Ive just recently turned to fabsil to reproof my nebraska,all i done was poured some into a smaller container (a 1litre drink bottle cut in half) and used a small washing up sponge to apply it to the tent,it went on really well,i tried the normal paint brush method but all this done was dribble fabsil everywhere.
Are you sure that the drops of water on the poles were leakage through the canvas or could it possibly have been condensation on the cold poles. Worth making sure before you shell out for fabsil etc.
I'd wait till you get home ... put it up again and spray it with a hose (unless you're in a hose ban area ... then use a watering can with a rose) ... and see if you can re-create the scenario.
If it leaks under those conditions, it's probably the canvas.
Or .... the canvas may just have needed a good wetting to get going again.