Extra boxes of flies, what do you do with them.

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

There was a post recently asking how many boxes of flies you have, I counted the ones I use but omitted in that number, the ones that have gotten pushed aside by my current ties.

As I develop and just plain ole tie more flies, I find those flies get moved into my vest (figuratively speaking, its actually the back of my car where I keep my flyrods and current boxes of flies). To make room for those, I take the few flies out of the existing boxes and remove the "old" boxes of flies out to my shed. Now, I've got boxes of good flies, some slightly used, some that never touched the water. What am I supposed to do with all of that? I've thought of donations occasionally, but I always wound up tying up "new" flies for donations. It seems when I look through the old stuff, it isn't good enough to give away.

What do ya'll do with those excess flies?

Kirk

[mybadhabit 0]

A lot of the ones that I get in swaps that I'll never use(salt water flies) get donated to others that have the opportunity to use them(salt water swappers). I also have tied for my local club, we raffle off about 30 flies per meeting, other than that, they go into a storage box that I go thru every so often and replentish my stock in the boxes, or set aside to copy when I get the chance.

 

Blane

[mudman 0]

I have donated extras to fishing clubs or organiztions that offer a kid's/beginner's program. The organizations have always been greatful for the donation.

 

I have donated complete fly boxes to one or two organizations forraffle drawings. This can also be tax deductable.

 

I have also given thousands of flies to friends. I tie mostly for steel & salmon for the Great Lakes tribs. We have an annual week-long trip with about 12 guys and I always have a "care package" of "misfits" and overrun flies for each of my buddies. These are flies that I can't sell because of imperfections, my friends don't care, they are imperfections too.

 

You can also do bulk "grab bag" sales on forums. I will bundle a hundred or so and offer it at a price that covers the cost of materials. Guys that don't tie gobble these up. A cheap way for the non-tier or beginner to fill a box inexpensively. Everybody wins.

 

Do a bulk swap with one or two guys on this site. Oryou can do a fly-for-materials swap with a non-tier. I have done the latter on several occassions.

 

I'd rather see and hear about my flies catching fish than sitting here at home gathering dust.

[switch10 0]

I have a gallon sized zip-lock bag almost full of flies from the past 15 or so years. Most are fine, and would catch fish if I used them, I just know I never will. My thought was to razor blade the materials off the hooks, and reuse the hooks and beads. I just haven't had any time or desire to do so.

[Piker20 0]

I razor some hooks clean as I find some old ones look distinctly amatuer as I improve at tying. But I would guess for a beginner some of the hooks you look back at they would be thrilled to get and strive to tie themselves.

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

Good ideas!

[phg 0]

I give away some flies to new fly fishermen/women I meet on the stream. Others I donate to Project Healing Waters or Wounded Warriors. Some wind up with the Boy Scouts who are working on their fly fishing merit badge. Then, of course, I'm always donating a few to the stream and surrounding vegetation.

 

If you are just starting out, as it sounds, the best thing to do is go through your unused flies, from time to time, with a critical eye. If they aren't good enough to give away, then they aren't good enough to keep either. Cull them out of your boxes, and when you get the chance, clean off the hooks and recycle them. As your tying skills improve, you'll find that there are fewer flies that aren't good enough to give away.

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

phg, this problem has amassed from having tied for 30 years. When I donate flies, I tend to tie up fresh new ones thinking that the ones in my box aren't good enough. I do give flies to fishermen I fish with and friends but I've still got boxes. I may have to look up the Project Healing Waters, I did donate a batch to them once.

 

Kirk

[tidewaterfly 0]

Kirk, take the old flies out & fish them. Tie up nice ones for donating, as you do anyway. No one wants to see your old flies! I'm the same way and am sometimes conscientious about them. If I won't fish them, I won't usually give them to someone else either. It's pride in what you do! Nothing wrong with the old flies most likely & the fish won't care, but you do.

 

I also give old flies away, but I give new ones away too. I fish the old ones, even my mistakes & "seconds". The fish don't seem to care, and I don't either if I lose them.

 

If you feel like any of the older flies are not good enough to give to someone else, then salvage the hooks & tie up new ones. You're probably always going to tie & have more flies than you'll ever need. It's in your blood man!

[Peterjay 0]

I've never been really crazy about freshwater tying - my MO has always been to tie what I need and let it go at that. Outside of a few Catskill dries and salmon flies, I haven't saved any. But I have many boxes of saltwater flies that I've tied over the past few decades - every year or two, I go through them and recycle the ones I don't like or have proven to be poor producers. A lot of the hooks aren't cheap, so I can't see them just sitting there when I could do something with them. I can remember where and when I tied most of them, so I'm apt to keep some for sentimental reasons. I've given some away and I've sold some, but mostly, I just keep them as a collection. I like to have a lot of options - if I get the chance to fish anywhere for anything, I've most likely got it covered. If I should fail to return from running with the bulls, my wife knows what to do with the flies.

[fishingbobnelson 0]

I donate a couple of boxes every year to Casting for Recovery: http://castingforrecovery.org/wordpress/home/ they teach fly fishing to breast cancer survivors at free 2 1/2 day retreats. They really like to get flies to use as they have retreats all over the country. While you may be critical of older ties, CFR is glad to get them.

Grandkids, nephews, nieces and other relatives get most of the rest.

[Horseshoes 0]

I leave mine in nearby branches along the river. The Margaree has a fabulous collection. lol

[GdubyaSmith 0]

I donate a couple of boxes every year to Casting for Recovery: http://castingforrecovery.org/wordpress/home/ they teach fly fishing to breast cancer survivors at free 2 1/2 day retreats. They really like to get flies to use as they have retreats all over the country. While you may be critical of older ties, CFR is glad to get them.

Grandkids, nephews, nieces and other relatives get most of the rest.

Wonderful Idea!!!

[DUBBN 0]

Mine go to Project Healing Waters. I usually send a couple hundred a year.

 

http://www.projecthealingwaters.org

[troutguy 0]

I give them to local friends and mail them to far away friends, I am told there is nothing like coming home from work, checking the mail and finding a couple dozen unexpected flies. I like the feeling I get when I drop them in the mail.