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After a 7 or 8 year hiatus from trout fishing and tying trout flies I began to re stock my depleted trout fly boxes. During that time I mostly fished saltwater and tied only saltwater flies. I've not kept up with the new flies, materials, patterns etc. for trout flies. What are the best fly floatants available now? I want something that won't change the color of the fly and something that I can pre-treat the flies at the tying bench. Any suggestions?
I've been pre-treating my dries with Water Shed made by Hareline Dubbin out of Monroe, Oregon. I very tiny drop worked in to the hackle, wing and body is all it takes. I apply it after I've finished a batch of flies. The instructions say to apply it at least 24 hrs in advance of using the fly.
I've noticed no color change or shift when using this material. Once it dries the flies look the same as before the treatment.
Good question, I'm looking forward to seeing what other post.
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Joe B
SW Ohio
"I grew up in PA, I work in Ohio. My heart still belongs to PA."
Watershed at the tying bench, and gink on the water.
Ditto for Water Shed. Jax
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Getting Old has it's advantages. It slows you down just enough to get your timing for tightening into a trout Just Right.
I don't do the bench-side thing since I don't like waiting for them to dry.
I was a big fan of the old Orvis Superfloat fly dope but they no longer make it. I then switched to liquid Mucilin until I discovered Frog's Fanny.
I LOVE the stuff. I have always used the old Cortland Dry-Ur-Fly silica crystals to dry my fly and then treated it with the dope of my choice but I think Frog's Fanny works better than anything else I've tried in the liquid arena.
I guess you could pretreat flies at the bench with Frog's Fanny but I like doing it stream-side. It gives me something to do while I observe what's happening.
I like Loon Auquel
A Umpqua fly tier / Whiting Farms rep. told me the best perminent floatant he has ever used is Loon Hydrostop.
for on the stream I have liked Loon Aquel.
Frog Fanny powder works great but you have to keep putting it on. Many a time I have cast and cast and cast without out a take. Put the Frog Fanny on and a fish hits it. But if it is not hit within three casts and it seems of no help at all. Fly seems to ride higher when it is first put on.
Find myself going back to the Aquel when I get tired of reapplying the Frog Fanny.
I'm in agreement with what Ray previously said:
"Watershed at the tying bench, and gink on the water".
I only use the gink when I think it's REALLY needed( usually I don't need it ), and NEVER use it on CDC flies
I saw a post where sombody said they were using Rain-X. Has anyone tried that?
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Born to fish forced to work.
Alan