Although I have previously covered this "tip" in the
"Getting Organized" series, a rather remarkable circumstance
should remind us all of the need to be ever mindful of where
and how our hooks are stored.
On a recent panfish expedition which has become a regular
ritual with myself and a good friend whom we shall just call
Klaus, (his real name) the following scenario played itself
out. We have a regular haunt as I suppose most all of us do.
One day when things were a bit slow and the weather cooperative
we decided to explore a bit more upstream from a grade crossing.
We traversed perhaps two miles over dirt trails, and granite rocks.
Up and down, over and around a variety of obstacles we trod. After
having covered the afore mentioned distance, my companion, feeling
a discomfort in his hip boot foot, decided to investigate and remove
what he was certain was an offending pebble.
Well, let me tell you, we were both horrified to find stuck to his
sock a size 10 hook. It seems my friend had been tying too near
his tackle, and apparently spilled some hooks. One of these little
flesh ripping gremlins must have escaped capture and just snuggled
into the boot, waiting to impale the first toe it saw.
Fortunately, no harm was done and having cleared the irritant we
continued on our way.
These simple magnets can save you a tremendous amount of
aggravation at the bench. I doubt any of us who have tied
for a reasonable period of time have not winced at the task
of picking up spilled hooks from the floor, or other areas
around our bench. The inclusion of a simple "craft" magnet
in your storage containers will save you many a painful and
unnecessary piercing. These magnets are sold in craft stores
and through mail order catalogues. They are cheap insurance.
As you will see by the hooks in my hand, these things really
do "control" hooks. Placed in your rounded bottom, multi
compartmented hook box, they keep size 16, 3906B's from mixing
with size 24, 94840's.
One of the most dangerous things we do as fly tiers is to open
the neat little boxes in which the manufacturers frequently
package them. They are great for storage, especially for
traveling, but open it without due attention and you have
a mess of sharp pointed things, just waiting for you to
sacrifice your flesh. Throw one of these "craft" magnets
into that box and they may fall out in a bunch, but they
will be easy, and safe to pick up.
Play it safe, get some magnets in your boxes, (plastic
envelopes can also benefit as well) and keep your hooks
out of your waders, You will be glad you did !!!
If you have any tips or techniques, send them along,
most of this material has been stolen from somebody,
might as well steal your ideas too!
~ George E. Emanuel
(Chat Room Host Muddler)
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