I was reading an article on a trade forum recently where somebody was asking about the commercial viability of permanently buoyant dry flies. These would be treated during manufacture and would (allegedly) float high and dry forever. There is nothing new in this with various 'treatments' having been offered over the many decades I have been a fly fisher, but I am curious to hear if anyone can see any advantage to this over conventional 'use as required' treatments.

My own feeling is that there are times when you want your fly on the surface, times when you want it in the surface film, and times when it does no harm to sink it. Then there are flies where you want the body/tail to dip into the water (klinks, emergers, etc) and others where the natural feather contains its own oil (CdC). I also concluded that mud sales would increase though as people try to sink their flies! Another contributor suggested that if this waterproofing product is as good as suggested he would perhaps want to buy the product itself but not pre-treated flies, and I agree with that.

However, it would be interesting to hear what fellow forum readers think.

Hi, Basunwin,
Welcome to the forum. I can certainly see an advantage in tiny dries which float forever, the CDC types which you have to change after each fish taken during a short, sharp hatch (yes, I know, a quick rinse, squeeze it in your shirt tail, two false casts and the fly is brand new again – only it never quite works out like that for me.)
As for the emergers or damp dries, you would still tie them accordingly, treating only the areas designed to float, or using pre-treated materials for these sections of the fly.
From your post it seems that a particular waterproofing product was being discussed in the original debate, something like a superior version of Watershed, by the sound of it.
If that is indeed the case I would be grateful if you could post the name of the product and where it can be bought.
Angus.

Angus

As far as I'm aware, the product (or process) isn't available yet and is just being discussed/developed.

Interesting about the CdC flies; are you using dyed CdC or natural (which works much better)? I have fished a lot with some tiny CdC flies, and provided I use a fine tippet (6 or 7X) I don't really have too much of a problem. A rinse after each fish, a couple of false casts, and it's fine. However a fly is treated, the floatation will probably be neutralised by fish slime when you catch something and need rinsing anyway.

With other really small flies, again - if tied correctly and fished gently - with fine tippet it is difficult to sink them even without floatant on them (which I sedom use).

But I agree, perhaps there is some merit in the treatment of certain materials before tying, particularly for flies tied to fish larger rivers and rougher water.

Regards
Bas

Hi,

personally CDC does work for me- after a fish give it a thorough rinse- take a section of absorbant kitchen roll with you not a shirt tail- it is not absorbant enough- squeeze the CDC fibres in the kitchen roll (you have seen the advert with the elephants sucking out the water- this is the stuff I mean). I have caught over 50 fish on the same CDC dry on the Tees- the body was ripped to pieces which seemed to make the fly more attractive to the fish but the CDC kept the fly high and dry all day long. Just to prove the point I have a couple of excellent CDC river patterns on my website where I sing the joys about this material. It is simply the best.
Himalayan Fly Fishing in Paradise on Earth

regards Jonfish123

Not sure about kitchen roll, Jonfish123, even the elephant stuff! How do you keep it dry all day in the rain? Is there a special pocket or holder on modern waiscoats for a roll? What's wrong with a patch of amadou? (Shirt tail never works for me!)

Having said that, I have no problem with just rinsing the fly properly and after a couple of false casts it's fine. Provided it was tied correctly in the first place. (More CdC doesn't necessarily make it better.) I prefer more modern materials (including some synthetics) for larger flies anyway, particularly skating flies. But I agree with you, it is possible to catch loads of fish on the same CdC fly and still have it floating high. I disagree that it is 'the best'. It is the best for some applications, not for all IMHO.

But what about a permanent solution to make flies unsinkable? Would it work? Would we buy into it?

Finally, I looked at your web site. Beautiful place, Kashmir. Where I was born. Also looking at some pix of my father fishing there in 1946, big bags of fish on what was then the only way to fish - wet flies down and across. We've come a long way.

Bas