Midge Fly Boxes

[Curtis Fry]

Well it's that time of year again when I re-organize some of my fly boxes. This year, I'm trying to find a better home for my midge dries and emergers. Traditionally, I keep them in two or three 12-compartment clear boxes. That way I can just stick 'em in there without putting them into foam (plus some have hackles that I don't want crushed by foam).

So I'm looking for possibly a bigger compartment box or something so I can put all the midge dries and emergers into one box.

Any ideas? What's the going opinion on using foam boxes for those small midge dries/emergers? I like the C&F smaller boxes with the foam divider in the middle. Can those hold small (24-30) hooks?

[Tom]

I found a very nice box that has around 120 hook catches, half on each side of the box. $13.99

It's a rubber type of material inside and you push the hook down into twin shoulders that stick up from the bottom of the box.

I can grab a pic for you if you want to see and give me an e-mail address to send them to. Just let me know.

Tom

[«°Ñøvã°»]

Those C&F boxes hold 26's fine but with my fat fingers i keep a lil pair of tweezers inside the box to fish em out. I havent tried anything smaller in there yet but im sure it will hold it.

[Tom]

I am probably thinking of somethign that won't work for ya, sorry. :)

[Mason]

I use the TachIt magnetic boxes. They will hold hundreds of flies. Are real compact, and allow you to dry your flies on the hood of your car driving back to camp without them flying away. Pretty cool boxes. Love the C&F ones but cannot afford them.

[Grizz]

I prefer the old Altoid tins (limited edition "Vargas" girl ones), but that can get kinda minty, or on occasion, i just whip a bunch up, stick 'em between my cheek & gum & head off to the river & enjoy that true midge flavor. The 5th pocket on youre Levis will work too (make sure to de-barb ). Tupperware is a viable option, but you have to tie sooooooooooo many to fill 'em up, but hey, they stay fresh fer sure. The freebee boxes (poly, 6 compartment, fly shop logo) from your local tackle shop work, they're free man & a good conversation starter; "excuse me fine lad, I couldn't help but notice that your fly box is from the wrinkled feather fly shop in Lunkerville New Jersey", "ferget about it". Often times I'll throw a few in my Plano 3 tier fold out tackle box, but it gets messy picking them out of the marshmallows & Smelly Jelly riddled gitzits. I really prefer the ones that have been stuck in your hat for a number of years & I think the fish like those best too, ya don't get a whole lot of fishing done cause it takes an hour to get it out & re-straighten the hook. Empty 35mm film canisters are great if you want to make midge goolosh, & they make great midge graveyards. A box of 20's, a vise, some peacock & red thread & you can just pony up bankside & tie "on demand" as your freinds snap off fish after fish cause their knots bite & they like to give the trout just a 'lil too much wood. The CF line up is sure pretty, but way to glitzy for my weathered creel, plus how many compartments do you really need? I save all my used pixie-stix tubes & will often times load 'em up with a grundle of wd's or zebra's or yongs (Andy, yong" Kim.........whatever) Confusus say "Yong special is the pathway to micro tossin'" ..........KNOT! But, in all honesty, any tackle/bait dealer will probably have more than enough options to satisfy even the most discriminating angler.

peace

[Mike A]

Hey Curtis,

Have you checked out the Cliff Outdoors boxes like the Days Worth?

http://www.cliffoutdoors.com/days_worth.html

I have one and it's very nice. Nicely built, simple, and a strong magnet on the bottom. They have larger boxes like the Big Cliff as well. Granted, I don't fish flies nearly as small as you do, only down to size 20, but it may be a good option for you.

[Stoney Clarke]

I'll second the Cliff Box's. What i've done is store my flies in a few C&F boxes I've aquired. Then I'll transfer a days worth of flies to my Cliff Day's Worth Fly box. Cuts down on lugging around a lot of boxes of flies when I really only need a few patterns.

SC