Saltwater fly storage- prevent hook rust

[MarshRat]

I’m sure this has been discussed before, especially on the old site, but curious as to people’s preference for saltwater fly storage to prevent hook rust. I did ok managing rust in the PNW- fishing the sound for SRC occasionally, but now that I exclusively fish in the salt marsh I’m losing the rust battle. Suggestions?

 

[Jacob Watrous]

Fishpond sells a flybox that is ventilated and does pretty good job of keeping flies from rusting.

For big flies, I like the fishpond rolls.

Currently, though, I have a couple of fly patches in my car. Pop the used flies in my water bottle on the way back to the car, then the day’s flies (if they’re not tube flies) get stuck to those patches and grabbed again the next day/time I hit the salt.

 

[Brian]

I simply carry a small watertight glass (plastic would work fine) spice jar containing tap water in a jacket-shirt-waders pocket. When I change flies and at the end of the day the used fly goes into the jar. When I get home, the flies get rinsed and air dried on a towel along with reels and spools. Only then do they go back into the fly box. Result is no rust on flies. Spice jar gets rinsed and refilled.

 

[Stonedfish]

Stainless steel hooks obviously help.
Never put a wet fly you’ve used that day back in your box. As mentioned, a good rinse and let them completely dry before putting them back in your box.
Leave your boxes open when not in use.
Saltwater is a cruel beast.
SF

 

[Sam Roffe]

Since I use a boat, and beach launch and retrieve it each time, I will rinse my flies in fresh water and let the air dry on the seat or other horizontal surface in the boat until next time. I think storing them in the open air is important. They will last me the season depending on the hook if I don’t loose them.

 

[J-ham]

I keep a fly patch on the boat then rinse and air dry at home. When fishing off the beach I stick the wet fly in my hat then rinse and dry at home. The salt is brutal indeed.

 

[Grandpa Jim]

I don't use a fly box. I have a few selected flies for how I am fishing that are pre-tied on looped leaders that I store in single plastic sandwich bags. I switch out flies while on the water by taking out of plastic bag stuffed in my wader pouch and just changing out the loop to loop rigging. At the end of the day the used flies in the individual plastic sandwich bags are rinsed out under the faucet in kitchen sink at home. After I shake off or blot off the rigged flies are set out on a windowsill to dry and the bags are everted and set out to dry as well. Seem to dry overnight OK for use the next morning.

I wear a sling pack that contains a plastic box with extra flies and leader material if I want to rig up a fly that I don't have pre-tied.

I've been doing this for 5-6 years and don't have a rust problem, even with stinger flies using freshwater octopus hooks. You just can't forget and leave the flies in plastic bag...then you have a mess.

 

[Nick Clayton]

I'm not usually one to buy into gimmicky crap, but the Tacky Flydrophobic fly boxes are game changing. I keep two of them in my boat bag. Any wet flies fresh from the salt get tossed in them. Literally tossed. Both are just a heap of loose flies. They do not rust. I don't know the exact reason, beyond that the box is somehow ventilated, but I've used the same two boxes for a handful of years now and they flat out keep flies from rusting.

Other than that, and for bigger flies, I just dont worry about it. If they rust, they rust. I have no shortage of flies. I don't mind losing some to my laziness and lack of interest in making an effort to save them. But those fly boxes are amazing.

 

[Otter]

I use boxes lined with Nubby Tack, not foam. When I clip off a wet fly, I leave about a quarter inch of tippet on it, and put it back in the box upside down. That way, I can quickly see which flies I used when I get home, swish them well in a sink, pat dry, then set out to dry overnight. I also only use rust resistant hooks; stainless, nickle plated, etc.

 

[jasmillo]

I don’t do much different with salt boxes versus freshwater. Sometimes I let them dry but usually not. Depends on how many fly changes/ wet flies are in the box. I rarely rinse. I use stainless hooks for all my src flies. I do lose some flies every year to rust but their usually well used and I am fine letting them rotate out.

Stainless helps a ton. I lose a lot more coho flies tied with non stainless stingers than I do src flies. Even though I take much better care of them (more rinsing and drying).

 

[Vagabond]

Clip, Stick, Segregate, Rinse, Comb, Air Dry as stated above.
Only times I’ve run into problems are areas that have desalination water plants. Seems not all the salt is eliminated.
Also have had issues at locales with high sulphuric content in the “fresh” water. Don’t rinse rods or reels until I get home. Flies are sacrificed…..

 

[DrCrush]

Keep flies separated after use. At home... rinse and then a quick soak in Salt-A-Way (or similar product).