Who doesn’t love easy ant patterns?

[@jimholland1592]

Good morning Matt☕️☕️ I love an ant, they are a fish catcher and like you said easy and cheap. Just the way I like it 🤣🤣🤣

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely Jim! I hope you and Joyce are having a safe trip so far. We'll see you in a couple of days!

[@jimholland1592]

@@SavageFlies yes we are about two hours out stop at a rest area for a sandwich and it is freezing and the wind is howling 🤣🤣🤣

[@edwardchavez5627]

Good Morning Sir Matt, great ty and looking forward to tying this pattern real soon. Everything is good here in Texas except for all the fires to the west in New Mexico, 16 counties out of 32 are burning and there's been a few fires in Texas as well we need rain we are safe where we are at. See you on the next video I appreciate all you do

[@SavageFlies]

Yikes Edward! My sympathies are with you and all Texans hoping you'll get some cool air and rain soon.

[@edwardchavez5627]

@@SavageFlies thank you see you at 6 a.m. waiting for this next video

[@jimgollach6202]

Your right Matt! Easy to tie even without foam. Fish will eat them up. Fun pattern. Thanks for sharing 👍.

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Jim! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@laytonmarvin3790]

Nicely tied Matt thanks for sharing

[@jeffreystone7327]

What I love the most about this fly? Is your intro. Hearing the confidence in your voice. This is one we all need to tie. Great looking Ant. Great video. One where you can just have fun. Thank you Matt. Sure appreciate this one buddy.

[@SavageFlies]

You got it Jeff! I am pretty confident in these patterns, and possibly because this simple thing has saved me from being skunked more than once. :-)

[@CatchReleaseRepeat]

Last summer we rented a cabin on a trout stream and by the end of the trip I flat out ran out of ants. We go back in a few weeks and you better believe I'm going to tie a whole bucket full of these! As always, thanks for posting!

[@DarrellOlson]

That is definitely a very simple ant pattern. I will give it a go.

[@dsmt8703]

That’s definitely an easy way to make an ant. I’m going to have to try the fant next time I sit down to the vise. Have a great day out east today.

[@SavageFlies]

You bet D! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@bigdaddy99929]

Always love simple, cheap and quick little effective flies. Thx Matt!!

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Clyde! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@karljones6594]

Good morning Matt. Nice little pattern will give it a tie. Been working on my terrestrial myself. Thanks for sharing have a great day and stay safe my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

Outstanding Karl! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@garrettswoodworx1873]

Awesome ant pattern Matt! I'm pretty sure the fish aren't gonna notice a difference in the number of legs. This one is so inexpensive, quick and simple to tie I'm just going to tie a bunch and consider them disposable & not worry when one gets damaged by a fish. Thanks for sharing!

[@SavageFlies]

That's exactly what I do Garrett! And I tie these on cheap hooks that are literally about $7 for a hundred. So altogether, I've got about fifteen cents invested in these bugs. :-)

[@edwardmlotkiewicz2343]

Hello again, Matt. Nice,quick and dirty tie. Works really well for panfish down here in Florida ponds. Thanks again for a great session.

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Ed! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@timl824]

This channel is such a positive influence on my fly tying. Matt, you’re amazing.

[@SavageFlies]

Wow, thank you Tim. This is such an encouraging comment to receive. I really appreciate it my friend. :-)

[@yvonpoitras916]

Im at the vise now for a few of these Matt thanks for sharing ;)

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Yvon! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@Jd-yc3gw]

Good morning Matt. ☕️ time. That has to be one of the simplest ants to tie that I’ve seen. Going to tie some of these for my fly box and see how they do. We’ll need another ☕️. Take care Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it John! Hope you're having a great week my friend. :-)

[@MyItalians]

Good morning Matt. Like the fly. One day I'll buy some foam and tye some of this. Thanks for your time. Have a blessed day.

[@SavageFlies]

You need some foam Nich!! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@scottmilner3801]

I’m like in this ant pattern it looks way easier than the one I tie! Nice one Matt thanks again for all you do!! I’ve learned quite a bit from watching your channel!!

