Loon Outdoors UV Clear Fly Finish review

I’ve been using Loon Outdoors UV Clear Fly Finish for several months now and feel it is time I can write my thoughts about the product. UV Clear Fly Finish comes in two flavors, thin and thick, and there are uses for both.

UV Clear Fly Finish is a UV cured glue. This means you can apply it, and it will not solidify until you cure it with a UV light or place it in direct sunlight. Loon has the product available in a UV Tying Kit that includes, the Thin, Thick, and UV Power Light, or you can buy each one separately.

As you can see below by this deceiver style fly I tied, you can build nice clear heads with this stuff.  I used the Thick to begin forming the shape and cured it in stages, applying the Fly Finish over itself after curing each stage. On the final coat, I used Thin to help with tackiness.  In my experience with any of the UV resins, the thicker you apply it, the more time it takes to cure it. I’ve been using Loon’s UV Power Light and it does a good job, but I feel these types of lights could be stronger. The UV Power Light is much better than the light I was using before. Basically, the stronger the light, the quicker and better experience you will have with curing any UV resin on the market.

One of the first questions everyone asks is about the tackiness of the glue after curing. Using the Thin, is the best way to achieve less tack. It is difficult to avoid tackiness if you only use the Thick. But, again in my experience, this is true with other resins as well. I have been able to achieve a tack free touch with the Thin. Always make sure your light has strong batteries. So with thicker heads, like the one on my deceiver, I always apply a final coat of Thin as I mentioned before.

I haven’t noticed any yellowing or fading of the product after the fly has sat for an extended period or fished.

I’ve recently tried UV Clear Fly Finish on my knots in my leaders to help secure them. I just checked and the resin is still covering the knots and is hardened well. I just had that same leader in the water yesterday. Loon produces a product for this purpose called UV Knot Sense, but the Fly Finish seems to have the same effect. It may be the same formula, but I don’t know that to be a fact.

Finally, I feel Loon Outdoors UV Clear Fly Finish is a good UV resin. I think it does a great job of doing what it’s advertised to do. Loon always strides to manufacture products that are non-toxic to help preserve our environment which always makes me feel good. I do think we could benefit by having much stronger UV lights in this area. Maybe that will be the next step. However, I’m confident in using Loon Outdoors UV Clear Fly Finish for my UV resin fly tying purposes.

To learn more and view other Loon Outdoors products, visit their website.