Let's talk about Christmas Fly Box Swap

[vicrider 0]

I've had a couple of queries about doing a Christmas Fly Box Swap. I am still game to do this again and time is one thing I have a lot of. What bothers me is the lack of activity on the board for quite some time. It's been hard to fill swaps for awhile and do not want to keep this swap going if it's going to die a slow death. For those of you who are familiar with this swap I have been running it for several years now since taking over for Breambuster when he just to busy with life and needed someone to keep it going. I will do this swap again this year if we get at least 20 people involved. I will post the swap now and see how it goes. Some of you have been ultra generous with this and would hate to let it end so we'll see how it goes.

Cut off for sign up is Nov. 15th to have flies here by Nov. 25th. Note later date from original post!!! 

Welcome to the Secret Santa Swap 2024! The object of this swap is that you send me your flies in a nice fly box (amount stated below) and I photograph them and randomly send them to your secret swapper, trying to match fishing preferences. The secret swapper does not know until they open them, who they are from. There may be Secret Santa stocking stuffers that are randomly given away to the swappers that have their flies to me on time! 
I will need either a PM or email from each participant including your name, address, AND I would like each participant to give their preference of category or type they would prefer their flies in and I will try to match these as much as possible.
The deadline for this swap will be November 25th. Flies to be here by that time. Foreign shores anticipate your mailing time to make deadline. When I receive your information I will add you to the swapper’s list. If you would like to join in and you are sure you can make the deadline that the flies have to make it to me by the due date, reply with I'M IN and pm or email me your information! Late flies due to PO problems will be swapped and shared but may not fit your requested category. THERE IS NO POST REQUIREMENT TO JOIN THIS SWAP.

I am going to going to ask for changes from last year that will help me keep things organized. I want all boxes sent in able to fit in 6" x 9" or 9" x 11" envelopes. I will provide the 6" x 9" or 9" x11" bubble mailers on my end. Santa can't afford 20 or hopefully more postages from the North Pole so please include return postage to your addy , stamps, cash or paypal to my account but DO NOT send a return envelope. NO RETURN ENVELOPES.

Fly boxes will be due by 11/25/2024 so they can be photographed, gift wrapped and be sent on their way in time for Christmas opening. Remember...Fly boxes are a big part of this swap and the Altoid boxes for regular swaps are not the ones for this swap.

These are the categories to send in. Pick one! The Guidelines are Minimum gift packages. Additional flies may be distributed to other boxes and carry your member name. Your fly box should be appropriate to the flies you've chosen. 

1) 15 minimum of your favorite freshwater panfish/trout flies...These can be 15 different flies or 5 sets of 3. The crossover between panfish, trout, shad, skipjack etc. is such these flies should pretty much fit into one group. You can send as many as you wish but 15 is the minimum. Most pad that a little.

2) 6 large freshwater flies. i.e. intruders, streamers, articulated. These can be bass flies, stripers, pike, etc. but generally more intense in size and effort than category 1. Cork, foam and balsa poppers would fit this category.

3) 6 large saltwater flies. i.e. crabs, shrimp, streamers, etc. tied on saltwater hooks.

4) 3 stacked and packed deer hair flies. These are more effort than most other flies and can be things of beauty. I have a few from members too nice to fish so they hang on my tying bench for inspiration.

You are NOT limited to listed amount of flies. I CANNOT always balance the amounts of flies and box when cross matching the swappers and secret santas so sending in several extra is great but cannot guarantee getting back anything except minimums.

This has been a fun swap and I hope to make it fun, equitable, and get each person flies geared toward their preference as much as possible. Let's have fun and the sooner I get all the flies the sooner they'll be packaged and returned. Once back to receivers I expect them to sit UNMOLESTED under tree until Christmas Eve. I promise to keep better track of where your flies go and be able to give that info if no one responds to your flies.

There is no limit to how many can participate in this swap. Considering it's Christmas, the more the merrier.
You may send in boxes in more than one category or more than one box in a category. You will get a return gift for each box sent. I personally gift wrap each package. Poorly wrapped maybe but the thought is there.     

 

You decide what you think someone would like to receive, tie them up and send them in. No limit to the amount of participants for this swap.
I pledge on my part to keep better track of flies and boxes, where they go, and get photos this year.
Nick Szabo
PO Box 361
Cheyenne OK 73628
[email protected]

Notes based on FAQs...

