Fly Boxes: Compartments or Slots

[Smallfry]

Organizing my fly boxes tonight and I'm a little overwhelmed, I don't know how I ended up with 9 different fly containers. I've already cut down to 5. The nymphs are what's getting me. I don't want to spend anymore time putting them in slots but that's all I know what to do with them! Does anyone have any suggestions or advice?? Please help!! 

- Drowninginnymphs

[FlyAndStream]

Pick 12-14 nymph patterns you feel confident in and put a dozen of each in one box. Otherwise I have a stonefly box, a down and dirty box, and a small streamer box. Been flirting with not even carrying a dry fly box anymore.

[Smallfry]

Sounds like a good starting point!!! I'm pretty excited about decluttering everything.

[mirvc17]

No dry flies ?!? Paul Maclean is rolling in his grave. How are you supposed to shadow cast those heavy nymphs? On a light weight mono Euro rig?? Oh the madness....

[FlyAndStream]

I know, I’m out of control, ha!

[mirvc17]

In all seriousness, here’s my set up. It’s probably overkill. I could realistically fish all day with only one of the boxes below, but usually pull patterns from 2 of the boxes and the working box.

Box 1: Midge and small baetis nymphs and emergers. I do carry a few small dries in here and a few extra egg patterns. A few Mysis shrimp as well.

Box 2: S. Platte box. Thin, magnetic compartment style (8 I think). Common food items. Has a range of flies from small baetis, to scuds, eggs, worms, and general purpose nymphs. Only a couple of dries in here.

Box 3: Euro box. Tacky Fly box. Usually stays in the back of my back unless I’m doing Euro style.

Box 4: Dries box. Large Umpqua dry fly box that won’t crush hackle/wings/posts. Usually stays in back of pack as well unless I need some dries not in my working box or Box 1.

Box 5: Working box. Small C&F Design Chest Patch Box. Contains commonly used flies (including some Euro style for weight) and 3 different streamers. Place to quickly swap flies, dry them out, etc.

Box 6: Streamer box. Usually stays at home or in the truck. Used to resupply working box (I haven’t lost a streamer in a long time)

[Smallfry]

mirvc17 liking #2 and I have the perfect box for it. I'm planning on lumping similar ties of the same size in each compartment. Only problem is that the 20's and smaller can get through the space between dividers and lid. I may have a solution for it though. I have a tacky day box but it might be another cull before this is all over.

[jonbo]

Wish I hadn't seen this thread. It made me go out to where I keep my vest hanging and count my fly boxes. I carry 12. 12! So, I wouldn't feel too bad, or pack-rattish, Smallfry. You know someone who's worse than you. None of my fly-boxes are very big. Some are slotted, some have compartments. I basically don't want to be out there wanting a certain fly and find I left it at home.

List: Slotted boxes:

2 -streamers (I need to get me 1 larger one);

1 -Caddis nymphs & emergers, stoneflies, hoppers, (maybe a mop-fly);

1-mayfly-type nymphs, mostly beaded;

1-emergers & wets;

1-midge-emergers & larvae, tiny RS2's & baetis things (little box);

Compartment-type:

1-size 22-26 midge ties for San Juan trip I never really used;

3, 3!-boxes (small ones) of dries, though I don't dry-fly fish much;

1-small box of worms;

1-small box of eggs.

Yep, that's 12. Holy crap!

[Smallfry]

Well y'all I had 3 streamer boxes, small med and large. I'm just gonna find a way to put them all together.

[turfdawg]

I’ve heard you use 20% of your flies 80% of the time but with all of what y’all seem to carry I don’t see how you would have time to fish 20% of them

[glitchmo]

Like just trout flies?

I only have two of those, but uh... roughly in order of fly size


Tarpon box (slots)
Saltwater streamer box (compartment)
Clouser box (slots)
Bass/bluegill box (compartment)
Bonefish box (slots)
Freshwater Streamer box (slots)
Trout Flies I tied box (slots)
Trout Flies I bought box (slots)

I carry the last three with me trout fishing.

Could be worse, apparently

[mirvc17]

I like the thin magnetic boxes but the problem like you said Smallfry is small flies can get dislodged and fall in the hinge or “move” compartments. ....if you overload each space with too many flies (I’m guilty).

Slot boxes like from C&F Design can wear out if you put flies with big hooks in them and then try to put small flies in their place. But overall I think they are great for organization.

Lot of different techniques and theories for organizing: by size/weigh, by type of bug, by hatch “progression”, by type (nymph vs dry etc), by confidence patterns, etc.

[Smallfry]

Alright y'all I got 3 boxes done!! A nymph box, nymph/dry box, dry box. All that's left to work on is my streamer box.

Btw, I love dries and no amount propaganda can change my mind!!

Not the biggest but certainly the funnest (he took a dryyy)!!

[troutbum54]

I caught this stud on a stimulator on the LIR back before they had all those problems and fish kills! I believe this was circa 2014