A specialised liquid degreaser and sinking agent engineered to neutralise the natural buoyancy of flies, leaders, and tippets, ensuring immediate sub-surface penetration.
Gehrke's Xink is the functional counterpart to the world-famous Gink flotant. While flotants are designed to keep flies on the surface, Xink is a deep-penetrating wetting agent that breaks the surface tension of the water. When applied to a fly, it allows the materials to become saturated instantly, causing the fly to sink naturally rather than being held up by trapped air bubbles or dry hackles. It is particularly effective for nymphs, streamers, and wet flies that need to reach the "strike zone" quickly. Xink is also widely used by technical anglers to treat leaders and tippets, eliminating the "shiny" surface glint and allowing the line to sink just below the surface film for a more stealthy presentation.
Key Technical Features
-
Surface Tension Neutraliser: Chemically formulated to break the water’s skin, allowing lightweight flies to submerge without the need for additional lead weight.
-
Non-Oily Formula: Unlike some sinking pastes, Xink is a clear liquid that doesn't leave a heavy, slick residue on the water or the fly.
-
Deep Fibre Penetration: Specifically designed to soak into natural and synthetic dubbing, hackles, and wing materials to provide long-lasting "sinkability."
-
Tippet Degreaser: Effectively removes finger oils and factory coatings from monofilament and fluorocarbon, helping the line cut through the surface tension.
-
Clear, Odourless Composition: Engineered to be virtually undetectable to fish, ensuring that the presentation remains as natural as possible.
-
Easy-Squeeze Applicator: Housed in a compact, pocket-sized bottle with a fine-tip nozzle for precise application even in windy conditions.
-
Temperature Stable: Maintains a consistent viscosity across a wide range of water temperatures, from alpine streams to warmer lowland rivers.
-
Environmentally Conscious: Formulated to be safe for use in delicate aquatic ecosystems when applied as directed.
Technical Specifications
-
Container Size: 0.5 oz (approx. 15ml) squeeze bottle.
-
Consistency: Thin, clear liquid.
-
Application Method: Manual drip/rub-in.
-
Compatibility: Safe for all natural materials (feathers/fur) and common synthetic fly-tying fibres.
Best For
-
Nymphing: Essential for ensuring your unweighted or lightly weighted nymphs get down to the bottom where fish are feeding.
-
Technical Dry-Fly "Dropper" Rigs: Used on the submerged "dropper" fly to ensure it sinks immediately while the "dry" fly remains buoyant.
-
Stillwater Fishing: Great for midges and pupae patterns that need to hang at a specific depth just below the surface film.
-
Spooky Fish Scenarios: Treating the last metre of your leader with Xink helps "hide" the line from wary trout by sinking it out of the surface glare.