Flying Ant
The Flying Ant is an essential trout fly that imitates winged ant (carpenter and field species). It supports Flying Ant fly pattern, terrestrial fly for trout, and how to fish Flying Ant searches.
Imitates: Winged ant (carpenter and field species)
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #14-20
- Best Season
- Late summer
- Best Conditions
- Calm pools, slow seams, and lake edges after flying ant falls
- Water Temp
- 55-78°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 5X-6X
How to Rig It
Single dry on a 9 ft 5X leader. Trout sip flying ants quietly — keep it small and natural.
How to Present It
Dead-drift through feeding lanes. After a major ant fall, trout will rise repeatedly in the same lane for an hour.
Why It Works
Flying ants fall on the water in massive late-summer pulses. Trout key on them so completely they ignore other bugs hatching at the same time.
History
Generations of summer fly anglers have noticed that mid-August afternoons sometimes produce confusing refusals on hopper and beetle patterns — the answer is almost always a flying ant fall.
Pro Tip
Carry both black and cinnamon in #16-18. Color matters on flying ant days, and trout often prefer one shade.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do flying ants fall on the water?+
Mid- to late summer, usually on warm humid afternoons following a rain. Falls last 30-90 minutes.
How is a flying ant different from a regular ant?+
Reproductive ants get wings and swarm in late summer. They fall on the water in huge numbers — a defined feeding event trout key on.
Not sure if Flying Ant is right today?
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