Pretreating dry flies

[dudemanspecial]

Does anyone else pretreat their dries with floatant at home before they even get in your box? After I tie a batch and let the head cement dry, I put a dab of gink on the bodies and squeeze it in. It really cuts down on fussing with keeping them from getting water logged more than when I treat them right before I cast. I learned this from the A.K. Best book Fly Fishing with A. K. It's a great read.

 

[dryflyguy]

It sounds like a good idea
But didn't turn out to be very practical for me.
After doing this for 40 + years, I just have too many flies built up to keep track of what's treated and what's not.

And I did try it one time.
Quite a few years ago now, a fly pretreatment called Water Shed came out.
Claimed to waterproof flies by putting one drop of it on right after tying.
But the flies that I treated with it didn't float well at all

 

[dudemanspecial]

It sounds like a good idea
But didn't turn out to be very practical for me.
After doing this for 40 + years, I just have too many flies built up to keep track of what's treated and what's not.

And I did try it one time.
Quite a few years ago now, a fly pretreatment called Water Shed came out.
Claimed to waterproof flies by putting one drop of it on right after tying.
But the flies that I treated with it didn't float well at all

Do you put anything on them before you use them on the stream?

 

[dryflyguy]

I make my own floatant - a mixture of lighter fluid and mucillin paste
Tie the fly on, dunk it, and after a few false casts, ready to go.

After catching a few fish and the fly gets waterlogged, I dry it in silica crystals.
Then another floatant dunk. Good as new

 

[tomgamber]

No, if I remember, I just use it in the stream.

 

[bringthepain]

When i am using dry magic, absolutely. I like to rig up at home and treat the dries then drive to the river. It works very well. IMO, dry magic needs about a half hour to 'cure' on there but when done right it will keep a fly dry all day

 

[dryflyguy]

When i am using dry magic, absolutely. I like to rig up at home and treat the dries then drive to the river. It works very well. IMO, dry magic needs about a half hour to 'cure' on there but when done right it will keep a fly dry all day

But what if you get to the stream, and find something else hatching, that you didn't pre-treat?
And how do you know how many to pre-treat?
Sometimes you hit one of those magical times when the flies hatch all day

 

[rrt]

You guys cut it a lot finer than I do. When my dry fly starts to sink while I'm fishing, I just smear a little Mucilin on it to make it float. The trout don't seem to care, at least I don't think they do.

 

[bringthepain]

But what if you get to the stream, and find something else hatching, that you didn't pre-treat?
And how do you know how many to pre-treat?
Sometimes you hit one of those magical times when the flies hatch all day

If something else is hatching i will just treat the appropriate fly, let it dry for 15 mins or so fish away. The pre treating plan does not always works as planned ahead of time but when it does it makes things super easy

 

[dryflyguy]

If something else is hatching i will just treat the appropriate fly, let it dry for 15 mins or so fish away. The pre treating plan does not always works as planned ahead of time but when it does it makes things super easy

That's why I like the liquid floatant
Dunk it, and off you go
No farting around working thick gooey treatments into the fly with your fingers.
Never liked what that stuff does to the hackle anyway

 

[dudemanspecial]

But what if you get to the stream, and find something else hatching, that you didn't pre-treat?
And how do you know how many to pre-treat?
Sometimes you hit one of those magical times when the flies hatch all day

It doesn't have to be that black and white. Keep your floatant on you for those situations.

My biggest thing is I hate the dessicant powder stuff. I started pretreating my flies last year and found that I could get away with not using the powder anymore.

 

[dryflyguy]

You guys cut it a lot finer than I do. When my dry fly starts to sink while I'm fishing, I just smear a little Mucilin on it to make it float. The trout don't seem to care, at least I don't think they do.

Guess I'm kinda anal about it.
But I like my flies floating high and dry

 

[dryflyguy]

It doesn't have to be that black and white. Keep your floatant on you for those situations.

My biggest thing is I hate the dessicant powder stuff. I started pretreating my flies last year and found that I could get away with not using the powder anymore.

I never liked using the frog fanny.
The way it just flies all over the place.
Lots of fishermen swear by it though

 

[FollowTheBlueLines]

I personally haven't tried it, but I think I remember Dom from Troutbitten saying he treats his dries with Rain-X water repellent after he ties them.

 

[wildtrout2]

That's why I like the liquid floatant
Dunk it, and off you go
No farting around working thick gooey treatments into the fly with your fingers.
Never liked what that stuff does to the hackle anyway

Agree. High N Dry liquid and forget about it. Wouldn't be on the stream without it.

 

[dudemanspecial]

I personally haven't tried it, but I think I remember Dom from Troutbitten saying he treats his dries with Rain-X water repellent after he ties them.

Yeah it's all silicone. Floatant doesn't make it float, it just keeps the water from soaking in.

 

[DaveKile]

It sounds like a good idea
But didn't turn out to be very practical for me.
After doing this for 40 + years, I just have too many flies built up to keep track of what's treated and what's not.

And I did try it one time.
Quite a few years ago now, a fly pretreatment called Water Shed came out.
Claimed to waterproof flies by putting one drop of it on right after tying.
But the flies that I treated with it didn't float well at all

Bill have you tried Orvis Hy-Flote Fly Dip? I've been using it and seems similar to your DryFly Guy Dip.

 

[dryflyguy]

Bill have you tried Orvis Hy-Flote Fly Dip? I've been using it and seems similar to your DryFly Guy Dip.

No
Is it something that you can dunk and go, without waiting for it to dry?

 

[bringthepain]

I just looked up the Orvis Hy Float dip. The 3rd review says it works great if you apply an hour before you start fishing! Seems very similar to the dry magic system in that it has the product you add. Orvis is a straight liquid where as the dry magic is more like a gel. Then a powder to revive it per se when it gets water logged

 

[DaveKile]

No
Is it something that you can dunk and go, without waiting for it to dry?

I use it on the stream while I'm fishing. I had some guides using out west with me too.

Same process as your stuff and I even think maybe the same kind of mixture. Maybe. But yes dunk the fly into the liquid, dry for a few moments, and the good to go. Like all these floatants they last for some period of time depending on conditions and fly material.