Treating Dry Flys

[Norm]

What do you guys use, if anything to treat dry flys after you ty them? I was experimenting last night with some "camp-dry" silicone spray that seemed to work well. Any other products or drawbacks to doing this?

Norm

[Crosby]

Norm- there was a product by Loon- can't think of the name- then there was watershed- I tried them- just was not pleased with them- I think the loon product made them greasy- made your fly box greasy- I thought both made the hackle look different- just was not pleased with either.
Ginks and then a chamois for CDC.

[FlyMan]

I use a product called Dry Shake by Tiemco. You just put the fly in the container and give it a shake and your good to go.


FlyMan

[Norm]

was not clear. I have all the products from loon to dry shake to the greasy sauve looking stuff. What I want to know is do any of you flytiers treat the fly with anything when you take it out of the vise? Some thing that would help waterproof it from the start. Scotch guard, waterproofing spray ect.
Thanks fo the input.

Norm

[Crosby]

was not clear. I have all the products from loon to dry shake to the greasy sauve looking stuff. What I want to know is do any of you flytiers treat the fly with anything when you take it out of the vise? Some thing that would help waterproof it from the start. Scotch guard, waterproofing spray ect.
Thanks fo the input.

Norm

Norm- watershed was the treatment- and there was a loon product like it-
both like your camp dry spray-- just did not like them. They were used when you tied your fly at the vise.

[Crosby]

Norm- my feeble memory is coming back- the watershed was a liquid that you just put 1 drop on your fly after tying it.

[Norm]

did those products goop up the hackle? The camp dry seems not to do it but I only tested a couple flys with it. Wasnt very scientific but they seemed to float alot better and a lot longer, it made the micro fibetts on the tail float very well. I'm a new tyier so I don't know squat about flys other than I used to buy them by the dozen them and slap some goop on when I hit the river. Usual the goop is greasy or if you shake it in the dry shake they come out looking like a ghost fly. Either way I figure it might be better to treat a fly at the bench with something that would waterproof the fly and leave it dry so when you hit the water you don't need to goop so quick. Do any commercial tiers treat their drys?

Norm

[Larry S.]

Are you just spraying on the Camp Dry. One time I emptied a can of Scotch Guard (the blue label) into a bottle and used it like the loon stuff. Then I droped it and broke it.
Mostly, I use Watershed (1 drop, fly still in the vise) and then place it where it can dry overnight. Then on the stream I still use Aqual or Payette Paste before I flip it onto the water. Probably overkill but there you have it. After the fly gets waterlogged then it's shirtsleeve or chamois time and then some home made silicone powder concoction in a Loon Top Ride container.

I was wondering though with my advancing age if I should treat my shorts with the stuff. ;0)

[Lonnie]

You could tie up a bunch of identical flies (or ones with similar hackles (same brand and # of wraps) and different thread colors.) And treat them with different methods and processes. Set them all in a tupper-ware(s) full of water and see how long they take to sink. Of corse for accuracy's sake, you would have to do multiple tries (after they were fully dry). I wonder how things would turn out....

Who's kid was doing a science fair project????

Lonnie

[Doug S.]

I was wondering though with my advancing age if I should treat my shorts with the stuff. ;0)

Very funny..LMAO

[chris]

Norm- watershed was the treatment- and there was a loon product like it-
both like your camp dry spray-- just did not like them. They were used when you tied your fly at the vise.

Is Hydrostop that you soak your fly in for 5 minutes and then let dry overnight. Supposedly forms a permanent seal but I have never been impressed with it. I still had to use my Troutsmen on the water after several fish were caught. Seemed great out of the gate but lost some stamina like my brother.

[chris]

Is Hydrostop that you soak your fly in for 5 minutes and then let dry overnight. Supposedly forms a permanent seal but I have never been impressed with it. I still had to use my Troutsmen on the water after several fish were caught. Seemed great out of the gate but lost some stamina like my brother.

When are you going to stop by and show me this astro burger bug?

[Phlyfisher]

After the fly gets waterlogged then it's shirtsleeve or chamois time and then some home made silicone powder concoction in a Loon Top Ride container.

How are you making this silicone concoction?

[Crosby]

Norm- I think the hydrostop and the water shed are what you are looking for.
I thought that the watershed changed the color of my dubbing a bit-
I still have it somewhere- maybe I will dink with it again-
But I always carry my ginks or whatever on a keyring that goes around the top of the bottle- then screw the cap over it- attched to a girls hair band with a small alligator clip on the end- then I can clip it to the neck of my shirt and hang inside against my chest- it keeps it at a much more liquid state and not goopy- and like Larry said- that Chamios is a very good thing to have. I never bought into the coat the fly and after it dries let it sit in a glass of water over night deal- that is not a true test- that isn't the same as fishing with it. But I do think that as far as making the fly float a bit longer
it does have some benifits.

[Larry S.]

It is back there in the archives somewhere but here goes again.

You know those little packets of dessicant that come packed into electronic equipment,cameras,medications,etc.? Hang onto 'em. The little balls kind seem to be the best but most of it works. They are similar to what Orvis and many others sell in the little containers. I got a million of them if anyone wants a few.
Then thanks to my good buddy Mark who used to work at Al's I got some powder in a bottle that is used in archery for keeping your flocks dry(for you southern Utah boys I don't mean sheep! ;o)). It comes in brand names such as Feather Powder, Flock Dry,etc. It is very similar to FFny.

Then I put the dessicant balls into a medium size pill bottle or a film cannister about 1/3 full and then the powder to the 3/4 mark(it's really not that precise) and wa la.... a mixture very similar to L--n T-p R-de that is just as effective. Matter of fact I still use the original TR container and just use the powder to re-charge it.

As a side note I purchased a fly drier from lowcountry when he was at the other place that works a lot like amadou but is some kind of space age synthetic (forgot the name) that seems to work quite well. But just like lowcountry it is high dollar stuff....