Water Pump Gasket, install with or without silicon sealer

Permatack in a can painted on is what I use, copper rtv for pan corners and sealing bolts into water/oil.
Sometimes dry just soaks and weeps.

I have also used black rtv on both sides of gasket-on cover and pump so you don't get it all over your hands- but it's a very thin flat skin I lay in part to hold it in place working in car.. and they dont leak.
It's a preference you'll live and learn and even realize after preference ...there are apps like porous pitted almost clean surfaces and..well, they make that stuff for a reason.