Dry Fly Floatant 101 - The 4 Types of Floatant & When to Use Each

[@bippie23456]

Chap Stick... original in the twist-up tube! Over 50 years I have tried numerous brand-name floatant products, I always come back to Chap Stick! When I was a teenager (a very long time ago) an old timer told me to use Chap Stick. It works as well as any brand-name product and in many cases, it works better. Current price $2.30 for three tubes... a single tube generally lasts me a couple years. I also have several friends who use Vaseline lip therapy in a twist-up tube... 97 cents a tube. Average price of commercial fly floatant... $5 to $8.

[@justal4844]

Whether or not this was a HnD commercial in disguise, I didn't realize that the gel I pretreat my bushy / CDC flies with is weighing them down. Good information, regardless of the brands listed. ☮

[@ComradePsych]

Very helpful thanks for adding those charts

[@bevrizzolo1588]

Great video Peter...thanks for sorting that out!

[@TheAndycbennett]

Great job, on this hugely helpful. Thanks for doing this!

[@dimario2000]

Great video. A little unfortunate to see it be so HnD biased though.

[@sblau1004]

Awesome video!! Really helpful - keep em comin'

[@ronniejones2118]

I am new to fly fishing and I found this so helpful thx for the good content

[@martinbeland5119]

Great Video ! With very usefull info !

[@sirmegallot3276]

I've always been partial to Dry Magic. Even though it is a thin gel-like consistency it still works with CDC. It was recommended to me years ago and I've used it religiously ever since.

[@AquaTech225]

100%

[@Jester62D]

FYI:. The powdered silica is also known as hydrophilic fumed silica. There are associated health risks using this and yes, I use it. Be sure your face is up-wind or in a direction that it won't enter your lungs.

[@camshute]

great video! how did you stay consistent when measuring the fly? did you shake it off before weighing? did you submerge the fly for 10 min or just let it sit on top? thanks so much for this!!!

[@trekmontana77]

They basically just made up the chart to promote High and Dry. Powdered desiccant, for instance, is basically just silica, regardless of what company is selling it.

[@davidjarevalo]

Great video. Some very interesting info. Thanks Ascent!!! I am curious how often you carry all of the different types with you?

[@AscentFlyFishing]

David - I typically roll with the Shake, Gel, and power with brush at a minimum. Each has its use, and I hate to be left wanting on the water due to a lack of preparation in the shop!

[@cywilliams3176]

In my personal use frogs fanny is the best that’s all I use now.

[@backbonz]

Cy williams agree with Frogs Fanny. Good stuff. 10x better than what Orvis has.

[@Roberthood1234]

Hi there, I’ve seen the Ginks brand gel floatant in a small bottle with a “red” cap and “black” cap. Is there a difference between these or is it the same stuff just in different packaging??? Thank you, Rob

[@vdubjim1]

What about abolene? :)

[@AscentFlyFishing]

Jim - To be honest, we had to google abolene and had never heard about it as a dry fly floatant! We haven't tried it. What has your experience been with abolene?

[@vdubjim1]

I like it! Works good and is very affordable! I'd be interested in running it side by side with the high n dry though..

[@cattaraugustonawanda4426]

Making a simple subject into something complex. Always used liquid flotant from Orvis or home made. Have used thick silicone but they don't get the whole fly.

[@Avicados]

I’m sure you’re not in anyway sponsored or correlated with HnD...

[@AscentFlyFishing]

We wish! High N Dry is among the floatant options that we offer in the shop. As a shop owned and operated by a scientist/aquatic biologist we appreciate when other science geeks put out exceptional products. If you are in the market for floatant, High N Dry is worth a try!

[@Avicados]

@@AscentFlyFishing glad to hear you’re not, unbiased reviews are hard to find. I’m in need of a new bottle of shake, I’ll give it a go, a break from the box brand. Just know if I get sold a lie, I’ll be the guy in your shop tearing a fuss about $10 floatant as if I was just sold a lemon Ferrari. Cheers and thank you for the analysis.

[@trekmontana77]

@@Avicados Every brand of shake desiccant has exactly the same ingredient. There is no variation. One is not better than the other, it's just which one this guy who sells this stuff is trying to promote.

[@risajajr]

Though not affiliated with HnD, could it be it is the highest margin floatant you carry in your shop?

[@mjmdiver1137]

Hmmm... I was down with this until I saw that every product category was topped by the HnD product? Is there any scientific basis for the ratings? What is your methodology for the performance claims? I'm all good that there may be somehting better than Gink or Aquel, etc. out there, but... this seems too biased to the results of the HnD products.

[@trekmontana77]

Not promoting HnD, High and Dry, much are you? Each floatant has it's unique balance of ingredients from brand to brand, but desiccant is basically just silica power. There is no variation.

[@ryanbrand3946]

Another paid advertisement.