DIY floatant
i've collected a bunch of silica gel packets from work and in addition to placing them in bags and such i want to keep dry, i want to make some floatant. do i just bust the packets open and pour them into a film canister then put the fly in there and shake it around when it's not floating as well?
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take him fishing
That's it...
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LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
The best part is when the stuff gets to not working very well, just nuke it in the micro to get it to release all the moisture that it has stored up from drying the flies. The stuff does get hot....ouch.
Silica Gel is great for removing moisture from a fly, but does nothing to prevent that fly from absorbing moisture. Any fine dust particles of silica gel, which adhere to the fly will trap and hold moisture. A good drier , but not a floatant.
If you can find silica gel w/ the little blue/pink crystals -- these are indicators. Blue = dry, pink = wet and needs to be baked.
AgMD
perfectloop,
I guess i'm among the group that JC calls the, "the less gentile of our ranks".I've ground them down into almost a powder using a coffee grinder.
Another alternative is to use 'Instant Minute Rice'. Think about it.
Allan
interesting info. i'd like to try getting away from gel floatants if possible as some streak and slick the water surface. i never noticed it on moving water, but while fishing a pond the other day with the sun setting in front of me, it was clearly evident. the floatant was used sparingly too. plus, i get this silica stuff free and have already collected a hundred of em.
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take him fishing
If you grind them is a coffee grinder be carefull not to breath the dust in as it will dry you out quick also. It's best to do this outside just my 2 cents on this. Later Matt
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To each there own !
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