How to Tie the Parachute Ant
| Part | Material |
|---|---|
| Hook | standard dry fly hook #14-20 (Craven: TMC 102Y #13-19) |
| Thread | 8/0 black (brown or rust for brown and cinnamon ants) |
| Abdomen | Superfine dry-fly dubbing, black (or brown/cinnamon), dubbed into an oblong rear ball |
| Wing | Float-Viz or polypropylene yarn parachute post (sources: white; catalog image: orange and white) |
| Hackle | black rooster saddle (Trident) or grizzly rooster neck (Craven) |
| Thorax | same dubbing as the abdomen, a smaller front ball around the post base |
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1
Thread Base
Start the thread at the midpoint and wrap a base back to the bend.
- 2
Rear Body
Dub an oblong ball of dubbing from the bend to about the 40 percent point of the shank.
- 3
Post
Move the thread to the 80 percent point, tie in the post material with X-wraps, pull both ends up into a single post and wrap the base to stand it upright.
- 4
Tie In Hackle
Strip the base of the hackle and tie it in at the post base, then post it upright alongside the wing with thread wraps.
- 5
Front Body
Take one turn of thread around the shank in front of the post and dub a smaller ball around the post base, leaving a thin waist between the two segments.
- 6
Wrap Hackle
Make four or five turns of hackle down the post and tie off the tip with a pinch wrap.
- 7
Finish
Whip finish behind the eye, trim the post to about one shank length and add a drop of head cement.
How to Fish the Parachute Ant
Effective terrestrial pattern during summer and early fall when ants fall into water or during flying ant swarms (late July-September, peak August). Dead drift along willow banks, undercut areas, and overhanging vegetation where ants drop naturally. The parachute post provides excellent visibility for tracking and strike detection. Works particularly well during flying ant swarms when large numbers of winged ants hit the water. Best fished with drag-free drift - ants are 'accidentals' and drift helplessly. Present near bank structure, root wads, and seams where trout hold waiting for terrestrials. Effective in multiple colors: black (most common, general use), cinnamon (honey-colored ants, late summer), brown (natural tones). Size down (#16-20) for selective fish or heavily pressured waters; larger sizes (#14) for general use or visible presentations. Best fished with fine tippet (5X-6X) for small ant size. Excellent visibility makes it ideal for detecting subtle strikes. Can be deadly during actual flying ant swarms when fish are keying on the surface.
