I have quite a few flies that have been smooshed a bit here and crunched a bit there. They just don’t have that freshly tied or bought look to them any more. How important is it to protect hackles and the overall appearance of a fly for it to be effective in the fish catching department? Is there a way to get flies back into shape once they’ve either caught enough fish, or have been in the same spot in the same fly box for far too long? How careful are you with how your flies are stored and transported?
I use boxes with separate compartments with enough room to not squash the hackle.
I don’t know how to bring back a fly that’s caught some fish. I’d be interested in reading if it’s possible too.
I suspect that fly condition is important because if the fly is tired and crumpled, you tend to never use it again. I have had the best luck steaming the flies. Hold them in a pair of forceps and hold them over the tea kettle. It really works quite well.
David
For flies that have been beaten up a bit from tight storage in my boxes I have used steam to revive them. I have an old Norelco travel steamer that I use. I have not tried the steam treatment on well taken flies.
just steam em’
You can put a bunch in a metal strainer and hold them over a kettle rather than doing them one at a time.
I have always felt that well used and abused flies work as good if not better than the new ones. especially ones that have already been taken. Perhaps the fish slime is a factor , I really don’t know . Because of this belief I always pick a smooshed beaten up one over a new one. I will stroke it a bit to freshen it up but thats all. Seems to work for me.
Danbob gave me one of his new flyboxes, it keeps the small midges tightly in the box without smooshing them. Plus the magnet keeps them equi-distant apart.
Hi,
I know some nymph patterns (hare & copper, GRHE) seem to work better the more beat up they get! And, I’ve had fish take a soft hackle spider that was nothing more than the hackle remaining as the floss body had come away (all that was left was a small tuft of floss sticking out from where the hackle was tied in). Once in the water, bent hackles for wet flies, and such, seem to fix themselves more or less. Dry fly, however, isn’t much good as a dry fly if the hackles are destroyed to the point it won’t float any more.
- Jeff
Steaming will do amazing things to revive tired old bea up flies. I save the used ones in a film canister until I get a dozen or so, then a good wash in lukewarm water and air dry overnight on a piece of paper towel. Grasp the dry fly in a forceps and run it through the steam from a tea kettle, you will be amazed to see the hackles and tails bounce back into position, it’s like magic!
Most flies and lures are made to “catch the angler” more than they are made to catch fish anyway.
don’t do anything with them other than fish them…I’ve founs that once my flies have been shredded to bits, they seem to catch more fish…as long as they still look “buggy”
I agree with the don’t do anything crowd. Fish them until you loose them, the hook rusts, or you have nothing left but the bare hook (then try and catch a fish on that). If you want a fresh looking fly, just tie a new one. I’d rather tie up a new bunch than spend time picking out and steaming flies. Its more fun to tie than it is to boil water.
Thanks for the responses. I appreciate the insight.