Fly box for bushy dries?
- Thread starter mcswny
- Start date
About half an inch deep on each side. You can find them used on eBay. I'd avoid the ones with a swing leaf in center if you want room for big fliesThese are looking like potential options (albeit a bit more than I was hoping to spend).
Getting a 4" and 6" could be nice depending on the length of the trip. the 6" deep would definitely work, im just curious what the depth of the regular 6" is though.
Easy Grip Foam
Richard Wheatley easy grip fly boxes for storage of salmon and trout fliesrichardwheatley.co.uk
Hey Chad, @MillCreekMinnow, was wondering what you used for your big dries?
I use these boxes:
www.umpqua.com
i agree, there is not a perfect box out there for what you describe, but these are dang close. They aren't cheap, but they are durable, both inside (the foam), and out (the plastic). I don't get much mashed hackle on my smaller dries, which I put on the side with the blank area in between the foam pieces. And then on my chubby style flies (mostly sans hackle) I put them on the full foam side. The foam is deep enough, and the lid is high enough that if you think you are going to mash hackle, you can angle your flies up a bit. They are kind of bulky, but woukd hold enough flies for a multi day backpacking trip. They are probably 2.5" deep (1.25" on each side), and then 12" x 7" (just a guesstimation). In my day trip backpack I carry 2 of these, along with 3 of the smaller versions of these, and a little one sided streamer box. This leaves room for 4 beers, some snacks, a water bottle, and then all the floatant and tools and stuff. I likely carry more than the average fisherman, or the many minimalists that seem to be on this thread, but I don't like to take shortcuts, and I like a wide variety of flies. I think you would be pretty happy with 1 of these. I've been using the two of them for the past 5 seasons and, while scratched up a bit on the outside from rubbing against each other, the foam is still super tight.
Here are a few pic's of me wearing my pack with the 6 fly boxes, x amount of beers, a water bottle, and some other stuff inside the smaller pockets and hanging off the pack.
This was in October, and i was even able to jam a jacket from the morning in there. Didn't quite fully zip, but that is what the blue thing emerging from the top is.
UPG LT PAYLOAD BOAT BOX FRESHWATER
Serious anglers now have serious storage. This high capacity box will easily hold your largest streamers and bass bugs down to any standard dries & nymphs
www.umpqua.com
i agree, there is not a perfect box out there for what you describe, but these are dang close. They aren't cheap, but they are durable, both inside (the foam), and out (the plastic). I don't get much mashed hackle on my smaller dries, which I put on the side with the blank area in between the foam pieces. And then on my chubby style flies (mostly sans hackle) I put them on the full foam side. The foam is deep enough, and the lid is high enough that if you think you are going to mash hackle, you can angle your flies up a bit. They are kind of bulky, but woukd hold enough flies for a multi day backpacking trip. They are probably 2.5" deep (1.25" on each side), and then 12" x 7" (just a guesstimation). In my day trip backpack I carry 2 of these, along with 3 of the smaller versions of these, and a little one sided streamer box. This leaves room for 4 beers, some snacks, a water bottle, and then all the floatant and tools and stuff. I likely carry more than the average fisherman, or the many minimalists that seem to be on this thread, but I don't like to take shortcuts, and I like a wide variety of flies. I think you would be pretty happy with 1 of these. I've been using the two of them for the past 5 seasons and, while scratched up a bit on the outside from rubbing against each other, the foam is still super tight.
Here are a few pic's of me wearing my pack with the 6 fly boxes, x amount of beers, a water bottle, and some other stuff inside the smaller pockets and hanging off the pack.
This was in October, and i was even able to jam a jacket from the morning in there. Didn't quite fully zip, but that is what the blue thing emerging from the top is.
Ah, thank you so much for responding @James St. Clair !I use these boxes:
UPG LT PAYLOAD BOAT BOX FRESHWATER
Serious anglers now have serious storage. This high capacity box will easily hold your largest streamers and bass bugs down to any standard dries & nymphs
i agree, there is not a perfect box out there for what you describe, but these are dang close. They aren't cheap, but they are durable, both inside (the foam), and out (the plastic). I don't get much mashed hackle on my smaller dries, which I put on the side with the blank area in between the foam pieces. And then on my chubby style flies (mostly sans hackle) I put them on the full foam side. The foam is deep enough, and the lid is high enough that if you think you are going to mash hackle, you can angle your flies up a bit. They are kind of bulky, but woukd hold enough flies for a multi day backpacking trip. They are probably 2.5" deep (1.25" on each side), and then 12" x 7" (just a guesstimation). In my day trip backpack I carry 2 of these, along with 3 of the smaller versions of these, and a little one sided streamer box. This leaves room for 4 beers, some snacks, a water bottle, and then all the floatant and tools and stuff. I likely carry more than the average fisherman, or the many minimalists that seem to be on this thread, but I don't like to take shortcuts, and I like a wide variety of flies. I think you would be pretty happy with 1 of these. I've been using the two of them for the past 5 seasons and, while scratched up a bit on the outside from rubbing against each other, the foam is still super tight.
