Last year I resolved to limit the amount of stuff I carry with me when fishing or even when travelling in the car which meant I have to leave about six seperate flyboxes infavour of one small one.
I can't bring myself to sell or scrap the flies I seldom use and intend to just use them until I am down to a stock of the patterns I will use on the river or loch. This still creates a problem in that I need to somehow organise these seldom used flies together with maybe half a dozen flies I've tied of the patterns I feel are essential to my fishing.
How should I go about organising the stock flies so that I have a central and easily accessed portable stock of all the wets and maybe at a push another similar storage solution for the dries that I can keep at home but at the same time chuck in the car if I want to ?
I've ordered some self adhesive foam and slitted foam and was thinking of making up a large double leaf ply box in order to resolve this problem. Size would maybe be 12 x 15" or maybe 10 x 15" similar to but bigger than this
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTM0WDE2MDA=/$(KGrHqJ,!qsE88gcG80WBPSS(BTe2Q~~60_12.JPG)
Which is 12 x 8" and £9.99 + p&p
Cost isn't so much the issue as size because I could probably buy one cheaper than I can make one but can't get a box as large as I'd like.
What do you use ?
I have a whychwood vuefinder with two compartmets containing slit foam, I think it can hold around 200 flies flies from memory and it is the only one I take out with me. It is small enough that it fits in the breast pocket of my fly vest but large enough not to crush the bushier flees. I do also sometimes carry a tiny wheatley box with the little spring clips that hold the really teeny flees, it is only about 2x3 inches and maybe 1/4" thick at most. I used to carry half a dozen of the wooden boxes which led to confusion and wasted time while trying to choose something, now I carry no more than these two little boxes with a selection of my favourite flies in different sizes. More than enough for me for a few days away.
daz
If you use foam, then just get one or two sandwich boxes and line them with it;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sistema-Sandwich-Lime-Aqua-Pink/dp/B003HIVAP6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336135181&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sistema-Sandwich-Lime-Aqua-Pink/dp/B003HIVAP6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336135181&sr=8-1)
most supermarkets and the like will have a selection of these cheap, also "pound shops".
I use a few Curver sandwich boxes.
For small fly boxes get hinged soap boxes and line them as desired. For better lining than flat foam use draught excluder strip;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tesa-Draught-Excluder-Profile-White/dp/B000QB303W/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1336135392&sr=1-1-catcorr (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tesa-Draught-Excluder-Profile-White/dp/B000QB303W/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1336135392&sr=1-1-catcorr)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tesa-Draught-Excluder-Profile-White/dp/B0024NKDFS/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1336135392&sr=1-2-catcorr (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tesa-Draught-Excluder-Profile-White/dp/B0024NKDFS/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1336135392&sr=1-2-catcorr)
TL
MC
QuoteHow should I go about organising the stock flies so that I have a central and easily accessed portable stock of all the wets and maybe at a push another similar storage solution for the dries that I can keep at home but at the same time chuck in the car if I want to ?
for trout/grayling I carry two boxes always (one for dries - one for nymphs and a few wets) and a third if I feel I might need to use lures.
For the reserve stock, I just keep them in resealable poly bags, labelled with the type/pattern.
e.g. "beadheads" "parachutes" "f fly" etc. The poly bags go in a nylon bag and I restock the boxes I carry from the reserve stock.
Alex
Quote from: guest on May 05, 2012, 01:14:35 AM
Alphabetically for me
I wouldnae mind having a look at your alphabet of flies M8. I'll alphabet your alphabet doesn't have 26 goto but deadly patterns in it though :8) :)
No matter how I try to organise my flies they end up a shambles after two trips. :lol:
'organise' is not a word that can really be applied to my approach to fly storage and transportation.
apart from anything else, i can never convince myself that at some point i might not 'need' something, and not being able to foresee what that is when at the car the safest option is to take everything. ridiculous of course.
maybe ought to try and do something about that this year.
I don't have a reserve stock or anything like that, I just tie more when I've lost them all or getting dangerously low :lol:
I could probably throw out a crazy amount of flies I've collected that never get used, I've even got an entire box of traditional wets for goodness sake :lol: I think just about everyone apart from Alan has the problem you say bluezulu - it's so hard to throw away something you wonder if you might need it at some point in the future.
Quote from: scotty9 on May 05, 2012, 01:43:02 PM
it's so hard to throw away something you wonder if you might need it at some point in the future.
I admit this is one of my failings, but not just because I might need them, I like having them and enjoy browsing the boxes of all those patterns I'll never use. :lol:
I would not be entirely dismissive of traditional wets by the way, although I seldom use them they do come in handy now and then.
One very good example of that was at a (very) high loch last year. After going down the now predicable route of DHS's, DHE's, Sedge/Hedge-Hogs, things with legs etc etc for hours and getting sod all, Joe started nailing them on a Peter Ross, me on a Butcher. If you had gone up there only with a box of nouvelle cuisine offerings you would have had a thin time of it.
Quote from: admin on May 05, 2012, 06:48:01 AM
No matter how I try to organise my flies they end up a shambles after two trips. :lol:
That's the point Fred, 1 box/stock box for tied patterns, ( maybe six of each to last the whole season ) and seldom used flies plus one pocket sized box to take on the river or loch. Never carrying more than one fly box at a time.
I have a large c&f fly box. WTF is thaat all about. No doubt a remnant of my stockie days :roll:
This way I will be able to see all my flies and put them in the "active" box when there is a space.
