Chernobyl Ant 01/17/2025 Photo Album 

Follow this link for my previous post on the Chernobyl ant. My post of 01/15/2020 contains a materials table. I first started tying this fly after some phenomenal fishing on the Green River with a guide. Bank hugging brown trout crushed the low floating foam attractor in all three sections. My version of the Chernobyl ant copies the very effective fly that my guide introduced me to many years ago.

In the intervening years “imrovements” and variations have been many, including a Chernobyl ant with a double foam body and the ever-present chubby Chernobyl. I tie and own quite a few chubby Chernobyls, and I must admit that the high wing makes them much more visible in fast water and low light scenarios. Nevertheless, I still carry a decent supply of classic Chernobyl ants tied in the same manner as those that my guide placed on my line many years ago.

Ready For Action

When does the classic Chernobyl ant earn its keep in my fly box? Primarily on small narrow high mountain streams that are lined with dense vegetation and overhanging tree limbs. A classic Chernobyl ant is all foam with a synthetic chenille body. This fly repels water, and it shines in close quarters, because back casts for drying the fly are unnecessary, and in fact they are a detriment to success. I can dap and bow and arrow cast this fly, and it floats like a cork, and this is a huge advantage in the tight quarters that typically dominate narrow high mountain creeks.

A Few Materials Required

I counted my inventory of size 10 and size 8 Chernobyl ants, and I learned that my stock was more than adequate for another season. However, in order to stay in practice, I tied one size 10 and added it to my fly box. I am certain to use the old fashioned Chernobyl ant during 2025.