The thread on how many you own started me thinking. For those of you that carry 1,000 or more flies with you on the stream, what are you carrying them in? (On a hunting expedition, you can have a gun bearer - seems like you’d need a fly bearer to carry several thousand… )
I understand hundreds of small nymphs and midges don’t take up much space (and pack easily in several different manufacturers’ small fly boxes), but what are you using to carry dries (so the hackle isn’t destroyed)and larger streamers?
I actually have a case that holds more then that in flies that I take with me to have at all times. I do leave it in camp after I have chosen what I want to use for the day. Most of my fly fishing is still water so if they are not hitting what I take out it is easy to go back and gather a few more. Just the dumb way I fish I guess but it works for me
It does not take that much space to carry 1 thousand flies at all. The small C&F fly boxes with the swing leaf in them hold 576 flies in one small box. Two boxes and you have a thousand covered. I have four of them. Plus I have an 18 compartment Dewitt that is full of caddis and I have a large box full of hoppers. And another full of different Beatis patterns. We fish to a lot of beatis hatches out here. And I have other boxes full of different types of flies. I may not have them on me but I usually have them with me in a kit bag in the boat or truck.
I guided for many year and I learned it pays to have back ups and enough flies to cover just about anything that comes up.
You can get a lot of flies just by covering one hatch like the Beatis. They can come off in sizes from 16 to 26’s. So if you have say two or three dry fly pattterns and say two Emerger patterns two nymph patterns and a spinner pattern and you cover all the sizes that may come off in your locl stream? Get the idea. It doesn’t take a lot to get a good collection of flies going. And that is just one fly of many in a given stream.
You can laugh at people that carry a lot of flies but I bet in the end they will be the ones laughing when they have the right pattern to cover what is going on and you are wondering what to do or were you can get the flies that guy is using. I know my clients sure liked it because I had what was needed and when it was needed. Ron
I have and carry 1500+ flies because I tied 95% of them. Spent last 2 years going through chemotherapy treatments and got to tie a lot more than go fishing. I took a couple months off from tying but am starting to get the feeling to start back up. I find it easy to give them away when I get out because I have so many.
Norman You have to be kidding–you may have that many flies and you may have a large case to carry them in but on the stream ??? Hasn’t everyone heard of the “ONE FLY” fishing event???. I have never needed over two small boxes.
"Hasn’t everyone heard of the “ONE FLY” fishing event???. "
Yep I have and I know for a fact that a lot of them in it never took a fish. LOL
If you have two of the C&F boxes with the swing leaf and they are full you will have over 1,000 flies on you in but two small boxes. They measure 5" x3 3/4" x 1 1/4". Not very big at all . LOL Ron
I would carry bunches of flies in several boxes, but I’m too lazy to tie that many. I’m also too eager to get on the water after I get only 1 - 3 flies tied up. When those are gone, I either go back to the vise or change to another pattern.
I like the look of a box full of the same pattern in varying sizes, it leads one to believe there’s a long day of fishing ahead.
My dad had the right idea----check the water for the insect that the trout are feeding on and if he didn’t have one close in his one box he would tie one on the spot.
Maybe they carry a 1000 trout flies, not 1000 bass flies (too heavy & bulky )& never 1000 saltwater flies unless you’ve got a 21’ flats boat & not many fly fishing friends 8)
This is the very reason you’ll never see a pic of my boxes…lol…they are so jammed full…It would be impossible for the average fisherman to discern what is what and where it is within the box…lol…but I know them well enough that I can readily find what I want when it is needed…1000…that might cover a single smaller size box…as most are modified so every speck of useable space can be occupied by a fly…
If you do NOT have IT …You are not going to catch…
I just started fly fishing a few months back, recently started tying…
I tie three or four in an evening and lose 2-3 the next day! I only have like 10-12 to my name at any one time (including purchased flies I routinely lose :oops: ).
I have a llama with panniers so I can carry lunch, all of my flies, full tying setup with folding table and a tiny Honda generator to power the lighting in case its late in the day or wee early hours.
The llama is a bit more foul tempered than a burro but can carry more gear so I feel the tradeoff is worthwhile.
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