Life Cycle flybox

[Guest]

I recently got another gift card (that's two this year!) and decided to buy a leaf flybox. This one has a “page” in the middle which means a total of four sets of flies instead of just two. I was wondering about what I could do with it, and settled on doing something I'd kicked around for a while: a life cycle flybox. Each page representing the lifecycle of an insect from larvae to adult. This includes...

 

Page 1 – Caddis

Top Row – 6 size 14 Elk Hair Caddis, 3 size 8 Michigan Night Caddis, 4 size 10 Tan Caddis/Cranefly nymphs

2nd row – 5 size 18 emergers I tied years ago that weren't actually patterned after anything in particular, but work well.

3rd row – (all size 16) 1 Sparkle Pupae, 5 emergers whose name I can't remember, 5 caddis wets

4th row – 3 size 16 Sparkle Pupae, and the rest of the flies are an assortment of size 18-16 caddis nymphs.

 

 

Page 2 – Dragonflies and Damselflies

Top row – size 6 dragonfly nymphs. The first 7 are my go tos. The next two are an untested experiment.

2nd row – 4 adult Damsels (I dunno the hook size: I bought these. Shhhhh...)

3rd row – The first 8 are size 18 Hare's Ear type nymphs. They are made with Whitlock's Tan Damsel dubbing which looks EXACTLY the color of a particular damsel I find in my favorite lake, and when tied into a hare's ear patten, looks all shiny like a nymph preparing to molt or emerge.

The last four are size 18 Zug Bugs.

4th row – size 10 Damsel nymphs. The one on the far right is the model, which I bought and copied 'cause I liked it. It's a very effective pattern.

5th row – 5 size 10 Zug Bugs and 7 size 10 swimming nymph hook Zug Bugs.

 

 

Page 3 – Mayflies

Top row – 3 size 16 Pheasant Tail parachute dries, then four size 18 assorted dries. (the lack of dry flies here isn't an indication of my lack of faith in them, just my lack of talent in tying them!)

2nd row – 10 size 16 Morris emergers in Adams grey/BWO/Sulphur and white

3rd row – 3 size 16 Barr emergers, 3 size 10 attractor wets, 4 size 16 partridge and yellow wets.

4th row – 4 size 12 Light Cahill wets, 4 size 12 March Brown wets, 2 size 16 P& orange wets and 2 size 16 P& yellow wets.

5th row – 12 size 16 Barr Emergers in the same colors as the Morris emergers

5th row – 5 size 18 flashback pheasant tail nymphs, 7 size 18 olive Skip nymphs

6th and 7th rows – an assortment of size 20 and 22 nymphs (pheasant tails, hare's ears and no, those aren't midges. Really. They'd be out of place! )

 

 

Page 4 – Stoneflies

Top row – 4 size 16 yellow sally dries, 5 size 10 stimulators

2nd row – 4 size 16 black stone dries,

3rd row – 1 size 18 gold stone nymph 3 size 8 and 2 size 10 dark nymphs, 4 size 18 olive stone nymphs

4th row – size 18 gold stone nymphs

5th row – 3 size 18 black stone nymphs, 5 size 10 natural Hare's Ear nymphs, 5 size 16 black stone nymphs

6th row – 3 size 6 gold stone nymphs, 5 size 10 brown/olive stone nymphs

[billb 0]

Great idea, and well-stocked boxes!

 

Bill

[Guest]

Now I get to tie some scuds and crayfish!

[Guest]

Mark, that is one well stocked box indeed! What brand is that box?

[Guest]

Will,

 

it's a Springbrook Leaf box. I've never given any real thought to getting a leaf box, but since this was essentially a gift I went with it and I really like it! It came from Bass Pro and includes three threaders. They'll come in handy for them midges!

 

 

I've caught Smallies on size 18 midges... I wonder if I can do it with a 22? :dunno:

[RoyGPA 0]

The Springbrook leaf box come with 3 threaders? I saw the non "leaf" box has threaders but I didn't realize the leaf box has them too. I've recently come to the conclusion that I need help when it comes to getting tippet into those small hook eyes.

 

Roy

[picketpin 0]

Very nice group of flies Mark and a great looking leaf box thanks for sharing

Tight Lines Mike

[Guest]

Mark,

 

Catching a smallie on a size 22 would be quite a feat! As we all know bass will eat almost anything so I have no doubt you could succeed.

 

That is a nice fly box, I have several of the C & F boxes and these look just as nice and much cheaper.

[Guest]

I really like the C&F boxes too...I have a couple. I dunno why I didn't look for one of them! I was just looking around for something to spend my gift card on! After seeing what can be done with this one, I might get some C&R leaf boxes now. I almost did when I bought my first one, but got one that has containers on one side, foam on the other instead. You've given me a good idea! And another way to spend money...

 

[edit: y'know Will, I just realized that I misread your post! D'uh! I agree with you, this is cheaper!)

 

Mike - Thank you!

 

 

Roy - They actually first sent it without the threaders. Then I went to their live chat service and directed the responder to the link where the box is and when she saw that it is supposed to come with them she had them send it right away. I truly expected to look back and see them have changed the description to omit the threaders, but they haven't! I'm not gonna switch the leaf for the threaders, but I may just lay the threader inside the box and try not to drop it in the water.

[dwiltshire 0]

Great idea! Really love this one box idea. This could be the revolution for me and my ever increasing number of fly boxes...

[letumgo 0]

Dang, Mark, that is a GREAT set of flies!!! Every one of the sets is impressive. Terrific job.

[Guest]

Thanks y'all, I really appreciate the feedback! This was an exercise in curiosity as well as a move to limit the lumpiness around my waist (aside from the love handles). I have another box in mind now, I've just gotta get some time to work on it.