Need advice for selecting a vine.

Had honeysuckle on veranda lattice until the aphids and ants found them. Tried everything to eradicate them. Removed plants after 12 years. Are there any flowering vines that are resistant to the above pests or should I go with a non flowering type like a Virginia Creeper. Area is partial shade, zone 3a, soil clay.

Dont ask me how those pesty ants know where your Aphids are BUT, within a couple of days after you see your first few aphids, by the end of a week, you have a plague of ants who are actually keeping guard over the little greenfly or white flies, nature is amazing, not always nice but never the less you never fail to be amazed. As you probably know, the little aphids like everything else has to toilet and their excrement is sweat and therefore the ants need this sweetness to take bake to the nest to feed the young, this is why they guard the flies and either eat the predators like ladybirds etc, or kill them.
I would have just cut back the Honeysuckle to just above the ground, sprayed the new growth with washing up soapy mix made by adding water, this kills off the aphids and in turn, the ants are not around HOWEVER, I would imagine now you have got ants, you will need to find the nest and either set fire to it or find a killer that the ants themselve take back to the nest,

as for the Virginia Creeper, it is a wonderful choice as there are red ones, slightly pink coloured ones and ofcource you only get these colours in Autumn when the leaves are preparing to drop.
Mine grows on a NORTH FACING wall and it is a sight to behold.

There are some clematis bred now that can grow well in shade but they are mainly thye Alpine type with the smaller flowers come spring.

I love the Climbing Hydrangea with the large Cream/white flowers, it self clings and can cover a large area once it gets going, we have that growing south facing BUT has shade from building.

Maybe try some of the annual types of climbers like Bell flowers, these germinate and flower in one season, this will allow you to keep a check next year to make sure you have NOT got another infestation of Aphids and Ants.
Hope this gives you some idea's and that the actions you have taken has got rid of your problems.
kind Regards.
WeeNel.

Aphids can thrive on almost any plant. New populations fly in as the weather warms.
Part of the secret to controlling them is to not over fertilize the plant. Make it grow slower. Aphids thrive best on succulent new growth. But when the plant grows slower the new growth is not so tasty to aphids, or to most other pests.

You may never actually get rid of the ants, either. I only worry about them if they are getting into the house. I keep my garden drier, and very low fertilizer so the plants are not so attractive to the pests that ants use.

Climbing hydrangea can take many, many years to finally look like something you'd want.

Pirl, wish someone had told my Climbing Hydrangea it was supposed to be slow growing, it took off like a rocket after 2 years BUT then slowed down a bit, however, Like most climbing plants, be it Roses, Clematis, or whatever, they do need controlling pruning, either into shape or size.
I also like to dead-head this plant but, you don't have to, It's a lovely plant with huge clusters of cream coloured flowers that the pollinating insects love as do the small birds that like to build their nests, most enjoyable to watch but that's my own opinion.
IF you allow any longer branches to touch the ground, lay a stone on them and you will get rooted cutting in no time.
Happy gardening folks.
Kindest regards.
WeeNel.

This one is about 25 years old, at our favorite Cape Cod restaurant.

The last photo is our 'Miranda' and it's 8 years old now.

Absolutely beautiful, mine is now about the same as yours BUT that's because I have the space to allow that spread, It is self clinging so does NOT require trellis etc after about 2 years it self clings with little suckers on the tiny roots that hold onto the wall, support.
Anyone who likes the plant BUT does NOT have the same space, all you have to do is After flowering, take a sharp knife or cutting tool and remove the extra new growth, it is still soft at that time, IF it begins to grow outwards /forward beyond the area you want it too, remove the forward facing sprouted growth.
I dont care what anyone says about clinbing shrubs, too big, too strong, too fast growing, ALL climbing plants require yearly care and tying in or pruning, just the same as any other plants need, Ofcource there are the odd plant you stick in the ground and just leave alone for many years BUTthese are few and far between, no matter what you buy to plant, do your homework write the care instructions on a label and follow them as you tidy the garden from one season to the next, thats 2 times a year, to me thats NOT a difficult chore, jeeeees I need constant attention myself twice a year as I get older LOL.

Just go enjoy, the plant can be dug up and out IF after a few years you dont like the results.
Have fun and relax. Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.