Here are a few pic's of me wearing my pack with the 6 fly boxes, x amount of beers, a water bottle, and some other stuff inside the smaller pockets and hanging off the pack.
View attachment 136087
This was in October, and i was even able to jam a jacket from the morning in there. Didn't quite fully zip, but that is what the blue thing emerging from the top is.
View attachment 136088
View attachment 136089
I actually had meant to respond to this saying that I think the Umpqua boxes would work as well! In my first post/photo the bottom middle box that I use for my spring creek flies is an Umpqua box and is actually much taller than my Tacky Boxes. It holds a #10 spundun green drake without mashing the wing (which is bigger than I really need for these flies/this use).
While in theory your box is perfect in terms of height, the goal is really for backpacking. And while I don't call myself an Ultra Light hiker, I do try to be mindful of my ounces. Mostly because I'm still carrying a lot of my 6 year olds gear as well. But perusing around Umpqua's site, I do think these will work.
This for more than one night
UPG SILICONE WP ESSENTIAL LARGE
Umpqua Feather Merchants has a legacy of producing the highest quality flies and fly fishing gear including packs, leader & tippet, fly tying, and streamside gear.
www.umpqua.com
and this for bluelining and one nighters
UPG SILICONE WP ESSENTIAL MEDIUM
Umpqua Feather Merchants has a legacy of producing the highest quality flies and fly fishing gear including packs, leader & tippet, fly tying, and streamside gear.
www.umpqua.com
Dries in compartments don't work for me either. It takes two hands to take out a fly; one to grab the fly, the other to hold the others from getting pulled out too. Then there's the cursed wind....
How about a quality, deep box with raised slits, like Wheatley's Salmon Fox Box? (This page is in Can.$):
The Original Salmon Fox Box
British made Fox fly box for Salmon flies. Deeper than a trout fly box but made in the same tough material and with original patented hook grip interior which ensures hooks remain dry and rust free. Use for salmon, streamer and large hook flies. Label will peel for easy customisation 6 inches x...
richardwheatley.co.uk
Swung through Bass Pro Shop today. I mean I was looking for gifts for other people, but I had to swing through the fishing area. I was surprised to see they almost exclusively carry MFC (Montana Fly Company) tying products now. Actually nice to know, they had some good stuff in there. But, don't expect to find a specific material you are looking for...selection was overall limited.
Anyways, after reminding myself that it is Christmas time and I am not supposed to be buying more fly tying materials for myself I walked over to the wall of fly boxes. I saw this one and instantly thought of @mcswny
Pause for edit...it just posted with me not hitting post...
Anyways, this box looked pretty ideal for what you were looking for. Fairly compact, probably holds ~100 flies, and had a tall lid. For $20, you might want to pick up 2. I (reluctantly) did not buy anything for myself. I had a few things in my hands I was carrying around, and then put it back. It was some pretty impressive restraint, IMO.
Hard to see, but the box is maybe a little over an inch thick, and the foam is about 1/4" thick, so you got about an inch of head space!
Anyways, after reminding myself that it is Christmas time and I am not supposed to be buying more fly tying materials for myself I walked over to the wall of fly boxes. I saw this one and instantly thought of @mcswny
Pause for edit...it just posted with me not hitting post...
Anyways, this box looked pretty ideal for what you were looking for. Fairly compact, probably holds ~100 flies, and had a tall lid. For $20, you might want to pick up 2. I (reluctantly) did not buy anything for myself. I had a few things in my hands I was carrying around, and then put it back. It was some pretty impressive restraint, IMO.
Hard to see, but the box is maybe a little over an inch thick, and the foam is about 1/4" thick, so you got about an inch of head space!
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Amazing, I’ll go check it out!!
UPDATE
I took a chance and ordered this Umpqua box.
www.umpqua.com
And I'm happy to report, Hippie Stompers up to size 10 don't get crushed which is good enough for my needs.
I'll probably get the single sided one as well if I want to be a little lighter while backpacking.
www.umpqua.com
I took a chance and ordered this Umpqua box.
