Loon and Shimazaki Floatants
Keep your flies riding high and in the Game
August is here, and with it comes a change in the river. Water levels have dropped, and the fish have moved into shallow riffles, they are looking up and ready to feed. While the classic hopper-dropper rig still has its place, now is the time to go all in on the double dry setup.
Why? Because in these shallower, oxygen-rich runs, fish are holding in comfy spots and watching the surface like hawks. Ready for any passing morsel to come down the tracks.
#1 Loon Aquel – Use Aquel on your fly when it is completely dry and has not yet been wet. The gel formula provides an outer coating that will keep your fly riding high and dry. That is, until the first trout gulps it and sinks it like a torpedo. Once the fly is saturated, it’s time to move on to a substance that will dry your fly. See #2 below for the solution. If you don’t dry the fly and just apply more Aquel, you’ll trap in the moisture and make the fly sink.
#2 Shimazaki Dry Shake – Works best to dry your fly out after it gets wet. Once you’ve fished a fly for some time, or a fish pulls it under, the fly will get saturated and begin to sink. Now is the time to use Dry Shake, as it will pull the moisture out of the fly and get it floating on top again. Pop your fly into the container and shake, shake, shake. You can stop here and get back to working the water, or you can take one more step to make your fly unsinkable. See #3 for the final step to the impenetrable water floatant package.
#3 Loon Fly Dip – If you want the tightest waterproof seal out there, dip your fly into a drying liquid. Wait, drying liquid? Yes, both Loon and Shimazaki make a drying liquid that is so water-repellent that your fly will almost not be touching the water. After you dip the fly in the liquid, it begins to dry, leaving a waxy coating on the outside of the fly. This coating pushes water away, allowing the fly to ride high while floating down the river.
#4 Shimizaki Dry Shake refill – Dry Shake is made up of 2 parts: large silicone balls and a fine desiccant powder. After using the shake a number of times, the fine powder begins to deplete. The refill contains just the fine powder. Once your fine powder is used up, simply add some refill and you’re good to go.
