Alright, here is my problem… I have two C&F design fly boxes (one with the middle flap that holds something like 500+ flies). The other C&F box just has the micro slots on both sides (without the middle insert).
I also have to Wheatly fly boxes. One with 16 compartments and the rows of clips. The other is just flat foam on one side and rippled foam on teh other.
I am trying to figure out the best way to carry dry flies. Of the boxes listed, which would you use and why. Originally I had the dries in the second C&F box but I was concerned that Iwould crush the wings, etc. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
I prefer compartments for dry flies; the choice of box & brand is up to you.
I prefer foam pads for nymphs, the choice of box & brand is up to you.
I don’t like clips, I don’t like Nubby-Tack or reasonable facsimiles, I don’t like fleece or felt, I don’t like magnets although they aren’t the worse choice.
I never tried the C & F slitted inserts; I guess because I wear a Richardson Box; but if I did I would only use them for nymphs or streamers.
I just feel there are too many things to “smoush” on a dry fly with my fat fingers when trying to stick it in regular or slitted foam.
I use the C&F boxes without the insert for my dries. (one box for caddis, one for mayflies, one for terrestrials and attractors, and one miscellaneous box mostly filled with emergers. The insert adds a lot of space, but it can crush delicate wings or hackle. I like everything about the C&F boxes besides the price. Even though they work really well, $30+ for a couple ounces of foam and plastic is pretty harsh.
I like compartment boxes for dries also. I’d use the Wheatley with compartments & clips. I keep my dries in a Wheatley box and use the clips for nymphs. Whatever dries don’t fit in the Wheatley I put in smaller boxes such as a Myran plastic compartment box and the small Cabela’s Wheatley knockoff - both great boxes.
I like the (C&F) ‘Micro-slits.’ I love the nostalgia of the little flip-up tabs on my Wheatley’s but I lose flies and can’t see at a glance what I have. Backing the fly into the ‘slit’ is perfact for me instead of poking the barb in. I also use them for flies that are not dry, bonefish etc.
(I confess to owning several styles of boxes, including a few Dewitt!)
I have a Wheatly with the swing leaf all ripple foam.
That’s 4 ripple foam pages it holds over 1000 flies if you use tweasers. The only problems I have is with size 12 or larger hackled flies you then need a Dewitt style box that will handle the large flies so not to crush the hackle or wings.
Another Wheatly swing leaf with all flat foam will handle just as many nymphs,wets,streamers.
I love my wheatley (with the compartments) my wife got it for two years ago for CHristmas and while it is not the most convenient box I own (C&F beats it hands down on that scale) it is still my favorite box for personal reasons. The only thing I don’t like about it, really, is that when you open the compartments the smaller dries tend to catapault out of the box (like static cling). But, I guess that is a small price to pay.
LOL. There’s actually a “technique” to opening the compartments. When you release the clip, allow the lid to hit one of your fingers so you can let it open slowly.
There is no good way to carry dry flies! If you slip them into a foam box you will crush the wings, tails and/or hackle. If you put them in a compartment box they will tangle themselves into a horrible mess. I have been simply amazed at the ingenuity of a compartment of flies to tangle themselves into an unravelable snarl. How did that BWO get its hook point through the eye of that royal coachmen then impale itself past it’s barb in the body of that march brown? As you can see, I am a compartment man. Even though there are drawbacks, I just can’t bring myself to crush my dry flies after spending so much money and time acquiring hooks and materials then attaching the expensive materials to the expensive hooks. Crushed or tangled, you just gotta choose your poison.
Well, there are no hackles to crush if you don’t tie hackled flies. I have switched almost exclusively to comparaduns/emergers, cdc duns/emergers and parachutes. The C&D slit foam is perfect because there are hackles to destroy! Makes like easier!
I’ve been fairly impressed with the Okuma compartment boxes and they are reasonably priced; however, I’ve yet to get a full season with them so it’s a bit early to test durability on the water. So far, I’ve no issues with them.
