this ant wants to party

I’ve been turning out weird stuff at the vise. But that’s OK for a couple of reasons.

One, traditional patterns are frustrating. Tying a delicate size 18 elk hair caddis isn’t incredibly difficult. There is some finessing of the hackle, and fumbely finaglery of the elk hair, but most anyone with a little patience can crank out a passable caddis imitation. The angst and frustration occur when I stick my elk hair in the fly box next to that left over store bought caddis. Sure, my old lady can’t tell a difference, but I can- and it kills me.

Two, Ol’ Bobby didn’t crack open a pattern book to tie his famous clouser minnow.

Three, I think the internet has enough perfectly tied royal wulffs, prince nymphs, and those ridiculous married wing salmon flies. I want this sloggy log to ugly up the fly tying scene, and I intend to do it with this lovely pattern. I call it the “elk hair party ant.”

Burnt orange possum dubbing mixed with peach master bright and an elk hair mid section. My lab tests prove it to float high and with lots of bubbles. Why the peach master bright? Why not- the panfish will love it, and though it will probably terrify the more prudent trout. My supreme angling abilities should manage a few of those demented stockers.

P.S. I apologize for the photo. I might get that handsome Photo by Michelle lady to properly document this masterpiece