Fly Boxes

An old timer on the river once told me that I needed only two flies for salmon fishing, one to fish with and they other in case I lose it. Today, most fly fishers have at least one thing in common: we take a lot of flies with us when we fish. I guess we like to be prepared for anything.

Over the years we’ve seen many devices designed to store and carry fishing flies. There are fly wallets, aluminium, tin, wooden or plastic fly boxes, sheep skin patches or hat bands, tobacco or medicine containers and so on. Incorporated into these devices are foam, lids, slots, clips, springs or magnetic strips to keep flies in place, organize and make them visible and easy to locate.

As we might expect, each of these designs have strengths and weaknesses. Recent advances in technology have made possible two great new fly box designs. Millstream’s “Nubby Tack” box is one and the other is Flambeau’s Blue Ribbon box. Both are high quality plastic boxes that are made to last many seasons and securely carry a lot of flies – far more than most boxes. Both hold barbless flies securely, an important advantage over most other types. Both are available in small, medium and large sizes.

Millstream’s box isn’t waterproof, but closes tightly enough to keep the box afloat and to keep flies dry in most situations. Its “Nubby Tack” design is the most flexible of these two. It can hold flies of all sizes and they can be arranged as you wish. For large wet salmon flies or streamers it is better of the two, but not for dry flies. The photo shows a large millstream box on the left, loaded with well over 200 wet salmon flies. 

Flambeau’s “Vertical Friction Foam” Blue Ribbon fly box features a rubber gasket to make it truly waterproof. It is better suited to small flies and dry flies. Foam slots hold flies about ¼” high to protect dry fly hackle from damage. The photo shows a medium size Flambeau box holding about 90 salmon flies. Note that there is also a removable leaf that adds extra capacity, but the leaf had to be removed to accommodate these large salmon flies. This box is my choice for trout flies and, with the leaf inserted, holds 272 small flies.

Millstream boxes are priced from $12 - $25, depending on size, while Flambeau boxes cost $28 - $45. Both boxes are available in other configurations.

Please stay on the line ...

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