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A collection of cold weather clothing and accessories for fly fishing.

Dry Fly Floatants and Holders

Dry fly floatant in powder, paste, gel, spray, and liquid forms. Includes your favorite brands like Loon, Frog’s Fanny, Umpqua, Tiemco, Shimazaki, Gink, and Watershed. Keep those dry flies floating high all day long with quality products that have been trusted by guides for decades.

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Dry fly floatants and holders are essential for fly anglers looking to keep their dry flies floating on the water’s surface all day long. Applying dry fly floatants helps minimize water absorption by the fly, preventing it from becoming waterlogged and sinking. Without effective dry fly floatants and holders, waterlogged dry flies can quickly ruin a day of fishing. The good news is that with proper use of quality floatants, most dry flies maintain buoyancy just like natural insects.

When applying dry fly floatants, gel or paste styles work best on dry flies before fishing. Once flies become saturated and start to sink, powder or “shake” style dry fly floatants effectively pull moisture out, restoring buoyancy. After drying with powder, it’s important to reapply gel or paste floatant to seal the fly for the next cast. Moisture-wicking tools like the Wonder Cloth complement these dry fly floatants and holders by removing excess water without powder.

Spray versions of dry fly floatants offer quick and convenient application. When using spray floatants, allow time for the fly to dry before casting—false casting helps speed drying. The Shimazaki Dry Shake Spray is a top-tier spray floatant known for its effectiveness, especially when combined with a Wonder Cloth. Simply squeeze out moisture with the cloth, lightly spray the fly, avoid overspraying the leader, and dry with false casts for best results.

For long-lasting protection, waterproofing treatments are an excellent option. These treatments, like Watershed, are applied before fishing and require 8 to 24 hours to dry completely. Pre-treating flies with waterproofing products ensures durable water resistance, keeping your flies afloat all day.

Since dry fly floatants and holders are used frequently during fishing sessions, having floatant holders attached to your vest, pack, or waders is highly practical. Floatant holders keep your essential fly treatments within easy reach, allowing quick reapplication of floatants so you can spend more time fishing and less time fumbling for gear.