UPG SILICONE WP ESSENTIAL MEDIUM
Umpqua Feather Merchants has a legacy of producing the highest quality flies and fly fishing gear including packs, leader & tippet, fly tying, and streamside gear.
www.umpqua.com
And I'm happy to report, Hippie Stompers up to size 10 don't get crushed which is good enough for my needs.
I'll probably get the single sided one as well if I want to be a little lighter while backpacking.
UPG SILICONE ESSENTIAL MINI
Umpqua Feather Merchants has a legacy of producing the highest quality flies and fly fishing gear including packs, leader & tippet, fly tying, and streamside gear.
www.umpqua.com
I love the plano style boxes for bushy dries. Only downside is if you drop it, while in the river, would really suck!
Watch the wind too..
The Cliff boxes rock as well.
Honest answer is whatever works for you.
Throw in a few threaders.. if you're using small dries.. or a dry and a dropper.. you can also have some rigged up and ready with a loop to loop connection if you have Oldman eyes.. readers or magnifying lenses attached to your sunglasses or hat!
Watch the wind too..
The Cliff boxes rock as well.
Honest answer is whatever works for you.
Throw in a few threaders.. if you're using small dries.. or a dry and a dropper.. you can also have some rigged up and ready with a loop to loop connection if you have Oldman eyes.. readers or magnifying lenses attached to your sunglasses or hat!
a Red Hippie Stomper is the go on one of my fave lakes...come up with your own 'receipe' or found a video you emulate?UPDATE
I took a chance and ordered this Umpqua box.
UPG SILICONE WP ESSENTIAL MEDIUM
Umpqua Feather Merchants has a legacy of producing the highest quality flies and fly fishing gear including packs, leader & tippet, fly tying, and streamside gear.
And I'm happy to report, Hippie Stompers up to size 10 don't get crushed which is good enough for my needs.
View attachment 140276
View attachment 140277
I'll probably get the single sided one as well if I want to be a little lighter while backpacking.
UPG SILICONE ESSENTIAL MINI
Umpqua Feather Merchants has a legacy of producing the highest quality flies and fly fishing gear including packs, leader & tippet, fly tying, and streamside gear.
I more or less tie them as Andrew Grillos ties his. I think the only thing I maybe sub is that body material under the two layers by the tail. I tie them in 10s and 16s with my most used being purple and reds. They’re my go to searching attractor or what I typically use for a dry dropper. I love tying and fishing them.
Sorry I somehow missed this thread earlier. I don't carry a lot of dries, but I DO carry a lot of big foam bass stuff.
For hip-pack sized boxes I like these:
They're under $10, tough, very deep, big enough to put big stuff on one side, smaller on the other.
How deep? That's one of @clarkman's muskie flies, uncrushed even with a bunch of buggers on the other side!
For hip-pack sized boxes I like these:
They're under $10, tough, very deep, big enough to put big stuff on one side, smaller on the other.
How deep? That's one of @clarkman's muskie flies, uncrushed even with a bunch of buggers on the other side!
thnx, his video now in my library. A red #10 HS dangling a #18 Dark Assassin is one of my primary searchers, the other a Purple Chubby...one of my winter tying sessions will be a dozen each of Red and Purple HS.
I use plano boxes for my larger dry flies as well.
Just thought of this.. and I've done it. Cigar boxes.. line with foam.. for a boat box waterproof it.. I happen to know a guy who has a few boxes.. free! You have to pick up.. I'm not hassling with shipping..
If you want boxes many cigar shops sell boxes from $2 to $5.. a few even give them away for free. God bless them.. cigar tube also work for a quick session (with your girl or partner) to hold 6 intruders or w shit ton of bushy dries. My current fly tube box (tube) has a cigar. Not the original cigar it came with ...
Cheers!
FlyBill (yeah I can be a dirtbag on the Sky and still drink 25 yo Glenfarclas.. it just ducking whisk(e)y.
Pics will be added this evening
If you want boxes many cigar shops sell boxes from $2 to $5.. a few even give them away for free. God bless them.. cigar tube also work for a quick session (with your girl or partner) to hold 6 intruders or w shit ton of bushy dries. My current fly tube box (tube) has a cigar. Not the original cigar it came with ...
Cheers!
FlyBill (yeah I can be a dirtbag on the Sky and still drink 25 yo Glenfarclas.. it just ducking whisk(e)y.
Pics will be added this evening
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yes this!
@mcswny I may have an old one lying around that you can just have....you may need to repair/replace the foam though.
At the very least I’d like to see it.
My next search is for a lighter box for backpacking
For those bushy fellas, Maxcatch Streamer Fly Box on Amazon for $15, each side is 3/4" deep, very light, well constructed with strong latch.
