Handmade Fly Boxes

[mdunc8]

I started a little side hustle making fly boxes (Hellroaring Woodcraft) after accepting a new fisheries gig with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Bozeman a few years ago. I really use it as an excuse to have a few beers by myself in the garage during the week but we use the extra money to cover my boys’ hockey and a little gas money for family trips.

I just finished this batch of walnut boxes yesterday. They’re about 4” x 6” (give or take an inch) and a little over 1” thick. Most have an internal depth of about 3/4”. Let me know if any catch your eye and I can provide more pictures, exact measurements, and a price. I can texture the tops and bottoms of the smooth boxes similarly to the boxes in the other pictures; depending on what you want, it can take a couple hours so I usually charge a little extra to customize things. They start at $125 and increase based on the texturing and a few other things that take some extra time. I could probably be talked into a discount if you buy several…

Although the boxes are made of wood, I intend for them to get used. Mine have held up to everything Montana can throw at them for almost five years, so don’t be scared to throw them in your pack.

Mike

 

[Greg Armstrong]

Beautiful work!

 

[Jake Watrous]

Gorgeous! Can you make them for tube flies? Like the Plan D tube fly boxes?

 

[mdunc8]

Gorgeous! Can you make them for tube flies? Like the Plan D tube fly boxes?

I don’t see why not. Just a matter of finding or making the right foam. Honestly, I’m not familiar with tube flies so I’ll need to swing by some shops to see if I can get my hands on one of those boxes.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

Very nice wood working!

 

[Otter]

Outstanding work. As a retired carpenter and jeweller, I have an appreciation of fine and unique craftsmanship, and yours is amazing. I also love the flow of the engraved shapes, and the little detail of the peened finish on the pivot pin heads.

 

[mdunc8]

Any Montanans on here? I’d part ways with this one for $150. I like the smooth look but I could texture the bottom similarly to the box in the last picture above for an extra $25.

 

[castsN2trees]

these are absolutely beautiful

 

[Jake Watrous]

I don’t see why not. Just a matter of finding or making the right foam. Honestly, I’m not familiar with tube flies so I’ll need to swing by some shops to see if I can get my hands on one of those boxes.

They've got notched foam on either end to capture a metal shank that holds the tube fly, and slitted foam in the middle to hold the hooks.

 

[Hem]

Mike is a friend of mine and a stand up guy. I encouraged him to join PNW for variety of reasons, and knew that some of this crowd would appreciate his unique brand of craftsmanship.

 

[mdunc8]

I have no idea who this Hem fella is…

 

[Hem]

I have no idea who this Hem fella is…

Are you here to contribute or simply peddle?

 

[mdunc8]

Are you here to contribute or simply peddle?

That’s a fair question. I’ll get to work in the former.

 

[BriGuy]

Very nice! Are the tops poured epoxy with the wood accents laid in?

 

[mdunc8]

Very nice! Are the tops poured epoxy with the wood accents laid in?

Thanks. Yes, the tops are resin.

 

[mdunc8]

Finished up another one this morning. It’s made with one of the last pieces I cut from a neat walnut burl. It’s about 6” wide and a little over an 1” thick with an internal depth of 3/4”. Asking $140

 

[Hobbyranch]

Beautiful work

 

[mdunc8]

Thought I had this one sold, but the fella on IG seems to have ghosted me. The walnut and maple box is 7.5” x 4.25” x 1” with an internal depth of almost 3/4”. I’ll part ways with it for $150.

 

[mdunc8]

In the spirit of Black Friday, here's a couple new walnut boxes that I recently finished. They're both 5.75" x 3.75" x 1" with an internal depth of 5/8". I'm asking $75 for each.

 

[mdunc8]

It's probably worth mentioning that several of the boxes above are still available...