Floatants & Sinkants
Floatants & Sinkants
What Are Floatants & Sinkants and How Do They Work?
Floatants and sinkants are essential fly fishing accessories designed to control how your fly behaves on or beneath the water’s surface. In simple terms, floatants help flies stay buoyant and visible, while sinkants encourage flies to break through surface tension and sink quickly to the desired depth. Used correctly, they allow anglers to present flies naturally and effectively, adapting to changing water conditions and fish behaviour.
Floatants are most commonly used with dry flies and emergers. Applied to hackle, wings, or bodies, they repel water and increase surface tension, keeping the fly riding high and visible. This is particularly important when fishing fast-flowing rivers, broken water, or during heavy hatches where visibility and drift accuracy matter.
Sinkants, by contrast, are designed for nymphs, wet flies, and leaders. They reduce surface tension and eliminate trapped air, allowing flies and tippets to sink quickly and maintain a natural subsurface presentation. In technical fishing situations, such as clear streams or pressured waters, sinkants can make the difference between a refusal and a confident take.
At Uttings, our range of floatants and sinkants caters to everything from casual fly fishing days to demanding professional use, making them a small but critical part of any angler’s tackle setup.
How to Choose the Right Floatants & Sinkants for Your Needs
Selecting the right floatant or sinkant depends on your fishing style, target species, and the type of flies you use. While these products may seem straightforward, understanding their differences will help you achieve better presentation and more consistent results.
Consider the Fly Type and Presentation
Dry fly anglers typically favour gel, paste, or powder floatants. Gels and pastes are versatile and long-lasting, while powders excel at reviving waterlogged flies mid-session. For subsurface fishing, liquid sinkants are ideal for coating nymphs or leaders without altering fly movement.
Application Method and Convenience
Floatants and sinkants are available in gels, liquids, sprays, and powders. Beginners often prefer easy-to-apply gels, whereas experienced anglers may carry multiple formats to fine-tune buoyancy throughout the day.
Durability and Water Conditions
Fast water, rough weather, and repeated casts can strip floatant from flies. In these conditions, higher-viscosity floatants or reapplication-friendly powders perform best. Sinkants should be thin and fast-acting, ensuring flies reach depth quickly without residue build-up.
| Product Type | Best For | Typical Format |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Fly Floatant | Surface presentation | Gel, paste, powder |
| Powder Floatant | Reviving soaked flies | Powder |
| Sinkant | Nymphs and leaders | Liquid |
Top Floatants & Sinkants Brands and Models at Uttings
Uttings stocks floatants and sinkants from trusted fly fishing brands known for consistent performance and angler-focused design. Gehrke’s is renowned for premium floatant formulas that provide long-lasting buoyancy without gumming up flies. Loon offers a wide range of eco-conscious floatants and sinkants, favoured by guides and professionals worldwide. Frog’s Fanny powder floatants are especially popular for reviving flies quickly on the water, making them a staple in many fly vests.
These products integrate seamlessly with other fly fishing essentials available at Uttings, including fly fishing accessories, leaders and tippets, and a wide selection of artificial flies, allowing anglers to build a complete, well-balanced setup.
Floatants & Sinkants Tips and Expert Advice
Using floatants and sinkants effectively is as much about timing as it is about product choice. Apply floatant sparingly before fishing to avoid clogging hackles, and always dry flies thoroughly before reapplication. For sinkants, focus on leaders and knots rather than fly bodies when subtlety is key.
Beginners will benefit from carrying one reliable floatant and one sinkant to cover most situations. Professionals and guides often carry multiple options, adjusting buoyancy throughout the day as light levels, insect activity, and water flow change.
Remember that presentation is everything in fly fishing. Even the best fly pattern will underperform if it rides too low or sinks too slowly, making floatants and sinkants invaluable tools rather than optional extras.
Why Buy Floatants & Sinkants at Uttings
Uttings is a family-run business based in Norwich, established in 1976, with decades of experience in outdoor and field sports retail. Our carefully curated range of floatants and sinkants reflects genuine hands-on knowledge and a commitment to quality. We stock premium products from the world’s leading brands and back them with expert customer service, fast delivery, and over 45,000 five-star reviews on Trustpilot. When you buy from Uttings, you’re choosing trusted advice and a team that shares your passion for the great outdoors.
Floatants & Sinkants FAQs
What is the difference between floatant and sinkant?
Floatants repel water to keep flies on the surface, while sinkants reduce surface tension so flies or leaders sink more quickly.
Which floatant is best for dry flies?
Gel or paste floatants are ideal for initial application, with powder floatants useful for reviving flies during fishing.
Can sinkant be used on leaders?
Yes, sinkant is commonly applied to leaders and tippet to help flies achieve a more natural subsurface drift.
How often should floatant be reapplied?
Reapply when flies begin to sit low or become waterlogged, especially in fast or turbulent water.
Do floatants affect fly appearance?
Used sparingly, quality floatants maintain fly profile without matting hackle or dulling materials.
Are powder floatants better than gels?
Powders excel at drying and re-floating soaked flies, while gels provide longer-lasting buoyancy from the outset.
Can beginners use sinkants easily?
Yes, sinkants are simple to apply and are very effective for nymph fishing and subsurface techniques.