.
This fly is also a very effective fly indicator with a bead head, nymph, or another dry fly. Sight fish upstream/downstream mending back or downstream as conditions apply. Work the sides of the river, eddies, and do not overlook shallow water. Two fish at a time have occurred. Have fun with it.
Designed and Tied by Bob Jensen
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