Skip to main content

Tying the Chernobyl Ant Fly

One of the best foam dry flies ever created.

Chernobyl Ant Recipe

  • Hook: TMC 5263 #4-12
  • Thread: 3/0 Monocord, black
  • Back: 3mm Black Foam and 2 mm Yellow Foam
  • Legs: Medium Round Rubber Legs
  • Hackle: Brown rooster saddle
  • Underbody: Olive Krystal Chenille

Tying The Chernobyl Ant

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 1 of 14

Start the thread behind the eye and wrap back to the bend of the hook. Cut a strip of each color foam that is about as wide as the hook gap. Notch the ends to a point as shown here.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 2 of 14

Lay the black foam on the hook and ti it in place at the bend of the hook.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 3 of 14

Lay the yellow strip on top of the black foam overlapping the length on the back. Tie the yellow foam in place with several tight turns of thread.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 4 of 14

Tie a single strand of rubber leg in on each side of the hook at the point where you tied the foam down.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 5 of 14

Pull the foam back out of the way and tie in the butt end of a rooster saddle feather at the base of the foam.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 6 of 14

Tie in a length of krystal chenille e at the base of the foam.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 7 of 14

Wrap the chenille forward to the eye of the hook and tie it off. Clip the excess.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 8 of 14

Palmer the hackle heavily up the hook to the front and tie it off and clip the excess.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 9 of 14

Trim the hackle fibers short all along the body.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 10 of 14

Fold the black foam forward over the body and tie it down behind the eye with a couple tight wraps of thread.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 11 of 14

Fold the yellow foam over the top of the black and tie it down on top of the black foam.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 12 of 14

Tie a rubber leg in on each side of the fly at the front.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 13 of 14

Trim the foam on the front end of the fly straight across. Lift the front of the foam and whip finish the thread behind the eye.

Tying The Chernobyl Ant Step 14 of 14

Trim the legs to length.

Finished Chernobyl Ant

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
Destinations/Species

A Fly Fishing Short Film

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
News

FF Mag Promo June-July 2023

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
Gear

How to Tie Smitherman's Draggin' Nymph

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
Destinations/Species

Costa Films Presents “Hooked On: Bonefish”

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
Destinations/Species

Pharmaceutical Pollution Threatens Florida's Shallow-Water Fish

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
How-To/Techniques

Tying Rene Harrop's Hairwing Dun Fly

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
How-To/Techniques

Tying Barr's Damsel Fly

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
Gear

Tying the Pheasant Tail Nymph Fly

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
How-To/Techniques

Tying the Hare's Ear Fly

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
How-To/Techniques

Tying the Famous Woolly Bugger

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
How-To/Techniques

Tying the RS2 Mayfly Emerger Fly

An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Check out the full of story of Sage ...
Destinations/Species

Free Fly Presents “Sage”

Fly Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Fly Fisherman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now