Pretreating Dry Flies

[keet]

Anyone pretreat their dry flies at the vice to aid in floatability? If so what do you use or recommend. Have tried Flyagra just seems a bit greasy. Any input would be appreciated.

[bigalcal]

I've used Flyagra and it seems pretty good. I'm looking forward to see what others think/use.

[muha]

Flyagra works, it does have a bit of smell to it sort of like kerosene. I use a stiff bristle paint brush instead of dunking flies right into solution.this way you are able to apply solution only to the wings without soaking entire body.

 

One thing I noticed is it affects tippet material making it brittle.

 

It does keep flies on top for long time if applied in advance. I guess it gets absorbed into natural materials instead of just being layered atop as a coating.

[BowLurker]

Flyagra works, it does have a bit of smell to it sort of like kerosene. I use a stiff bristle paint brush instead of dunking flies right into solution.this way you are able to apply solution only to the wings without soaking entire body.

 

One thing I noticed is it affects tippet material making it brittle.

 

It does keep flies on top for long time if applied in advance. I guess it gets absorbed into natural materials instead of just being layered atop as a coating.

I notice the brittle tippet part of treating flies as well.

 

I use a "grease" style treatment, and prefer it because I can see when it's time to re-treat when my flies are sinkers.

 

-M.

 

PS- have you tried any 'spray-style' treatments?

[muha]

Never used a spray, for grease I use tiemco on my cdc dries. Be careful not to rub off any close to your eyes. Your eyelids get swollen, resembling Peter Tosh

[SilverDoctor]

There was a time where I treated flies with spray Scotchgard. Worked fairly well initially but it does like floatent wear off in time.

[professori]

Just got back from a trip to the BC interior. I had tied up a dozen Tom Thumbs and dipped them all in Flyagra, set them aside to dry for a week and then packed them up. I didn't notice any smell and no visible "oil slick" that I have observed at times using recently dipped flies. I did notice whoever, that the flies kept floating, without any added floatant, even after having been taken by as many as 9 trout in succession (the record) and being reduced to a handful of straggly fibers.

[SilverDoctor]

Never had a problem with Tom Thumb's sinking.

[keet]

Thanks for the input. Will try to brush on as suggested by muha. No I have not tried on spray-on treatment.