I don’t remember who posted this a while back, but it got me thinking. I went to Wally World (Walmart) today and thought that I would take a look. Over in like the tooth paste isle (where you can get stuff for travel, like the plastic tooth brush holders, bar soap holders, squirt bottles, etc) and there they were. Small compartment fly boxes (pills) just like the ones I paid $5.95 for at a fly store. The only difference is that they have 5 small compartments on one side and one big one on the other (great for streamers) and it doesn’t have the little loop at the top to connect it to a landyard. They are 4" long X 2 1/2" wide x 1" thick and they cost $0.97! Wow! I bought six, and can deffinitly carry at least 4 in my WJ Chest pack. They come in Green, Green with glitter, Blue, Blue with glitter and Hot Pink. Right On!
I’m jealous. Since getting one of those from Jim Hatch, I’ve been in 3 Walmarts and have yet to find any more of them. I was hoping to include some in a material swap I’m in but I can see this is going to be a drawn out quest over here in central New York. Great boxes for flies and for beads and eyes.
I’ve been advertising the boxes for
Wally World for at least 5 years now. Still
only $.97. If your store does not have them
in stock, the odds are that your store is
frequented by fly fishers who read FAOL.G
There are a lot of “lurkers” out there that
do not post, but read the site daily.G
Warm regards, Jim
In the hardware deptarment there are some plano boxes, really small to really large. They seal better on the top and bottem so your flies stay put, and get this there half the price, the large ones where 3.69 in hardware over 12 bucks in the fishing section.
I went to the local Wal-Mart today. They actually had a few of the boxes (I have been looking at many Wal-Marts with no luck). The best thing is that they were only 50 cents each! What a deal!
I am glad you said that, cause I thought the sign said .50, but, when I got to the check out and she rang .97 I thought that maybe they were in the wrong spot. I will go back and get more but, .97 isn’t a bad thing.
For those of you who have these boxes, do you think a person should drill some very small holes in them to permit some air movement so the flies do not rust if moisture should get into the box or maybe some sort of material to line them with to wick any moisture away? I do not put wet flies in my fly boxes. I am talking about moisture from rain, accidental dunking, perspiration, condensation, etc.
The similar boxes I have bought at the fly stores don’t have any holes, but they might seal a little better than Wally Worlds. Sounds like a good idea (unless a hook point finds its way through one) It will have to be a very tiny hole for my 32’s, maybe a piece of close cell foam, got tons of that at Walmart also. The same stuff for club sandwiches, beetles, ect.
If you are lucky you will find some of the clear ones…I have a few of those from Wal*Mart too. I haven’t seen many of them lately, but lots of green, blue and green glitter.
I use the Wally World Fly Box for my smaller flies. I use the small compartments for the flies, and the large compartment for my desiccant (new cat litter granules)for drying the flies (so they don’t rust after using).
I like the different colors, use specific color box for category of fly (dry, wet, nymph, emerger).
If you are lucky enough to find a store called “The Container Store” you folks will go nuts, like I did. My wife introduced me to this store located here in the Northwest. I assume it is a chain. It has all kinds of containers and plastic boxes. I bought several sizes of bug boxes which are clear platic boxes of various sizes with a magnifier in the lid. If you catch a caddis or mayfly you can put it in the box to see the details. They also have many different size and colors of boxes that work for storing your fly collection.
They are not cheap…Walgreens Sunday thru Saturday pill boxes about $3.00. But they have a snap top lid and you can’t open one unles you press the tab on the end. I have been thinking about trying one of those for carrying small flies in my vest. Big enough to put quite a few in one compartment and 7 different compartments.
I like the Plano type boxes as well, the little tabs snap up and down and really seal the box tight. I usually by the 9 inch by 4 1/2 inch and the 7 inch by 3 1/2, hold a heck of a lot of flies, , add the fact that you can change compartment size, they are a great buy. Also your flies don’t get mangled in these type of boxes.
97 cents is a great buy to though.
Picked up five boxes at Wally World yesterday for $.97 each. They have three small snap lid compartments on the right hand side bottom row, two slightly bigger compartments above those and the left hand side is one large compartment nicely sized for your streamers. Hot pink and green ones were available. Snatched up all five there. Already have one half filled with new ties. Planning on donating them to a silent auction at my next association meeting. Donated a dozen last year for a door prize which was well received.
As to the rusting hooks from wet flies
going back into the boxes, am I the only one
using a fly patch for drying my flies?
I’d never store any of my flies wet. Just
asking for trouble.G Warm regards, Jim
, add the fact that you can change compartment size, they are a great buy. Also your flies don’t get mangled in these type of boxes.