Gink

[Wildfisher]

Some questions about Gink.

What is it?

Is it any better than the Musclin  in the wee red tin I used in back in 1966?

Is it popular because it's American and therefore "cool"

Why is it so expensive?

Is it really any use for Scottish conditions as it is almost impossible to get it out of the f*****g bottle?

Is it really any use for New Zealand conditions as it is almost impossible to keep it in the f*****g bottle?

Why do I dislike  the f*****g stuff so much yet still buy it?

What is a good alternative I can fill my near empty  Gink bottle with?

[Traditionalist]

It is basically a water immiscible gel.  The actual ingredients have never been made known. I had it analysed twice and each time the formulation was different. That was quite a few years ago now.

I have a bit of a personal history with its "inventor", (he did not invent it, he just mixed up some finished industrial chemicals and did some brilliant marketing),  and as a consequence I have a very large personal bias against it.

It does work on a lot of things, although there are some disadvantages to it, it tends to leave a   "slick" on the water, it is very temperature dependent, in warm weather it more or less liquefies,  in cold weather it is more or less solid, and the bottles leak badly. 

The best floatant extant for the majority of dry flies at this time is undoubtedly hydrophobic fumed silica;

http://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=16538.msg178019#msg178019

this dries the flies and also treats them with floatant at the same time.

For application to specific fly parts ( hackle only, etc) then I prefer to use permaflote

http://www.wildfisher.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=18823.msg201691#msg201691

with a small brush. But the mucilin solid silicone floatant also works well;

http://www.anglersworld.ie/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=82&P_ID=1369

http://www.troutflies.co.uk/product.php/3537/silicone-mucilin-solid-green

TL
MC

[Highlander]

I am led to believe it was originallyt based on Abolene (sp) which was a constitute of a womens face cream in the USA.
But anything that has a fishing tag on it is expensive is it not.
I use Loons Aquel(expensive) & find that to be as good as any thing else is on the market. In fact it is so good it would float a bare hook   :roll:

Tight Lines

[Traditionalist]

I am led to believe was based on Abolene (sp) which was a costitute of a womens face cream in the USA.

Tight Lines

That idea was advanced by quite a few people. It is not in fact Albolene, although Albolene works just as well, ( without the slick).

The ingredients of Albolene are ;
Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Paraffin, Ceresin, Beta Carotene.  Although I don't know the proportions.

If you want to try it;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Albolene-Moisturizing-Cleanser-Unscented-3-25/dp/B002F3TP4

TL
MC

[Wildfisher]

dilly wax comes in a tube that you can get the stuff out of,

That  sounds like what I need. Can you buy dangly vest attachments for it?

[Highlander]

That idea was advanced by quite a few people. It is not in fact Albolene

The idea as you put it was advanced by a lot more than a few people. I distintly remember on the American boards way back in the early days, so long now I think you had the avatar Upstream Spider at the time that this subject was talked about in depth. I do not recall any one saying that it was not "originally" based on Abolene. Anyway I will never buy it "Gink"that is as there are better floatants available now adays so I will say no more on the subject. Oh bye the way I do not  do ladies moisturising cream, my skin is fine thank you very much but thanks for the offer.
:lol:

Tight Lines

[Wildfisher]

I'd never heard of Abolene. Just googled it.  :shock:

It is used for everything  from removing make-up, though skin moisturizing and weight loss to a vaginal lubricant.

And it keeps your flies up too?

The Musclin  in the wee red tin can't  most of that. Not that I have tried of course. :lol:

[Highlander]

weight loss to a vaginal lubricant

Some women I met in my youth had no need of the latter  :roll:
Somehow "Ginking a Fly" has a whole new meaning

[bibio1]

I use the green mucilin and IMHO can't be beaten. Tried gink and all the other ones and just don't like them.

Cheers

Paul