Budget fly boxes?

[new2thefly]

@texfly

One thing I saw was a guy who put foam inside old Altoid boxes. Sounds kind of silly but was a cool idea. Light alloy box , just the right size. Made me wish I would have thought of it.

I have been using mint tins for years. Spread the word to your friends to save them for you, cost $0.00. I like using ripple foam and found a “boat” sized pad (about 12" X 18") for about $3.00 at a show. Cut up this made almost 50 boxes and for those tins you want to use for smaller flys or those without hackle you can get some flat foam cheaply and cut into strips for the lid to almost double the capacity.

They don?t float very well and won?t hold larger flys but for the size 10 and below they work very well. As I find bargains I replace them with better boxes and use the tins as ?transportation? boxes during the season, when I keep my vest in the car, to move the freshly tied flys out.

I don?t like those open box type because I have ?fat fingers? and have lost too many flys trying to pick out one and having them all come out and fall in the water.

[Ken_Y]

I’ve found that altoid boxes rust, and will also rust your flies if you keep them moist for too long. I think the anti-rust strips sold these days will solve that problem.

I use small plastic boxes with strips of cut up mouse pads on them.

[alra195]

The last several years I’ve been favoring some very inexpensive multi-compartment boxes made by Plano. They come in two sizes and are called Double Sided Stowaways. The bigger box has 18 compartments and is shown below…

One side has 12 compartments and holds a bunch of dries, emergers or nymphs.

The other side is perfect for streamers or large flies. Over all size is 8"x4"x2" and they sell for less than $4.00.

The smaller size, also a Double Sided Stowaway by Plano, has a total of 20 compartments, 10 per side. Holds a ton of flies (more than I’ve ever been able to use in several days of fishing)!

Over all size is 6 3/8"x 3 5/8"x2". I’ve like using them. A couple of positive are they do float, at least for a while, and have more capacity than I typically need for a few days of fishing. The lids do have a very positive and firm latch that keeps things in the box and the individual compartments. They are cheap, that appeals to the frugal side of me.

Some down sides would be they aren’t water proof. They will keep flies dry under normal conditions (rain, even heavy rain, and general dampness) but I don’t think they’d survive a long term or serious dunking and still keep everything dry dry. When you open the lid you don’t want to drop the box. For obvious reasons all the open compartments would lead to a bunch of spilled flies (not a good thing). So far I’ve been careful and no on stream disasters have occurred!

For the time being they are my go to boxes.

[DG1]

I use the clear plastic 4 and 6-compartment plano boxes, $1.23 at wal-mart.

[wet_fly_guy]

I to use soap box’s .
they work great,I have one set up for nymphs for smallies

[system]

@alra195

The last several years I’ve been favoring some very inexpensive multi-compartment boxes made by Plano. They come in two sizes and are called Double Sided Stowaways. The bigger box has 18 compartments and is shown below…

One side has 12 compartments and holds a bunch of dries, emergers or nymphs.

The other side is perfect for streamers or large flies. Over all size is 8"x4"x2" and they sell for less than $4.00.

The smaller size, also a Double Sided Stowaway by Plano, has a total of 20 compartments, 10 per side. Holds a ton of flies (more than I’ve ever been able to use in several days of fishing)!

Over all size is 6 3/8"x 3 5/8"x2". I’ve like using them. A couple of positive are they do float, at least for a while, and have more capacity than I typically need for a few days of fishing. The lids do have a very positive and firm latch that keeps things in the box and the individual compartments. They are cheap, that appeals to the frugal side of me.

Some down sides would be they aren’t water proof. They will keep flies dry under normal conditions (rain, even heavy rain, and general dampness) but I don’t think they’d survive a long term or serious dunking and still keep everything dry dry. When you open the lid you don’t want to drop the box. For obvious reasons all the open compartments would lead to a bunch of spilled flies (not a good thing). So far I’ve been careful and no on stream disasters have occurred!

For the time being they are my go to boxes.

Really cool boxes. You can get bulk sheet magnetic material like the stuff used to make refrigerator magnets and put pieces in the bottom of the compartments. Here is an online source:

http://www.custom-magnets.com/blank_magnets.htm

You may want to check eBay as well.

[system]

My use of fly boxes has recently been enhanced thanks to the Ohiotuber “Vise Thief”:

E.Hille’s Downstream Chest Box

I also have some of these clear top from Plano and Wal-Mart:

[u]http://www.planomolding.com/images/0358400a.jpg[/u]

and I really like this one I got at Bass Pro:

[u]http://www.planomolding.com/images/0107000a.jpg[/u]

[alra195]

Eric,

Thanks for the “tip” on using the bulk magnetic sheeting. That would be a really good thing to solve the possible spillage issue. I’m adding it to my list even as I type!

[cpholley]

I asked a similar question and found EXACTLY what I was looking for , thanks to the good folks at FAOL!

http://flyanglersonline.com/bb/showthread.php?t=27656

[gadabout]

@bobbyg

Myran boxes are inexpensive and work well for fly storage.

Google them and shop where you prefer.

Bob :lol:

+1

These are excellent boxes and seem to be under the radar of most fishermen. I don’t think of them as “budget boxes”. Rather they are well-made boxes that don’t happen to be outrageously overpriced.

[FishnDave]

@alra195

The last several years I’ve been favoring some very inexpensive multi-compartment boxes made by Plano. They come in two sizes and are called Double Sided Stowaways. The bigger box has 18 compartments and is shown below…

One side has 12 compartments and holds a bunch of dries, emergers or nymphs.

The other side is perfect for streamers or large flies. Over all size is 8"x4"x2" and they sell for less than $4.00.

The smaller size, also a Double Sided Stowaway by Plano, has a total of 20 compartments, 10 per side. Holds a ton of flies (more than I’ve ever been able to use in several days of fishing)!

Over all size is 6 3/8"x 3 5/8"x2". I’ve like using them. A couple of positive are they do float, at least for a while, and have more capacity than I typically need for a few days of fishing. The lids do have a very positive and firm latch that keeps things in the box and the individual compartments. They are cheap, that appeals to the frugal side of me.

Some down sides would be they aren’t water proof. They will keep flies dry under normal conditions (rain, even heavy rain, and general dampness) but I don’t think they’d survive a long term or serious dunking and still keep everything dry dry. When you open the lid you don’t want to drop the box. For obvious reasons all the open compartments would lead to a bunch of spilled flies (not a good thing). So far I’ve been careful and no on stream disasters have occurred!

For the time being they are my go to boxes.

Yes, these are exactly the same ones I use, too! I’ve gotten some of them for less than $3 at Wally World, or around $5 each from Sportman’s Warehouse.
Like you said, you can fit a lot of different flies in these…small stuff on one side, bigger flies on the other. I lost 2 of these last year that were jammed full of flies. I figure I lost at least $400 worth of flies (some bought, many I tied). Now I put my address label and phone number on the inside of each lid, in case I lose them again. I also try to keep back-ups of most types of flies at home in separate boxes.

[SweetStreamS]

Here are a few ways I’ve altered Altoid tins to make fly boxes.

[texfly]

I keep a couple of the Plano boxes at home for fly storage. Those things lock tight as a safe , are cheap and I dont think you could break it with a hammer. No there not a slick handmade cherry work of art but they work well.