Fly Boxes: What’s your opinion
- This topic has 32 replies, 27 voices, and was last updated Sep 24, 2010 at 10:31 am by
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I’m trying to assess what users like best in fly boxes.
- What are some of your favorite fly boxes (brands)?
- Are you loyal to a brand or do you prefer function (those two can/are tied together)?
- Do you want a big box or one that can fit in the front pocket of your waders?
- Waterproof or not?
- Do you prefer to see the flies through the lid?
1. C & F for anything that might involve salt, boats or sofa pillow size flys, Morrell cloth foam are my work horses and lastly I’ve recently reorganized my dries by hatch into those small 6 or 8 compartment clear plastic boxes.
2. Application and Function, that’s it.
3. It all depends on the situation.
4. Waterproof around the salt. Otherwise some of my boxes are some are not. Even the waterproof boxes get wet inside and still need to be aired out.
5. My hatch specific dry boxes are see through.
Seems to me that fly box arrangements are like chest packs, I get a new great idea every couple of years, then go back to an old idea, then come up with a new idea…That’s why the bottom of my closet is full of chest packs and fly boxes.
My two most used boxes are Plano 3600 Pro Latch Stowaways, but then I’m mostly using big streamers and I’m Cheap.
All of my trout flies are in a Cabelas Nubby Tack.
CF is my favorite hands down. They work better than anything else I have seen for keeping flies organized and they are more durable than most other boxes. The only complaint I have against them is the price. Most fly fisherman (including myself) seem to have a need/want for multiple boxes that can be used in different scenarios. That being said, I really can’t see spending the money to have every box I own be a CF.
I also agree with Zach that the larger Boxes like the Bugger Beast could be improved upon, especially in the area of waterproofing.
I am growing fond of Plano 3600’s due to their durability, strength, size and affordability. I fish out of a boat most of the time so their bulkiness is not a huge deal breaker. I can fit one in my fishpond waistpack but it is snug. The 3618’s have built in dividers and are great for small flies but difficult to find. here is my dry box
Dry box by TheMcDowell’s, on FlickrI keep my streamers in a cliff bugger beast jr as well as a bugger barn. I also keep a small cliff days worth box for my midges and it is great for quick wading trips. I personally have been very happy with cliff products but get frustrated with fumbling through various small boxes.
Hey Tim…
I am sure this will be of little value to you and your questions…as it probably applies to some of your new duties at SA…congrats by the way.
But the more I do this, the more I want to apply my “golf ball” theory to “fly boxes”.
CF for streamers and nymphs…. Film and advil containers for bass and carp flies…the clear boxes with square compartments for dry flies…and a small (name esacpes me but its asian) yellow box with magnets from tiemco hook packets epoxied in for midges, tricos and other tiny tiny flies…
none are water proof enough for the delaware and nipple deep wading though 🙂 have found that shoving boxes deep into my waders keeps them pretty dry!
Boat guys – do you think a big box has to be waterproof? Would you sacrifice waterproof for price?
I would. I have moved all of my smallmouth flies over to Planos. It feel it’s much easier to keep everything organized that trying to place a hook in a slot that is way to small. They are not waterproof, but I have soaked flies in many boxes that were supposed to be waterproof. You bust up a plano and your only out 6 or 7 bucks.
Man, you guys are picky on these boxes!
For my dries I like the DeWitt boxes. Light as it can be, see through plastic.
8 compartments.For my nymphs I use the small Myran boxes. 12 compartments.
I don’t use/carry a lot of patterns. Just a few dry fly patterns and a few nymph patterns. Use them everywhere in the world. I guess the basic idea behind my choice for boxes is light weight, cheap and yes: keep it simple.
Works for me for the past 15 years.
Here’s a picture of the DeWitt box:
Small Plano boxes for streamers, big nymphs, poppers & big dries..C&F boxes for small stuff. I rarely wear a vest because I canoe and fish most of the time…Water Proof fly boxes arent important at all, flies, tippet, shot, indies, P&S camera, wallet, keys, phone, etc…. gets stuffed in a Pelican 1430 box that clamps to the gunnel of my canoe. Cheers.
I fish out of a kayak in saltwater, so anything I say will probably not apply to anyone else. I like the Planos because they are cheap, they are clear so I can see in them without opening them and I can beat the crap out of them and not feel bad, but I also like to keep the saltwater out. With that in mind, I will probably be replacing my 3600 Pro Latch with a 3640 Water Proof. The great thing about this, is they both cost about $8.00. 🙂
Tim,
Here are my answers to your above questions:
I love my CF boxes, but have been using a Sci Anglers waterproof box quite a bit as well. The downside of the Sci Anglers…it’s not actually waterproof. It will most likely get retired soon, as I would hate to lose a few hundred flies to rust.
I don’t care about brand, I want quality and function.
I prefer smaller boxes with lots of capacity (i.e. large CF boxes with inserts). However, when I fish from a boat, I go with larger boxes (Bugger Beast or cheap plano).
I definitely prefer waterproof boxes.
I don’t care about seeing my flies through the lid.
One note for the people mentioning the Cliff’s Bugger Beast and wanting a waterproof version, they actually already exist. The Justin Case. It’s a beefed up bugger beast that’s waterproof. http://www.cliffoutdoors.com/index.php?page=the-justin-case
Tim
Cliffs. super days worth, days worth and big cliffs are cool and they are made with a nice material.
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