"Dave LaCourse" wrote


I used four containers of FF last year. You can not beat it when it
comes to CDC flies, and it works better than any other powdered stuff,
including the bulk containers of the powder. I think, but am not
sure, that FF is not only a desicant, but it also has a floatant added
to it, because I have tried other commercial desicants and they do not
work nearly as well, especially on CDC.



I've run into several people that had gotten regular fumed silica or
something as a "desicant" and it sucks, actually attracting water unless you
get it all off the fly before fishing some more

The FF is "hydrophobic" and actually repels water ... try this to see if
you've got the right stuff

treat a fly, then hold it under water ... the good stuff will repel water to
the point that the fly will have bubbles of air around it, and stay that way
for a good long time ... an untreated fly will hold bubbles too, for a
while, as will one 'desicated' with the bad stuff ... it's how long the
bubbles last that is the key.

I'm sure most here in ROFFland know this, but try treating a nymph with FF
and fish it with weight near the bottom .. if you don't already know this
'secret' happy Valentines Day G