Do they keep your dry flies riding high? Do these powders change the color of the fly? How messy are they to deal with? In this video, Murray’s Fly Shop demonstrates how six different powdered dry fly floatants work to restore buoyancy and extend the fishing life of your favorite dry flies. We compared the mess and ease of use of each powdered floatant and how they “stick” to the fly. Check out our overview and results of our full test in Dry Fly Floatants Pt.1 here.
Powdered Dry Fly Floatants: Keeping Your Flies High and Dry
We tested Loon Blue Ribbon, Loon Dust, High N Dry and Shimazaki Powder Floatants
When it comes to dry fly fishing, presentation is everything—and nothing ruins a perfect drift faster than a waterlogged fly. That’s where powdered dry fly floatants come in. These essential products are designed to remove moisture and add floatation, helping your dry flies ride high on the surface film for longer, more effective drifts. At Murray’s Fly Shop, we carry the top brands trusted by anglers who demand performance on the water.
What Is Powdered Dry Fly Floatant?
Powdered floatants are ultra-fine desiccants—often silica-based—that dry your fly while adding a water-repellent coating. They’re especially effective after your fly has been submerged by a strike or when fishing in fast water. Most come in shake bottles or brush-on applicators for quick streamside use.
Powdered Floatants Tested by our Murray’s Fly Shop Lab
We tested six untreated size 14 Mr. Rapidan Parachute Dry Flies that were dunked several times and left in a mason jar filled with water for 30 minutes. We removed them one by one and applied the Powdered Floatant per the manufacturer recommendation. Each of these Floatant’s will work as a pre-treatment as well as after the fly has been used.
Our subjective category “Ease of Use/ Mess and Waste/ Color Change” was determined by the following:
1. Ease of Use: All brands required two hands to open the lid so all were Moderately Easy to apply.
2. Mess and Waste: Indicates the amount of powder that visibly fell off of the fly after removal from the bottle or when applying with a brush.
3. Color Change: On a scale of 0-10 where 0 = no detectable color change and 10 = complete color change.
Loon Blue Ribbon
A longtime favorite, Loon Blue Ribbon is a pure silica powder that both dries and treats your fly in one step. Simply drop your fly into the bottle, shake gently, and it’s ready to fish. Great for larger dries like Humpies and Stimulators.
- Best for: Match-the-hatch scenarios
- Application: Shake bottle w/ large opening
- Mess and Waste/ Ease of Use: Moderate mess – waste / Moderately Easy to apply
- Color Change: 2/10 – Lightened Fly – Dissipated after 15 minutes of fishing
- Bonus: Minimal Residue
Loon Dust
Loon Dust adds a slight shimmer while keeping your fly bone-dry. The brush applicator allows for targeted application—ideal for CDC flies or small emergers (particularly caddis you want to fish in the surface film) where precision matters.
- Best for: CDC flies, midges
- Application: Brush-on
- Mess and Waste/ Ease of Use: Minimal mess – waste / Easier to apply with minimal waste
- Color Change: 2/10 – Lightened Fly – Dissipated after 15 minutes of fishing
- Bonus: Adds UV reflectance for improved visibility
High N Dry Powder Floatant*
High N Dry’s Powder Floatant is one of the most advanced on the market. It uses a hydrophobic formula that dries and coats quickly. The bottle also includes a brush and wide opening, making it convenient for all fly sizes.
- Best for: All-around use
- Application: Brush
- Mess and Waste / Ease of Use: Minimal mess – waste / Easier to apply with minimal waste
- Color Change: 2/10 – Lightened Fly – Dissipated after 15 minutes of fishing
- Bonus: FDA-approved, non-toxic, biodegradable
Shimazaki Dry Shake Original
Shimazaki Original is the gold standard for powdered floatants. It’s a desiccant and floatant in one, with a strong drying effect that revives soaked flies in seconds. Ideal for traditional dry flies and parachutes.
- Best for: General dry flies
- Application: Shake bottle
- Mess and Waste / Ease of Use: Moderate mess – waste / Moderately Easy to apply
- Color Change: 3/10 – Lightened Fly – Slight lightening of fly color remained after 15 minutes of fishing
- Bonus: One of the original powdered floatants that’s is still around because it works
Shimazaki Dry Shake Dun
The Shimazaki Dun version is tinted to match dun-colored insects, helping your fly blend in more naturally. Like the Original, it dries thoroughly but with a more realistic matte finish.
- Best for: Subtle color matching, technical water
- Application: Shake bottle
- Mess and Waste / Ease of Use: Moderate mess – waste / Moderately easy to apply
- Color Change: 3/10 – Darkened Fly – Dissipated after 15 minutes of fishing
- Bonus: Natural tone reduces flash on wary trout
Loon Top Ride Dun
Loon Top Ride Dun combines a powerful drying agent with a naturally colored powder that matches pale duns and similar insects. Perfect for pressured trout that key in on subtle details.
- Best for: General dry fly use – Great for larger dries
- Application: Shake bottle w/ large opening
- Mess and Waste/ Ease of Use: Messiest – most waste of all we tested / Moderately Easy to apply
- Color Change: 10/10 – Significantly Lightened Color of Fly – color change had not dissipated after 15 minutes of fishing – Floatant residue remained very visible producing undesirable results
- Bonus: Revives any dry fly to a high floating state – One of the best we tested
Choosing the Right Powder Floatant
When choosing a floatant, consider the size and material of your fly, the type of water you’re fishing, and how often you’ll need to reapply. For CDC flies, brush-on powders like Loon Dust or High N Dry give better control. For soaked flies or fast recovery, shake-style powders like Shimazaki Original or Loon Blue Ribbon are hard to beat.
Final Thoughts
Powdered floatants are an essential tool in any dry fly angler’s kit. Whether you’re matching hatches on a spring creek or prospecting pocket water in the mountains, the right floatant helps your fly stay in the strike zone longer. At Murray’s Fly Shop, we stock the top powdered floatants trusted by anglers who know the value of a high-floating fly.