spiralspey 0 Report post Posted July 5, 2017 I'm primarily a dry fly fisherman, or at least I try and be on the water when I think bugs will be hatching and/or trout will be rising so I can fish dries and have a decent shot at fish. Floatant is an important item if you're a dry fly guy, and over the years I've tried quite a few products. I've settled on what works for me, but I wondered what others use and why? Personally I like the silicone gels that melt in your fingertips and you smear onto your fly, products like aquel or gink. I have no brand loyalty, I just buy whatever comes in the bottle with the snap-top lid I like. These products float a fly reasonably well with the least effort. If a fly becomes waterlogged all it takes is a squeeze in something absorbant (my shirt) and/or a false cast or two and you're back in business. I might need to change flies after a half dozen fish, but I can live with that. I've found other products that float my fly better, some much better, than what I generally use, but they either don't last very long or require way too much effort and time for me. I don't want to have to replace my fly or re-treat my fly after every fish. When the hatch is rolling and the fish are rising the last thing I want to do is stop to reapply desiccant to my fly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyty1 0 Report post Posted July 5, 2017 I have been using Dry Magic floatant from Tiempco. This stuff is a little pricy - but a tube lasts me a very long time. The only drawback I have found is that I have to keep the stuff in a pocket - I haven't found a way to hang the tube from my vest. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FIN-ITE 34 0 Report post Posted July 5, 2017 On a new, dry fly I use Gink. That lasts quite a while or until it gets slimed on a fish, after which I will rinse off the fly, dry off by pressing between an absorbent cloth and then using a product like Frog's Fanny, Doc's Dry Dust or Shimazaki Dry Shake. I wouldn't be caught without (if I could help it) without one of those last three products now when I dry fly fish. I fished a wild trout stream yesterday for six hours with only two flies using these products. All pocket water and plunge pools in a hemlock ravine and had no problem keeping the fly floating. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
onebadmofo 0 Report post Posted July 5, 2017 I stumbled upon Vick's Lip Care, and it has been the best floatant I have ever used. Costs way less than floatant you buy at the fly shop and last a long time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whatfly 0 Report post Posted July 5, 2017 Aquel, Shimazaki paste (which they seem to have stopped making), and Shimazaki Dry Shake. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spiralspey 0 Report post Posted July 6, 2017 Thanks for the replies, I kinda figured there would be different products in use. I've found something that I like and am somewhat satisfied with, however I've seen how good products like frog's fanny and orvis watershed can float a fly for a little while before a fish or rough water sink things. I just look forward to the day when I can have a fly float like a cork through a day's worth of fish slimings and currents pulling my fly under and come back for more. I'll have to check out that Vick's lip care. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fisherboy0301 0 Report post Posted July 6, 2017 I had never used foot ant (flotatant! Damn autocorrect...) until I fished with a guide for my first trout. He used the gink style that you rub into the fly. It worked and my dries never sank even after my first wild rainbow. So that's what I bought to use on my upcoming trip to Maggie Valley NC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spiralspey 0 Report post Posted July 6, 2017 Yes, gink is good stuff. It's pretty similar to aquel (what I'm using right now) and some other silicon dressings. I hope you find some willing trout on your NC trip, and maybe some will be on dries. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSzymczyk 0 Report post Posted July 6, 2017 I've been told, and it seems true, that Gink is repackaged Albolene... you can get a 12oz tub of Albolene at the drug store for about $13 vs $6 for a small tube of Gink. Plus Albolene has many other uses... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryon Anderson 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2017 I've always liked Dave's Bug Float when I can get it. It seems to work equally well in very cool to very warm weather, and it comes with a nifty little piece of bead chain built into the container so you can hang it upside-down from your vest or pack. Years back, Gates Lodge on the Au Sable sold some stuff called "Poo Goo" that was kind of nasty to handle, but it floated large flies like Hex and deer hair bass bugs for a long time once you worked it in. I haven't seen it for sale in a long time. I've also used Aquel and Scientific Anglers. Both worked just fine. Strangely, I've never used Gink. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spiralspey 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2017 I've used Poo Goo. It's still sold in at least one fly shop near me, but I have 7 fly shops within a 30 drive so if it's available someone around here usually carries it. I found it worked maybe a little better than aquel or gink, but it's so sticky and hard to wipe off your hands that I never wanted to use it again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryon Anderson 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2017 I've used Poo Goo. It's still sold in at least one fly shop near me, but I have 7 fly shops within a 30 drive so if it's available someone around here usually carries it. I found it worked maybe a little better than aquel or gink, but it's so sticky and hard to wipe off your hands that I never wanted to use it again. That's exactly why I never replaced the first and only bottle of it that I bought -- nasty, sticky stuff. "Poo Goo" is a pretty accurate name for it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crackaig 0 Report post Posted July 10, 2017 The only drawback I have found is that I have to keep the stuff in a pocket - I haven't found a way to hang the tube from my vest. Wrap duct tape around bottom of tube so it extends past base of tube. Punch hole in duct tape. That is what I do for Dilly Wax. Cheers, C. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrLogik 0 Report post Posted July 11, 2017 I will virtually guarantee (unvirtually too!) that Bergman's Formula will float a fly better and longer than any other floatant. No, it's not available in stores. You make it yourself: http://www.drlogik.com/flyfloatants.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrLogik 0 Report post Posted July 11, 2017 Wrap duct tape around bottom of tube so it extends past base of tube. Punch hole in duct tape. That is what I do for Dilly Wax. That's a great solution! One could get all fancy with the various duct tapes out there...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites