Man, let me tell you about ant patterns - if there's one fly that'll make trout lose their minds on a hot summer afternoon, it's a well-presented ant. I've seen fish ignore every mayfly in the river only to hammer that little black speck like it's their last meal. And here's the thing about ant patterns... they don't need to be fancy. In fact, the simpler the better in my book.

Now, tying these little buggers - I like to keep it stupid simple. Short shank hook, always. None of those fancy long ones - real ants aren't exactly cruising around like salmonflies, you know? I'll use a bit of foam for buoyancy (that black craft foam from the dollar store works shockingly well), maybe some dubbing if I'm feeling fancy. The secret? Those little thread wraps to create segments. Makes all the difference when light hits it just right on the water. Oh, and legs - don't overdo it. Just a couple strands of rubber that'll give it that frantic little wiggle ants do when they hit the water. Last summer on the Madison River, I watched a cutthroat ignore every perfect drift until I switched to an ant with just one leg hanging down - fish nearly jumped out of the water for it.

What's wild is how many fish think these tiny things are worth eating. I mean, we're talking about something barely bigger than your hook eye, but trout? They'll move twenty feet across a pool for a good ant imitation. Especially after a rainstorm when the banks get washed out - that's money time. Or those lazy summer afternoons when you're sweating through your shirt and the fish are sipping something you can't even see? Nine times out of ten, it's ants.

Presentation's everything though. You can't just chuck it out there like a hopper. Gotta be delicate - think of how a real ant hits the water. That little "plip" sound. I'll often fish it as a dropper behind a bigger fly, but when the bite's really on, nothing beats a single ant drifting under those overhanging willows. Watch the banks, especially where you see ants crawling on branches. And don't be afraid to give it the occasional twitch - just enough to make those legs dance. But here's the kicker - the takes can be so subtle you'll miss 'em if you're not paying attention. Just the slightest dimple in the surface... that's when you need to set the hook fast.

Pro tip for the Deschutes: When the afternoon winds kick up and the fish stop looking up? Downsize your ant to a size 20, grease it up good, and drift it through those bubble lines. Works when nothing else will. Trust me on this one.