I have basically given up on Catskill style dry flies. I have much more success with flies that lie IN the surface, and my Go-To is the Usual with only the wing 'ginked' so the butt sinks. My fishing opportunities are not usually on bubbly streams where I need total buoyancy, so emergers work well. FYI the Usual can be pulled under to rise back up in front of the fish, so is 'very wet' at some points. This Feb. I am leading a session on a 'dandelion emerger' wherein the parachute hackle is 1/8 inch above the fly, so the 'bug' is totally below the surface. Last year on the Farmington, CT, for a week in June I think almost all fish took 90% of the flies 1" below the surface. So I encourage tying and fishing emergers.

On the beautiful fly you have tied, I would only apply floatant to the top of the hackle and wing, and put saliva on the tail to encourage the butt to sink. An easy target for fish.