[@SavageFlies]

Well thank you Scott! I appreciate the kind words my friend. :-)

[@scottmilner3801]

@@SavageFlies You’re one of three that I actually listen to everyone else I turn the volume down lol and just watch them tie. You explain things in an easy way to understand which is much appreciated. I’m sure everyone else would agree!!

[@SavageFlies]

@@scottmilner3801 Wow Scott, thank you! I really appreciate you saying this. 🙂

[@diecastrejuvenation7779]

Wow, that really is simple and quick! Thanks for sharing it. Going to tie a dozen or so for the summer here. In Northern Arizona we get a lot of the large black Carpenter Ants. This will be perfect!

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Troy! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@mikeney5113]

Awesome. Awesome little ant pattern Matt.so simple yet quick easy tie.what a great little pattern! I will definitely tie up some for my box.thanks buddy!!

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Mike! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@FlyTyer1948]

This makes me antsy to tie some foam ants. I think the indicator is critical for visibility, especially when fishing a spot shaded by overhanging brush or trees. It’s almost impossible to see the fly otherwise. I like the addition of Krystal. Flash but think I would also add some stiff hackle clipped off on the underside, so it sits in the surface film. My theory: The combo of soft flash & stiff fibers allows some movement in gentle current & stiff fibers push water when the fly is twitched. Am I wishful thinking? This needs testing, since I’ve only used dry fly hackle for the legs previously on ants. For anyone in New England, I would recommend size 10 or 12 for carpenter ants & 14 for flying ants. A carpenter ant here can be up to 16 or 18 mm or almost 3/4,” so a size 10 hook might even be a bit small. Size 8 was actually pretty close when held next to a live ant at our cabin, but the fish didn’t seem to want ones bigger than a 10 & the 12s caught more. Dunno why.

[@SavageFlies]

I like your theory Bob. I think a dark CDC tied between the foam sections would definitely give it some movement in still water. But a dry fly hackle, trimmed at the bottom would quite possibly let the foam segments make the profile, and the indentations the hackle would make in the surface film might look like pretty natural legs. Of course, we're probably both overthinking it. And anything that's roughly the size and shape of an ant might work most days. :-)

[@ybarrajc]

Thanks Matt, definitely going to give this one a tie. Be blessed my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

You bet! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@barbaraemerich1921]

Good morning Matt! I love it!! I’m definitely going to be tying this ant up!!

[@SavageFlies]

Go for it Barbara! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@DB-iu8yl]

Nice fly Matt. I’ll add this one to list.

[@davehall2160]

Definitely going to be tying some of these. You can never have to many terrestrial That is a cool looking fly Thanks for the video Matt

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Dave! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@glensims7959]

Good stuff! Killer pattern. Thanks for the Krystal flash tip. 👍 I use deer hair on mine and it doesn't last very long. I never thought of KF...... Perfect!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Glen! Take a look at the link in the description for the flash that I found that works best. It was a pack of maybe ten different colors and has already lasted me for a couple of years. :-)

[@martyrothman3933]

Well Matt that really looks simple I can handle that one have a great day thank you

[@SavageFlies]

No doubt Marty! It's truly a piece of cake. :-)

[@charlieboutin3341]

Love this..There’s going to be some in my box! 👍👍 It’s been terrestrial time here for quite a while now..I always know by the beetles, ants and pill bugs that somehow get under my front door.🫤 Lots of small grasshoppers jumping also.🙂 Can’t wait to try these. Thanks a lot Matt..have a great one! 🎣

[@SavageFlies]

Oh man, that sounds great Charlie! Of course it gets warmer in Texas at least a month or so before it does up here. You know, I've seen a couple of lady bug patterns but never thought to actually tie one and try to fish it. It might be kind of a fun tie. :-)

[@charlieeastland2249]

We have a ways to go before terrestrial season in Colorado, but I’m definitely going to try this pattern. Thanks Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Oh yeah Charlie! I'm hearing the terrestrials are already out in Texas, but we're a few weeks away here in Maryland too.

[@charlieeastland2249]

@@SavageFlies Yeah, it takes some time out here, especially in the high country. Some of the lakes still have ice on them up there.

[@jamesphillips2216]

Simple and effective fly!! I’ll definitely be giving this one a try!! Thanks for sharing Matt!!

