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It's been awhile since there has been a good discussion on the pros and cons of various fly boxes on the market today. (C&F, Tacky, etc.).

 

I bring it up again as I'm frustrated with my nymph boxes . . . especially for size 20 and smaller flies. Currently I'm using a Tacky box and everyone was praising how well they do for small flies! I have no idea why but my Tacky box works well for sizes 10 through 14 or so. Not sure why I'm having issues . . . but I'm fed up with my small flies not being held and blowing away!

 

Suggestions?

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Rare earth (very strong) magnets ... http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-rare-earth-magnets-67488.html

 

Small storage box ... http://www.basspro.com/Plano-Pocket-StowAway-Boxes/product/1555

 

Super glue gel ... https://www.dollartree.com/search/go#w=Super%20Glue%20Gel

 

Glue a magnet in each compartment ... never lose a fly again.

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Rare earth (very strong) magnets ... http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-rare-earth-magnets-67488.html

 

Small storage box ... http://www.basspro.com/Plano-Pocket-StowAway-Boxes/product/1555

 

Super glue gel ... https://www.dollartree.com/search/go#w=Super%20Glue%20Gel

 

Glue a magnet in each compartment ... never lose a fly again.

 

Can you still see your flies so you can choose one? I'm thinking about a bunch of say zebra midges size 22 . . .?

 

I love the idea here it certainly wouldn't cost much to give it a try!!

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C&F do look & seem like the best boxes out there, but pricy! But you alway's get what you pay for! I don't own any, yet! Maybe oneday i hope?

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the tacky boxes seem to be advertised as the best thing since sliced bread

 

what exactly is wrong with them? the silicon is supposedly better than the c&f foam slit boxes

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All my small emergers and small nymphs, midge emergers and the smaller caddis emergers too, go in various empty pill bottles. It's not as though I don't have enough pill bottles around here. Larger caddis emergers ( size 12 and 14) and mayfly emergers go in boxes with the corrugated foam liner ( actually I think it's silicone foam of some sort). So do some of those smaller flies but not all, then when it gets low I just refill from the pill bottles. I have a box for mayfly nymphs alone and hares ears. But I like Mikes magnet idea too. Streamers and such are in larger compartment boxes but some find their way into the foam as well. Dry flies are in compartment style boxes.

 

My vest is ridiculously blown up with boxes of flies, spare spools and just stuff. I can barely get it zipped up, I keep saying I'm going to better sort it out but never do.

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the tacky boxes seem to be advertised as the best thing since sliced bread

 

what exactly is wrong with them? the silicon is supposedly better than the c&f foam slit boxes

It may be me . . . but all my little flies tied on scud hooks seem to come lose . . . especially ones tied more down the curve of the hook.

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I don't mess around with boxes that have slit foam or silicone, anymore, for small fly patterns:

 

midges-may-2013-1_zps14b25ec3.jpg

 

The bottoms are already magnetized and the flies won't blow out in a stiff wind...

 

http://www.bearsden.com/page857.html

 

 

PT/TB

Wow!! That is really nice!!! Love it! Thanks for the idea!

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planettrout knows his small flies. If this is the box he likes, that's a very strong recommendation in my book (i've been following his fly tying for months now, great great stuff). I have yet to try any box with a magnetic feature, i think it may be time. and i like the slim feature of the box he linked.

 

I've been piqued by the Tacky boxes, just haven't bit the bullet to try yet.

 

i just picked up an Umpqua UPG Midge box on sale recently. $35 normal price was a bit too much for me so when fly boxes went on sale at one place, i took the chance. So far I am liking it.

 

btw, there are off brands of fly boxes that are copies of the C&F boxes. I picked one up for about $12-$15 years ago. With the brand name Super Fly on the outside, I couldn't resist.

 

eric

fresno, ca.

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I used the method in the thread below to make my own boxes. I bought the plastic boxes for $2.50 each on a sale at JoAnnes. Total cost for each box is about $3.50. I made about 20 of then and I use them for the flies I donate.



http://www.southeastflyfishingforum.com/forum/tiered-paying-out-hole-fly-boxes-try-t35190.html



Flytire posted on the above thread on using a pinking shears, which I used o build fly boxes using both Altoid and clear fly boxes. You can color code the boxes with sticky backed foam sheet for the type of flies. Example is below.



P1000652.jpgP1000644.jpg



A quick and dirty method is to use Owens Corning Foam Seal. It has foam ridges. Just cut to size and and glue into the Altoid box. I have about 20 of these that I use for gift flies. I the better Altoid boxes made with the first method for my own use. I sent the Altoid box below for a terrestrial fly swap.


P1000692.jpg


AltoidFlyBox1.jpg



Here's a third method for a "Midge Matchbook Fly Box"


http://tinyurl.com/c6qwywm



midge_match.jpg


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