1. Yes, my email is paypal connected for postage

2. To clarify a point, I'm going to try again on this since I've had a couple of questions on it.
Let's say you're in for a panfish swap. Now, let's say you don't know 15 panfish flies you can tie comfortably and send in. Okay, no one (most anyway), wants a dozen identical Bluegill Bullies. If you're only comfortable with a few different patterns fine. Just mix them up so you have no more than 3 of any single pattern so the person will have some variety in his box. This could be as simple as 5 sets of 3 different patterns, 5 sets of 3 similar but different color or weight or size patterns, or 2 sets of 3 patterns and 9 different patterns. Not trying to confuse anyone here, just trying to make it clear that this is not the swap where we try to tie 12 identical patterns.

3. Since it was brought up by someone, I will include the Santa's surprise for at least one lucky member drawn at random. This will consist of some flies sent as extras by generous souls and maybe a few tying materials I have in surplus. At least one special surprise, maybe more.

4. If you have nice extra tying supplies you just don't use send them and I'll scatter extra gifts in packages I send out.

1. Woodenllegs..............In Santa's Workshop

2. Trouttramp ..............In Santa's Workshop

3. Musky fly guy with donations...Sent some last and passed them out or donated them.

4. Chasing Tails..............In Santa's Workshop

5. flytire with great donations to swap like he did last year ..............In Santa's Workshop

6. Flatsflytying

7. cencafly

8. cphubert ..............In Santa's Workshop

9. Rick Zieger ..............In Santa's Workshop

10. Heff2...Deer Hair or a Fully Dressed Salmon Fly. ...In Santa's Workshop

11. Fishing Bob Nelson...wouldn't be the same without ya'. ..............In Santa's Workshop

12.  Gadabout Gaddis the Flying Fisherman...well just gadabout ..............In Santa's Workshop 

13. Stabgnid

14. Dad of 6  ..............In Santa's Workshop

15 Bear Kodiak............In Santa's Workshop

16. psychoprince ............In Santa's Workshop

17. Darrell P............In Santa's Workshopp                               p

18. North Caddis ..............In Santa's Workshop

19. Bryon Anderson ..............In Santa's Workshop

20. Steve's Fly Shop

21. AGN54 ..............In Santa's Workshop

22. wmw4 ..............In Santa's Workshop

23. Alberta Al

[Woodenlegs 0]

I’d be in 

[Trouttramp 0]

I’m in!

[MuskyFlyGuy 0]

Nick, 

I will send you a box of trout flies I no longer can use. You decide what you want to do with them. I do not want a box in return. If I can put together some materials, I will also send them. I have a number of hanks of four inch pieces of Flashabou, which would be good for a number of applications. Should I send them to you?  They come in a wide range of colors. Thanks for doing this again. 
Tom

[Chasing_Tails 0]

I'm in. I'll take saltwater if we have another salty that participates, otherwise I can fill in any category.

I also have a surplus of extra materials to add to the pot as well.

[flytire 0]

i will donate only. i want nothing in return

20 hairwing atlantic salmon flies

20 hairwing steelhead flies

please include 1 salmon and 1 steelhead fly to each swapper

[MuskyFlyGuy 0]

Norm,

That is a very generous offer and a great opportunity for 20 people. Those will be flies they treasure. 
Tom

[Flatsflytying 0]

I’m in. Thanks for doing this again! Probably going to do large freshwater flies

can do saltwater box as well if needed to match up 

[cencalfly 0]

I'm in.  Thanks and I'll do trout and/or steelhead

[cphubert 0]

What would Christmas be without a package from St. Nick?🎅 I'm in for trout or whatever you need. I'll have to get the elves going they were getting fat on BLT's while the garden 🍅 was going, good thing Santa doesn't use flying pigs🐷

[RickZieger 0]

I will jump in with panfish flies several of which would work for trout.

Rick 

[Heff2 0]

I'm in, i'll likely do some deer hair flies or if there is interest I could offer a Fully Dressed Salmon Fly 

[fishingbobnelson 0]

I'm in. 

 

[gadabout 0]

I’m in.  I’ll probably do some wet flies.

[vicrider 0]

Love your board name. I was a huge fan of Gadabout back in my early years. Never missed his trips flying into various places, all based in US if I remember correctly but that was a long time ago.