Chernobyl Ant 01/25/2026 Photo Album

My relationship with the Chernobyl ant began many years ago on the Green River, and I believe the Green River is actually the birthplace of this famous fly. The person who named it had a knack for fly nomenclature. The story of my introduction to this fly is available on my 2/1/11 post.

The Chernobyl ant spawned the chubby Chernobyl which in turn produced the mini chubby. I tie all of them, and they are all excellent fish catchers. The chubby and mini chubby both possess a large poly wing or wings, and these are a tremendous aid when tracking flies in glare or shadows. However, I continue to carry and deploy the old classic Chernobyl ant with a single layer of foam and pearl chenille body. Why? The wings on the chubby Chernobyl absorb water over time and require maintenance in the form of false casting to dry the wing, or they beg for the application of floatant.

Very Buoyant

The classic Chernobyl, on the other hand, is nearly all foam. It floats like a cork and requires no false casting. This is a huge advantage in small mountain streams, where a backcast is difficult if not impossible. In these situations a solo Chernobyl ant rules.

Angled Right Side

I counted up my size eight and size ten Chernobyls and concluded I was adequately supplied. I can almost guarantee that I will encounter a situation in 2026, where the classic Chernobyl saves the day.