On 7/26/06 4:34 PM, in article
, "Mark67"
wrote:

Back in those days (1980s) I had some type of silicon-based floatant in
my vest that I used fairly regularly. But often as not I would just
dab my finger on my forehead or nose and use that natural oil/grease to
dress my fly. Quicker and easier than digging out the synthetic stuff.
Anybody ever heard of this? I can't remember if I read it in a fly
fishing mag, or if it was something that my grandfather (a master with
rod, leader, and fly) used to do.

I learned in a video about flyfishing in PA recently that trout have an
advanced sense of smell, or that they can detect odors/chemicals in the
water, and that comes into play with food selection. Are floatants
odorless? And, I wonder, was my homegrown method stinking up the fly
with odors (most likely pizza and beer at that time)?

One thing to keep in mind about using the "finger 'longside the nose or
forehead" trick, is that if you applied sunscreen or bug dope earlier in the
day, you can be sure that the scent of either (or both!) is going to sully
your fly. So be careful from whence you gather your bodily oils!

I just had a gander in Bergman's classic "Trout", first published in 1938.
In the section on dry flies, he describes a home-brew dry fly goo involving
paraffin wax and gasoline (!).

Bill