Quote from: admin on May 05, 2012, 01:58:48 PM
I admit this is one of my failings, but not just because I might need them, I like having them and enjoy browsing the boxes of all those patterns I'll never use. :lol:
:lol:
Quote from: scotty9 on May 05, 2012, 01:43:02 PM
I could probably throw out a crazy amount of flies I've collected that never get used, I've even got an entire box of traditional wets for goodness sake :lol: I think just about everyone apart from Alan has the problem you say bluezulu - it's so hard to throw away something you wonder if you might need it at some point in the future.
When you get older Scott, time becomes of the essence :)
Quote from: admin on May 05, 2012, 01:58:48 PM
I admit this is one of my failings, but not just because I might need them, I like having them and enjoy browsing the boxes of all those patterns I'll never use. :lol:
I would not be entirely dismissive of traditional wets by the way, although I seldom use them they do come in handy now and then.
One very good example of that was at a (very) high loch last year. After going down the now predicable route of DHS's, DHE's, Sedge/Hedge-Hogs, things with legs etc etc for hours and getting sod all, Joe started nailing them on a Peter Ross, me on a Butcher. If you had gone up there only with a box of nouvelle cuisine offerings you would have had a thin time of it.
The first sentence - :lol:
And he caught on a what?! I know they are effective, I just like the humour that goes along with dry fly snobbery :lol:
Quote from: scotty9 on May 05, 2012, 03:16:57 PM
And he caught on a what?! I know they are effective, I just like the humour that goes along with dry fly snobbery :lol:
Me too Scott. It's fucking nuts when people shackle themselves in that way. Versatility is the game, but you are more than smart enough to know that. :8)
Never a fan of "THE BIG BOX" I have mine stored in small boxes, mostly the old Slimaloy Wheatley but some in Myran boxes. All boxes are for certain situations.
A Wet box, few boxes of drys, nymph box etc etc. stored by pattern in lines & no more than three different hook sizes. They may be some migration from one box to another regarding pattern & definately size.
A typical though modern wet box mostly 10s & fancy with a smattering of Invicta, Sedge & Moth patterns on the right.
But then again I have a box for them. Too many boxes.
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Algie123/DSCN1376_edited.jpg)
Tight Lines
Quote from: Highlander on May 05, 2012, 05:31:38 PM
Never a fan of "THE BIG BOX" I have mine stored in small boxes, mostly the old Slimaloy Wheatley but some in Myran boxes. All boxes are for certain situations.
A Wet box, few boxes of drys, nymph box etc etc. stored by pattern in lines & no more than three different hook sizes. They may be some migration from one box to another regarding pattern & definately size.
A typical though modern wet box mostly 10s & fancy with a smattering of Invicta, Sedge & Moth patterns on the right.
But then again I have a box for them. Too many boxes.
Tight Lines
They look nice. I always find traditional flies very evocative. Have a few boxes myself, but it's always interesting to see others.
TL
MC
What? Nothing under "P" :shock:
:lol:
over thirty years of flyfishing and the only time my boxes are organised is before the start of the season.once the season starts i usually find myself tying furiously a few patterns the night before a trip and stuffing them in the first box that comes to hand.i dont think im gonna change at my age so i just muddle along searching my boxes at the side of the loch for those peter rosses i tied the night before. :lol:
Garry
Most of mine are very carefully stored on various trees, bushes, and sundry other obstacles, both surface and submerged, all over Europe...........
TL
MC
Three smallish boxes, basic flat black foam type for nymphs, spiders and a few wets, Clear double sided slitted foam foam one for larger dries, and a hinged compartment type for smaller dries.
Have to say there are some really nice well made, pocket friendly, watertight, designs out there nowadays with a sensible price tag.
Mac
I've started a wee project for a new fly box using materials I had lying about plus some of which I bought. Like I said, I want one fly box which holds all of my flies and I can put it in the car allowing me to customise the active fly box wherever I go without having to go through half a dozen different boxes. If it's not practical I'm sure I can use it for all of those patterns I will never use :)
(http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af127/fishinscotland_co_uk/CustomFlyBox004.jpg)
This will probably just be a prototype so maybe a bit rough. If it turns out ok I'll get some nice American White Oak Plywood or similar and get brass panel pins or even just glue the edge strips instead of pinning.
Project cost so far for a 380x300 double leaf box
4mm Far Eastern Mahogany Plywood £8.04 ( 8x4 sheet ) ( you might struggle to get it for this price )
Stripwood for edges £2.48 ( 2400mm length - I needed 2 due to the size of the box )
4 sheets Self Adhesive Plastazote foam £3.50 + postage
Panel Pins 20mm £2.08
PVa Glue - ?
Mitre Bond £5 approx
Hinges - ?
Catches ?
Stain/Varnish
I'll probably start a wee thread on this so's I can remember what I've done.
Quote from: guest on May 07, 2012, 04:06:11 PM
I'll probably start a wee thread on this so's I can remember what I've done.
Please do.
For hinges and catches see
www.hobby.uk.com (http://www.hobby.uk.com)
My flees are stored in colour-coded Fox boxes, over a dozen of them, close on 2000 flees, all neatly ordered by type and size. These stay at home. Only one box (136 flees) is taken with me. This gets loaded up before the trip- part of the joy of planning- this resides in the Poacher's pocket of my fishing waistcoat. A wee box of my top twenty choices for the trip is made up for storage in a more accessible pocket. As Mike says, this twenty are evenly distributed in the undergrowth (when fishing rivers) or keel, gunwale, and partner's heid when in the boat, and replaced from the big box around lunchtime. Return home, make notes, tie replacements, re-stock all boxes, contemplate the day, come to the conclusion that all I need are Black Pennels, but tie up and store some other sh1te anyway.
Sad really.
That's a handy link Ken. I got a 300mm flat hinge ( similar to a piano hinge ) from B&Q for £2.28 which is surprising but will order some catches from the hobby site tonight. Will also post a new thread with pics about making the box later.