Polypropylene

[pattan388]

Whilst river fishing at Gargrave the other day, I met a guy who told me about an alternative to CDC which is just about unsinkable.

After searching online I decided to buy some Polypropylene Floating Yarn. I tied up a test fly and it promptly sank like a brick!

I'd love to know what product I need and would appreciate your comments.

I bought Veniard Polypropylene Floating Yarn.

The flies I'd like to use it for are F-Fly, Klinkhammers, Comparaduns etc any dry fly really for use on the rivers....so the more unsinkable the better.

What about Siliconised Polypropylene? Also, Tiemco are selling something simiilar and also heard Niche do too.......I'm confused!

[sabsman]

I was just about to ask a similar question although my problem is more about the visibility of it when used used as a post on the dry fly in a duo set up when light conditions are poor.

To answer your question I would have to say that Tiemco Aero Dry Wing takes some beating for floatability and also the Niche Siliconised Yarn works well but comes in a limited range of colours.

Would be nice to find a high floating and highly visible yarn when fishing the duo for the small percentage of the time when the light levels make detection hard to spot.

[arkle]

Normal poly-yarn has a specific gravity of 0.94 so it will only just float by itself under a calm surface. Niche's siliconized poly is very similar but has been waterproofed (to an extent) so will be a little more effective. Tiemco's aero-yarn, has a hollow structure that retains air, but the fibres are quite thin so the amount of air is minuscule & where it's tied down these fibres may crush.

The yarn taken from the centre of a trainer lace, will work in a similar fashion to c.d.c as it has a fine crinkled texture to it that holds air bubbles quite well.

C.d.c. relies on its structure, rather than it's water resistant coating to hold minute air bubbles, often you may well need a bunch of 5 or more feathers to prevent a hook from sinking.

---------- Post added at 08:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:22 PM ----------

Sabsman, have you tried spot-dyeing the white Niche yarn with a hi-viz marker or using fluorescent c.d.c. ?

[wobbly face]

There are 2 types of polypropylene floating yarn.
Untwisted, shiny and is flat, good for fly bodies and wings. Sinks when added to a hook though. Various colours. I have used it for a wing post but also to repressent an upright wing.

Then there is the Tiemco Aero Dry Wing, poly yarn which is rougher and dull in colour. This is used for wing posts. There is also Veniards Parachute Antron.
If you want a sight indicater then use the flouro colours.

[sabsman]

Originally Posted by arkle

Normal poly-yarn has a specific gravity of 0.94 so it will only just float by itself under a calm surface. Niche's siliconized poly is very similar but has been waterproofed (to an extent) so will be a little more effective. Tiemco's aero-yarn, has a hollow structure that retains air, but the fibres are quite thin so the amount of air is minuscule & where it's tied down these fibres may crush.

The yarn taken from the centre of a trainer lace, will work in a similar fashion to c.d.c as it has a fine crinkled texture to it that holds air bubbles quite well.

C.d.c. relies on its structure, rather than it's water resistant coating to hold minute air bubbles, often you may well need a bunch of 5 or more feathers to prevent a hook from sinking.

---------- Post added at 08:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:22 PM ----------

Sabsman, have you tried spot-dyeing the white Niche yarn with a hi-viz marker or using fluorescent c.d.c. ?

To be honest...no is the answer but its definately worth a go.

I have a love/hate relationship with CDC, love it on small dries/emergers - hate it on hooks in larger sizes. I don't think I'd be happy using it for the post on a Klink.

Mick.

[Angus McLeod]

I use the stuff they put into Hollow Fibre pillows and duvets. If you lightly gink it up it will float well, and when it does get waterlogged a few vigorous false casts will normally get it riding high again. I've no way of checking, but I take it from the name that the fibres are hollow, like the Aero wing material but at a fraction of the price. A couple of quid or so will buy you a pillowful down the market (but be sure to look for the name hollow fibre). Just one thing: When you are teasing out the quantity you wish to use, be gentle with it. If you comb it out harshly it spoils the floatability, perhaps by crushing the fibres.
Angus

[mozzer]

Mcflylon is a good product now sold by lathkill tackle

[mancfly]

ANY of the above post materials are just fine! Its how you treat them that matters. To start with, you can 'siliconise' all the above mentioned materials. Just treat with Gink, Watershed or similar silicone based floatant, and leave to dry overnight. Once you have done that, all you need is to apply Frogs Fanny to occasionally mop up the excess moisture that occurs during a session. I actually look forward to the fly getting waterlogged/chewed, because i know the F.F. will restore it to a much more buoyant state. If the proportions of post, hackle turns and hook weight are right this will ALWAYS work. Frogs Fanny is brilliant for unclogging CDC!

I have wasted money on Tiemco Aero Dry, in my experience it is no better than ordinary Polyprop when used with the above treatments. As arkle has said, the hollow factor of Aero Dry is minuscule due to the thin fibres. My preferred wing post material is Antron yarn in Burnt Orange, subtle but visible!

[craigie]

tmc aero all day for me,floats great when ginked up & comes in loads of useful colours.

[greenie58]

The hooks being used are rarely mentioned in this type of post, surely a fine/ medium wire is preferred for better floatability?