Flies and cross contamination?

Northern

Seeking SMB
Forum Supporter
I've been out of town, so hadn't been in my tying room for a while. Just walked in and observed that the big jar I use to check floatation has what is obviously an aquatic plant growing in it!
1000007386.jpg
Before I left I had dropped a used fly in to check the fall rate of that design :unsure:
I clean my kayak, my shoes, waders, etc... but I can't say I've ever thought to decontaminate used freshwater flies.

Thoughts? Something to worry about? Anyone have a fly decontamination procedure that won't mess up the fly?
I'm thinking maybe a UV-C chamber, or just extended, dry sunlight? Soapy water?
 
Same stuff in Ballard Locks viewing windows....presumably everywhere and/or the algae that forms the slick rock snot on summer wades...
 
The first rule of fly cross-contamination is that you don't talk about fly cross-contamination....lest Idaho, Oregon, and Montana get an idea to start a flybox border inspection program funded by annual flybox inspection sticker purchases.

Comfort yourself with the assurance that waterfowl very competently contribute to that issue.....
 
Last edited:
That looks to me like filamentous algae, a single cell organism that forms mats. It’s pretty ubiquitous. Not something I worry about. It seems to be able to form even in tap water if left standing. So it may or may not have come from your fly.
 
Just add some rotenone
 
Back
Top