dry fly storage

[flynoob]

Whats the best box for dry flies? Is it preferred to us a compartment style box?

 

[afishinado]

Noob,

A lot of guys like using compartment type boxes for dries. I like the C&F type boxes (the ones with the slots) best for all flies including dries.

 

[Padraic]

I think it's a preference thing, so long as you don't bend the hackles. The best way to avoid that is to be sure your fly is dry before you put it away.

 

[Fishidiot]

My preference for conventional, hackled dry flies is a compartment box. For terrestrials (I usually don't use hackle on my terrestrials) and some specialty dies like midges I prefer the foam type boxes in which you stick the hook into the foam. Like Pad said, it's mostly a matter of preferance.

 

[osprey]

Cleaned out smokeless tobacco containers make great dry fly boxes , they don't crush hackles and they float too!!!!!

 

[ConMan]

The most important part of the dry fly box is that it doesn't crush the hackle. I have a C&F style slotted box for my Caddies box. I use a Wheatley box - one side slot, one side flat for my mayflies and my larger flies, respectively.

I had been using a slotted C&F box - smaller - for some dries and it was too small and crushed some of the flies - so no matter the "quality" of the box, if there's not enough room for the fly - it will not matter.

I don't like compartmental boxes as a personal preference, because I'm not coordinated enough when I'm standing in the river to pull out a bunch of flies that get intertwined in a compartment and pick out one to tie on - invariably, I drop a couple.

Cheers,
Mike.

 

[osprey]

Why spend money on something that can be had for nothing? Use a snuff can with some foam glued in the bottom and voila , crushless dry fly box that unlike the $100.oo job will float , buy a new rod or line or sumpin' wit dat money jeeeeeez!

 

[Alpabuck]

ConMan wrote:
The most important part of the dry fly box is that it doesn't crush the hackle. I have a C&F style slotted box for my Caddies box. I use a Wheatley box - one side slot, one side flat for my mayflies and my larger flies, respectively.

I had been using a slotted C&F box - smaller - for some dries and it was too small and crushed some of the flies - so no matter the "quality" of the box, if there's not enough room for the fly - it will not matter.

I don't like compartmental boxes as a personal preference, because I'm not coordinated enough when I'm standing in the river to pull out a bunch of flies that get intertwined in a compartment and pick out one to tie on - invariably, I drop a couple.

Cheers,
Mike.

If you like the C&F and Wheatley boxes.....I have some land I'd like to sell you.

 

[ConMan]

Alpabuck wrote:

ConMan wrote:
The most important part of the dry fly box is that it doesn't crush the hackle. I have a C&F style slotted box for my Caddies box. I use a Wheatley box - one side slot, one side flat for my mayflies and my larger flies, respectively.

I had been using a slotted C&F box - smaller - for some dries and it was too small and crushed some of the flies - so no matter the "quality" of the box, if there's not enough room for the fly - it will not matter.

I don't like compartmental boxes as a personal preference, because I'm not coordinated enough when I'm standing in the river to pull out a bunch of flies that get intertwined in a compartment and pick out one to tie on - invariably, I drop a couple.

Cheers,
Mike.

If you like the C&F and Wheatley boxes.....I have some land I'd like to sell you.

I love my C&F boxes. The Wheatley box is ok. Wouldn't buy another. I've used lots of boxes and the C&F boxes are hands down the best fly boxes I've ever used.

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

Gander Mtn or Cabelas clear compartment boxes. $3.99-7.99

Put that in your Wheatley pipe and smoke it. I've never understood spending big money on boxes. I've got a bunch of boxes from Harbor Freight Tools that I use in my pontoon tackle bags. They hold the flies and that's all I need. In all honesty, if I've seen someone pull out a 50 compartment box with lids on each, my first thoughts are "tool" and/or the guy in the fly shop saw you coming a mile away. I don't need a fly box to impress, my wind knots do the talking for me. Fight the good fight.

 

[MKern]

Gander Mt. sells the cloudy plastic dry boxes for a buck. The clear ones are over $4. However, the $1 go quick.

Stop at a fly shop and maybe they'll order you some cheap ones on their next order. When I worked at Hille's I got some chincy 4 or 6 compartment boxes for like $.85. they just tacked it onto their hook order.

 

[ConMan]

sight_nymph_17109 wrote:
Gander Mtn or Cabelas clear compartment boxes. $3.99-7.99

Put that in your Wheatley pipe and smoke it. I've never understood spending big money on boxes. I've got a bunch of boxes from Harbor Freight Tools that I use in my pontoon tackle bags. They hold the flies and that's all I need. In all honesty, if I've seen someone pull out a 50 compartment box with lids on each, my first thoughts are "tool" and/or the guy in the fly shop saw you coming a mile away. I don't need a fly box to impress, my wind knots do the talking for me. Fight the good fight.

So because I have a C&F fly box that makes me a tool? Ok. To each his own... It's surely not to impress. Where I fish, I rarely if ever see another angler... and most of the time I fish alone. I guess I just impress myself some how?

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

Easy ConMan. It's my opinion, nothing more. I'll guess that I'm not the only guy on here that feels that way or uses $5 fly boxes. I can't justify spending big money on a box to hold flies. Spend money for a good line or reel? Sure. If it makes sense to you, have at it. If a $5 box does the same exact thing as a $150 box, why would I ever buy the more expensive one? I guess it's kind of like bamboo and I just don't get it.

May your backcast be short and your forward cast be long.

 

[jdaddy]

You called him a tool, then told him to calm down. Solid.

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

I'm good like that. Since you're jumping in, $5 fly box or a $150 fly box? Careful how you answer or I'll call you a tool.

 

[jdaddy]

Here's the thing. C&F lost their patent. C&F equivalent boxes now are $10 all day long. My boxes are $10.

 

[jaybo41]

Add me to the list of resident PAFF tools, I'm a C&F box fan. Apparently there are a few of us. I've been through almost every type of fly box and keep going back to C&F. Why? They've lasted longer than the others and kept my flies in better shape--not to mention I don't lose them. YMMV.

Yes, it's true they have lost their pattent, but only as recent as sometime this year I believe. Hence why there's an influx of similar style boxes this year. Perhaps in the future I'd look for a C&F alternative, but I'm of the school of "don't fix what ain't broke". To each their own.

 

[sight_nymph_17109]

I almost lost my mind when I dropped $25 on a SA nymph box last week. $750 rod, $300 reel, $100 line w/ a $5 fly box.

 

[jayL]

I think spending the money for expensive fly boxes is ridiculous.

I'm in the

 

[MattBoyer]

I like the cheap Basspro foam boxes. What I would pay good money for, however, is some tool to come organize them for me.

Boyer