Disclosed herein are hydrophobically-modified poly(aminoamides) useful as fixative detackifiers for stickies and pitch control in papermaking processes. These polymers are prepared via modification of amine-containing water-soluble poly(aminoamides) with reactive functional group-containing hydrophobic compounds. In particular, poly(aminoamides) may be modified, under appropriate reaction conditions, with long chain alkyl glycidyl ether, AKD (alkyl ketene dimer), ASA (alkyl succinyl anhydride), or Quab (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl-N,N,N-dimethylalkyl ammonium chloride). These novel polymers are effective in inhibiting deposition of organic contaminants in pulp and papermaking systems.