Best Dry Fly Floatant and Drier... Until They Make Something Better ;)

[AaronJasper]

Tiemco "Dry Magic"

I have to say that over the past few months I fished dry flies and emergers quite frequently. I used to think that Mucilin was the best silicone product to put on my dry flies before fishing. That it until I broke down and paid the 12 bucks for "Dry Magic." This stuff can take the moisture out any dry fly and waterproof it for some time.



Loon "Top Ride"

Of course over an an outing, the dry flies become water logged and sink. Hopefully it's from trout eating them over and over again. I have found that Loon "Top Ride" the the best combination of a drier and floatant that there is hands down. This is not a product that you would use on your fly before it gets wet.

However, there are many products that are not cdc or snowshoe friendly. For example, Mucilin works great on snowshoe, but its horrible when used on cdc. Both of these products can protect and dry any dry fly from a size 20 thread body cdc to a size 8 compara spinner. They are the two best that I have tried by a long shot! Try them, I am quite sure that you will agree!

[outdoorsman816]

I never leave home without a bottle of Top Ride! That stuff is AWESOME!

[brough]

I have become a fan of Frogs Fanny, but after paying five to six bucks for a tiny bottle, I ordered a giant bag of the same stuff from Epoxy USA for around fifteen bucks. Fumed silica is used as an ink and epoxy thickener.

Tight Lines All,



Brough

[SherpaB]

are you pretty sure its the same stuff..i am familiar with the west system thickener it always looked the same but i was never sure.

[Smitty]

Aaron,

This may seem like a dumb question, but how are you applying the Fly Majic? I picked up a tube this spring as well but so far just have ok results. I was told to put a small squirt on figer tips and rub it into hackle, cdc, etc until it drys. It works great for about 10 minutes then flies start to sink. Am I missing something? maybe I'm not lettting it dry long enough?

Thanks

[Silver Creek]

I use dry magic for CDC flies and for non CDC dries I use Hydrophobe, a French floatant that I get at Blue Ribbon Fly Shop in West Yellowstone. It is the only place I have seen it and I think it is the longest lasting floatant.

For water loggged flies I use Top Ride with silica gel to absorb water and fumed silica to repel water.

http://www.iffa.org.uk/floatant.htm

"The only floatant that I've found acceptable has been a product called Hydrophobe which is made in France and difficult to find in any fly shops."

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...fisherman.html

"Only one company, Hydrophobe, makes a fly floatant in a container that will be the envy of any ultralight backpacker (it's available from Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, MT)"

[Planettrout]

This is-hands down-THE BEST there is:



I have tried them ALL

PT/TB :P

[SherpaB]

I agree insofar as commrcially available stuff I have a couple tubes. I do have a concoction from Ray Bergman's book that is better...lighter fluid + parrafin wax....better than anything I've ever used and cheap to make.

[AaronJasper]

Where did you get that stuff from? The label is in French. If I can get it, I will try it.

I have never seen that before. It might be better, but if it's not readily available that's a problem.

[SherpaB]

Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone...
www.blueribbonflies.com

you may have to email or call to see if they have it..sometimes they dont