[@SavageFlies]

You bet James! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@jamesphillips2216]

@@SavageFlies I totally enjoy and learn from each video!! You’re next level Matt, thanks man!!

[@sallysanderson3627]

Super simple and going to have to try!!!

[@jamesvatter5729]

Definitely a fish catcher. I agree, Matt. Fish can't count legs. If I catch one someday wearing "cheaters", then I'll rethink that idea. Try one of these in a Flo-orange. I forget the author, but I read a book many years ago where he used a tiny fluorescent orange ant out west and just slayed them. Of course, I just had to try it around here.. It worked...and not just for stockers.

[@SavageFlies]

That's cool to hear Jim. I've seen red ant patterns (of course there are red ants in real life as well). But I've often wondered if an orange, yellow or purple would work. It might be worth having a couple in your box, particularly when you have those crazy fish come trying to eat your bright orange indicator. :-)

[@leemowers9395]

Nice ant pattern, I'll use that one also. Thanks Matt for the video.

[@chevyguy6510]

Great ant pattern Matt!! Could use this this week. Need a small indicator fly that's easier to see. Pretty cloudy yesterday and I had trouble seeing my bullet head. Did manage a few yesterday thought. Should have brought my tying gear with me. Oh well. Tight lines!

[@SavageFlies]

No kidding Todd! I used to keep a spare tying bag in my truck but took it out a few months ago for some reason or another. And when I needed it a few weeks ago... arghhh! Oh well, I probably would have been skunked anyway. :-)

[@MayheM_72]

Another great video! Super simple, and effective! I also love that you kept the "oopsie" with the 1st leg that got burnt. It shows that everyone makes mistakes, amd not to be too hard on yourself. I don't think the fish count how many legs a bug has, or if everything is in perfect proportions!

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! I'm sure you're right. I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@johnnylightning1491]

Nice fly Matt. I’m up here in Grand Haven Michigan freezing my you know ehat off and not even fishing. Keep the good stuff coming.

[@SavageFlies]

Ouch! 75 degrees in Maryland today. I don't envy you my friend. :-)

[@coinholeo2253]

You could use some stick on draught excluder for the foam.Bought a roll for 5 bucks and what’s leftover after doing my front door will outlive my flytying career!Also the glue helps it stay on top of the hook and not spin.

[@ninacleven7889]

Nice pattern, looks like it will work well.

[@crowdaddy8355]

Fish…BEWARE of the 8 legged ant! Fun fish catcher. Thanks Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha! No doubt Chad. :-)

[@sinelocum]

I love this. Very approachable. Thank you

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Mark! Thanks for watching my friend. :-)

[@joeduca8582]

SSS! Short. Sweet. Simple. 🤓👍I really like that ant Matt, especially the legs. Haven't tied foam yet, just soft dubbed bodies or hard thread and lacquered bodies fished subsurface. Hackle or deer hair legs on both - sparse deer hair tied comparadun style and crimped down. We're on the cusp of terrestrials here. Temps flirted with 80's past two days, saw the first bats of the season, a big green dragonfly too, black ants! A size 16 dubbed ant saved the day for me below Monument Falls on the Ausable once. A juvenile Bald Eagle (maybe a Golden?) had flown over the river with a fish in its talons and the trout were put down. Took me about 30 minutes to coax a trout out from some brush along the steep bank but it worked. I was happy 😁. Wow Matt, this tutorial caused some pleasant "flash backs". Thanks! Today is 50's and rain, tomorrow calls for more cold with snow, gotta grab the good days when you can. Say, did any Toms cooperate? 🦃Our season starts 5/1, so does pike/walleye. 😒conflict season 🤔 Cheers!

[@SavageFlies]

Great comment Joe! I've had an ant pattern save the day a couple of times as well. And yep, I tie a thread hard-bodied one as well, with resin over it for a wet fly. But if I want a wet one, I like the fur dubbed one that is a much slower sinker. As for turkey hunting.... ugh, no. I hunted three mornings, and saw a group of about seven, with at least two toms on the first morning. The next day I relocated my blind to their trail, and put a few decoys out, and then got a glimpse of them at the far end of another field about 300 yards away. I couldn't tell if it was the same birds, but good chance it was. Either way, no luck this time. No doubt I probably overuse my calls and scare them off, but the third morning I did get a big gobbler to respond to me. But he could have been a half mile away and I never saw him. Oh well, this is really my first spring turkey hunting so I've got a lot to learn!

[@joeduca8582]

@@SavageFlies Hey at least you saw some, and got a tom to reply. I've had them play footsies with me for a long time... and the black flies were turning my fingers into sausages all the while. Another time I was calling a sweet love song, pleading for one to come by. Heard some rustle behind me and a twig break. I looked behind my tree and something scooted away, I think it was a fox. That would've been fun! I've yet to get one but it's still fun. Great idea using a slow sinking ant. Have good night.

[@knowyourjoe8826]

This is great! Another pattern that I was looking for! Now need some foam grasshoppers, foam water bugs(roaches), foam mice, and foam frogs with action realistic legs! Kinda seeing a trend here? 🤔 Wonder if some of these might show up on this channel soon? Looking forward to what is next. Thanks for taking the time to creat and share great content.

[@SavageFlies]

They absolutely will Casey! I've got my own foam grasshopper I call the "Gunpowder Hopper" that I plan to tie soon. I've never done a water bug, but they're pretty similar to beetles. Now a foam frog... hmmm I'll have to look for one of those! But it sounds fun. :-)

[@knowyourjoe8826]

@@SavageFlies Casey? Is that a nickname or just mistaken identity(Bill). Lol. If it’s a nickname what’s the reference cause it blew right over my head, LOL.. I am a lot slower these days than I used to be. If it is mistaken identity then, well, sometimes it happens! You only have about 10k names to remember. Lol. That is way more people than I know. In any either case no worries. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Thanks again.

[@harryjoesather6539]

cool matt. thanks man. see ya joe. 😎

[@michaeljmckinnon2960]

Very nice Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you Michael! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@joutdoorsmen23]

Cool bug great way to tie them

[@tubbyguyoutdoors]

That’s awesome ! Going to have to get some size 16 hooks now ! Sorry if I missed it but did you mention how wide that foam strip was ? Thanks for sharing

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks! I probably didn't mention the width. It was a 2mm thick foam, and I'd say the width I cut it at was just a little less than a hook gap.

[@tubbyguyoutdoors]

@@SavageFlies perfect thank you !

[@tompeterson559]

Nice!

[@brucehaley3651]

A black deer hair ant 10 months ago and now a foam body ant. Do you tie a dubbing body ant too? The panfish love the foam ant for sure.

[@SavageFlies]

Oh yeah! The deer hair one, I thought would be cool to tie for the channel. But honestly, I tied a dozen or so of those a couple years ago and still have most of them in my box. I seem to use these foam ones more than anything. In years past I've done a dubbed body one, and also a thread body one. I put resin over the thread body one and it's basically a wet fly. And the dubbed body one is kind of a semi-dry fly but it's basically a wet fly after about three seconds. Maybe I'll do the dubbed body one later this spring. It's certainly another easy pattern!

[@Darkman-Fishing]

That’s neat and simple You know what would be cool? If you could show your fly boxes. I’m a bass fisherman and peeking in to tackle boxes is cool to me. Just throwing that out there

[@SavageFlies]

That's actually a pretty cool idea! You can get a glimpse into one of my nymph boxes in this video, but I've never really made it a point to show any others. Maybe I will soon. :-) kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYHcfq2ZeLqFecU

[@doncogswell9596]

Hi Matt, very interesting ant. Was that a soldering iron you used to crinkle the legs with? I think I'll heat mine up and see if I can make a few of these without cooking them.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Don! No, it was actually a thread burner someone sent me. You can get them on Amazon for about $12.

[@kbbgood]

For your indicator, is it antron yarn or dubbing?

[@SavageFlies]

It was actually just this small pack of Antron fibers. So it's not exactly a dubbing, but meant to mix into dubbing to give it a slight bit of sparkle. But it works great for indicators or parachute posts. flyshack.com/DisplayItem.aspx?ItemID=23268

[@jeffjackson5331]

Neat

[@elizabethhundertmark6456]

Rainbow one