When you are shipping flies to someone, whether it is
for a fly swap or as a gift, it is important to protect
the flies while in shipment. You can put them in a tin,
with the fly hooks embedded into a foam bottom, but the
flies can become loose inside the tin. Maybe you have a
fly that is bulky, with long wings or a tail you want to
protect further. I saw an example of a shipping tube
for flies in a recent fly swap, the tube protects the fly
from damage, and the tube is easy to construct and can be
reused. The best thing is, the tubes are free or minimum
cost.
1. Using a drinking straw, with a diameter that is
wide enough for holding the fly, melt the end of the
tube over an open flame.
2. Crimp the melted end of the drinking tube with pliers.
3. Size the length of the tube for the fly to be
inserted inside, and cut the tube.
4. Cut a slit in the bottom of the tube, so the fly
hook will travel forward to the end of the slit.
5. Using a short section of tape (with a folded tag),
secure behind the hook barb, to hold the fly inside
the shipping tube.
Now you have a shipping tube, to insure the fly arrives in
mint condition, to the person you are sending it to. You
can also use the tube for storage of flies, which you use
in fishing, to minimize the space needed for storage.
With a Permanent Marker, you can print what fly is
being stored in the fly tube. ~ Parnelli
Please check out the Fly Tying Section, on the Bulletin Board, here at FAOL too.
If you have any questions, tips, or techniques; send them to
publisher@flyanglersonline.com
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