[taterdu]

can someone clarify, what gink and xink are for..

Gink is a floatant, smeared sparingly on a dry fly it's an aid to flotation.

Xink is a sinkant which helps with surface penetration.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

Been using Gink for many years. Apply once, floats the fly for the whole day. Never a problem with standard dries.

Only reservations -

Can slather CDC microfibres, if not very careful - fumed silicas better - though they can wash off.
Not so good for dapping flies - they don't skip on their tiptoes as well when Ginked. Dry Magic is better .

Col

 

[oldgold]

Hence the case of the impotent fisherman who applied xink to aid penetration....


He tried gink but couldn't get a rise.


TBH I use neither just tend to reply on the way the fly is tied....

 

[ant77]

If gink isn't helping your fly float it may be a badly tied fly or, as suggested, a CDC job in which case you need something called Frog's Fanny.

It depends on the fly but its normal to squeeze a bit out of the tube between thumb and forefinger, rub it between them, then apply to the hackle and tail sections only.

I've also been using Loon Aquel over the last couple of seasons which is supposed to be 'stable across a range of temperatures'. I've yet to squirt half a bottle all over meself like I have done with Gink in the past.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

I'm wondering if the OP simply applied too much. If Gink is over-applied, the fly will sink. If so, squeeze the fly in a cloth, give it a few pulls through the water, then several false-casts to dry it off, then drop it on the water. It will float :thumbs:.

Col

 

[Darren Lewis]

I always prefer the wax based products, muclin, dilly wax, archery bow string wax, doesn't wash off an is more hydrophobic, also, it only goes where you apply it, gink etc soaks in everywhere.

 

[ant77]

A mate of mine swears by Vaseline. Makes sense I suppose!

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

gink etc soaks in everywhere.

Interesting - coz one of the things I like Gink for is that you can apply it where you want it. I just squeeze a little out between thumb and forefinger, and rub it in, then just stroke the fibres of the fly that I want to apply it to. There really isn't any chance for it to soak in where it's not wanted.

Col

 

[haulinthedollaghan]

it was not a cdc flu im sure lol

it was only a tiny drop of gink i put on
is there a difference between red and black capped tubs?

 

[taterdu]

As far as I'm aware, genuine Gink has a red cap. Xink has a blue cap.

 

[cax]

Gink, loon aquel etc all have to be used very thinly.
Just a tiny drop on the fingers for me between index finger and thumb and coat the fly very lightly. They should not soak in. Too much and the fly is shagged.

 

[richardw]

today when i was dry-fly fishing on the river i applied gink just a small ammount
guess what, the fly sunk the fly was dry before i put it on
then i used green mucilin it worked great , i had 10 takes on that fly and one caught and the fly still did not sink great stuff:thumbs:

what do you think of gink?

Try this...

Dry Fly 'Expert': How to Make the Fly Float

richard

 

[rabmax]

I had a little play with the Bergman Formula before i left for work.Paraffin wax & panel wipe mixed only tried it for a few hours.I have never seen a commercial floatant as good.I even floated a bare hook in a glass of water with it.Cheers All

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

The last 2 mentioned products rather rely on dunking the whole fly in, do they not

One of the benfits of Gink, Dry Magic and other gels is that you start by rubbing it into your thumb and forefinger, and then you can apply it selectively to the parts of the fly you want in or above the surface film. On the likes of hoppers, you can leave the legs free from floatant so they dangle under the surface - very inviting . On Klinks, you apply to the hackle and wingpost only, so the abdomen cuts through and doesn't stick in the surface, leaving the fly lying on its side.

As I already mentioned, Gink's not perfect - it can slather CDCs if not very careful applying it, and it 'dampens' dapping flies. Another issue with it is when fishing flat clams, when freshly applied - it can produce a mini 'oil slick' around the fly for a wee while. This might put off tricky fish. However, after fishing for a bit, this tendency soon disappears, and it should be possible to fish a whole day without needing to reapply Gink.

Col

---------- Post added at 09:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 AM ----------

Gink, loon aquel etc all have to be used very thinly.
Just a tiny drop on the fingers for me between index finger and thumb and coat the fly very lightly. They should not soak in. Too much and the fly is shagged.

Exactly :thumbs:

 

[luke troutstalker]

Try this...

Dry Fly 'Expert': How to Make the Fly Float

richard

You owe me 4 quid.

 

[Mrtrout]

The last 2 mentioned products rather rely on dunking the whole fly in, do they not

One of the benfits of Gink, Dry Magic and other gels is that you start by rubbing it into your thumb and forefinger, and then you can apply it selectively to the parts of the fly you want in or above the surface film. On the likes of hoppers, you can leave the legs free from floatant so they dangle under the surface - very inviting . On Klinks, you apply to the hackle and wingpost only, so the abdomen cuts through and doesn't stick in the surface, leaving the fly lying on its side.

As I already mentioned, Gink's not perfect - it can slather CDCs if not very careful applying it, and it 'dampens' dapping flies. Another issue with it is when fishing flat clams, when freshly applied - it can produce a mini 'oil slick' around the fly for a wee while. This might put off tricky fish. However, after fishing for a bit, this tendency soon disappears, and it should be possible to fish a whole day without needing to reapply Gink.

Col

---------- Post added at 09:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 AM ----------



Exactly :thumbs:

You don't catch much either then Col.
S.

 

[ohanzee]

Is it just me that puts Gink on then starts to apply fullers earth to the leader with the same fingers and goes oh

 

[andrewparkeruk]

You owe me 4 quid.

Is Rain Away one of your discoveries Mike? Haven't heard of that; will try.

Do the other windscreen hydrophobic products, e.g. Rain-X, work?

Andrew

 

[luke troutstalker]

Andrew, no, it's something RW has blogged about - I thought I would give it a whirl.

The only departure I made from his info was to apply with finger and thumb, as opposed to dunking it in.

As an aside, I have treated my windscreen with gink, and now I can't see a ****ing thing !

 

[lee71]

You owe me 4 quid.

, did you dry them thoroughly first cos I had a go and mine sank till I dried em.