Floating flies

[Uppertite]

WOndering if anyone out there has used scotch guard or a tent waterproofer spray to treat flies at the bench. I was thinking about trying it as it would be permanent but dont know if it would work or not.

[Caddfly]

Rain-ex works like a charm

[Ouzel]

What is Rain-ex? Sounds like an automotive product.
What's in it? Is it environmentally safe?
Sometimes we use a product to save a few cents that is at cross purpose(s) to what we should be doing.

[Caddfly]

Couldn't tell you at the moment. It is for car windows to repel rain/bugs and whatnot. When I was up in Montana on Rock Creek and we ran out of Gink...we'll we pulled a MacGyver and found that. It worked wonderful. I use Gink, but while we were talking about funky ideas for floatant, I threw in what I found.

[flyty]

Hi,

I'm not sure why anyone would consider Scotch Guard or any other type of spray treatment because it seems like a very inefficient and wasteful way to treat a fly. I would think a better way to waterproof flies is dunking them in liquid silicone as an article at:

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/

under:

Fly Tying/Tying Tips/Archive of Tying Tips/"Dry Flies that really float"

suggests. I'm in the process of trying to locate some liquid silicone to see how it works. Does anyone have any experience with liquid silicone? I'm also trying to find some Feather-Dri to refill my Loon Top Ride dessicant. Does anyone know if SW carries that?

[Larry S.]

I really don't see the difference in the Angelus product vs. Scotch Guard or any of the spray waterproof(repelents) or Loon Hydrostop or Watershed except for maybe the cost. I have no idea where that stuff can be purchased. By the way, the Scotchguard method is to hold the can upside down and empty (spray) it into a bottle for soaking your fly in.

It doesn't appear there is any difference in the application method with it or the Loon product. You must remember not to leave it in the solution for too long or bleeding of the colors will occur.

Uppertite-

There is NO permanent floatant. Don't be fooled by the flies sitting in a cup of water for who knows how long. It is a far cry from actual conditions.

flyty-

I got my Feather-Dri at Al's here in Logan. It was special ordered in. You may have to do the same at SW.

[RAW]

I'm wondering why so many are having trouble keeping their flies floating? I don't have that much trouble and I use lots of comparadun style flies. Is it the hackled flies that are giving the trouble? A little Gink and cleaning and drying the fly after a caught fish seems to work fine for me. I rarely even Gink a fly again after the initial treatment. Just clean and dry it and it seems to fish well until the next caught fish, then clean and dry again.

[flyty]

Careful, RAW. As a new member, you probably don't realize it, but you may be stepping on some toes here. I'm wondering if this may be a case where people are judging others based on their own contexts, which may not apply in other contexts. Try not to be so fast to leap for the jugular or the soapbox in the future.

I use Loon Aquel for floatant, and it doesn't seem to do anything. After a bit, my flies gets waterlogged and sink. Then I have to use dessicant every 10 casts after that. I was hoping that some silicone dunking might prevent them from getting waterlogged in the first place. I think I have fewer problems with Comparadun style flies than others, which surprises me because in the descriptions I read, Comparaduns are recommended for smooth, glassy water, and I fish them on rougher water than that.

[Ouzel]

once when I was in Boise and picked up a supply of Loon's products from the factory (small) they asked how I liked using the Hydroshed. I said I liked it fine but I did not honestly know if it worked as when I put on a dry fly I still used the Aquel. :-) Really? Yes really. Old habits die hard. I have noticed my flies never sink though.
I like Loon's because their products work and are bio, but I'm sure there are other good products out there also.

Larry S. is right about leaving your flies in longer then five minutes as some colors will darken but I had left flies in overnight before I noticed any darkening of colors. Now I just follow the directions on the label (Da) and five minutes it is.

After 3-4 years, I'm only half way through the second bottle. Just touch the fly to the inside of the bottle and the extra will migrate out due to capilary action.

Flyty: I don't understand your difficulty in using those products maybe you're using too much lead wrap for body buildup in your dries. :-)

[RAW]

HaHaHa Flyty has seen my attackers on FAOL!

[Fred]

You guys would save a lot of time and effort by fishing your dries as drowned insects like me.

Or just nymph fish through the hatches.

Really though, I read about putting floatant on the dubbing while you tie. Tried this? And also dress the flies the night before you go out. Seems to keep them floating pretty well that way. Of course, you have to figure out what's going to work ahead of time, which is not always easy.

[cheech]

Frog's fanny!!!!!!!!