What do you guys use to store your hooks? I have about 20 sizes/types I need to store. I would like to have individual containers instead of a combo unit. Thanks
For most freshwater stuff I use the 21 compartment hook boxes that go for about 7 bucks. It makes it a lot easier to find stuff than sorting through a zillion hook packages. If you go that route, just make sure the lid closes securely.
You could start with one and then add more sorting them by type of hook— one for dries, one for wet fly hooks, one for nymph hooks, one for streamer hooks etc.
I haven’t found a great solution for larger saltwater hooks yet, and just keep them in their original packaging and go through a bit of an egg hunt every time I need something.
mark
For individual storage of hooks I found that I have a lot of friends that take meds. Through their generous contributions of pill bottles I am able to store all that I want. Each bottle is labeled with Hook size, type and number.
i use one very similar to the following foto. mine has more individual containers and i got it a walmart. containers are clear plastic with screw on lids
obviously streamer hook are not going to fit in these round containers, so i just leave them in the original package they came in and store them in those rubbermaid plastic shoe boxes
I use the same box Normand uses. In the craft section at Wally World. I have one for hooks, one for beads and one for misc. little stuff. They are chear so you can see which container to pick up. Lids screw on and close tightly. Best I’ve seen.
I have WAY too many hooks.
I have two of those multi drawer chests, both have someplace around twenty drawers in them.
I label the drawers and put the hooks, in their original containers, in the drawers. I usually separate by hook style and size. Some of the drawers are lagers than others, so there is a place for large hooks and for smaller ones.
When I ran out of room, I put a couple of genres of hooks, long streamer hooks and jig hooks, into separate plastic shoe boxes.
I’m afraid to count them all.
Buddy
This is what I use. I label each cup with the hook info and brand. When I need a particular hook, I just spin it and remove the cup with the hook size I need. I also keep my dubbing in these cups labled with brand and other info. When tying a particular fly pattern, all I need is the cup with the hooks in it plus the cup with the dubbing in it out on my tying table. I find this system very good for me.
Norman and ronhenry, are those little containers durable?
i use zip lock bags, one bag inside another. the outer bag has full boxes of hooks, and the inner has boxes i have allready opened. each set of bags contains one style of hook, in what ever sizes i have. all of my matrials are stored in a similar manner. the bags go into ether a foot locker or a couple of sets of plastic drawers i got at walmart. used to use plastic storage bins, but find the drawers easier to find materials in.
Best 10 bucks I have ever spent at Wallies World. Each of the 30 top trays hold two packs of Mustad hooks.
Tim
Terry -
I keep most of my trout fly sized hooks in a small case called a Craft Mates Caddy - see: http://www.craftmates.com/canvas.html
It came with 6 - 14 compartment plastic boxes (I added a 7th one), plus several pockets.
I’ve labeled each plastic box “Dry Fly”, “Wet Fly”, “Nymph”, “Streamer” etc., and then labeled each separate compartment in the box with the specific hook size. Each compartment is large enough for at least 100 size #2 streamer hooks, and an even a larger qty of smaller sized hooks.
I can take my hooks with me when I travel, they are secure in their individaul compartments, and more importantly I can find the exact hook that I need in a matter of seconds.
Oh, and you can buy these at craft stores, like Michaels, where there are always at least 40% off coupons available, to make them very reasonable in cost.
John
I will second the Craftmates but use a little different product: I have 4 of the 14 compartment boxes: http://www.craftmates.com/locking.html
What I like about these is that each box has an individual compartment for each hook that locks individually as well. If you drop it, only one size goes all over the floor. Can you tell that I had a different hook box in the past and dumped it? What a gigantic mess and sorting hooks was an adventure, the likes of I don’t want to revisit.
The other pleasing thing to me about this method is that all of these boxes fit nicely my Fishpond Coyote bag so when it is time for a class I put them in and go. Some of the larger base station type of boxes are nice but if you go to shows or classes, I much prefer these.
Rick
I use an adjustable size compartment box (about $10 from Wallyworld) then use a standard business card and a thin refrigerator magnet to provide a place to write the hook style and size as well as something to hold the hooks. I sent this in as a tying tip but can’t find it in the archives. Here is the original post.
Tying Tip
I have stolen this idea from several others and feel the need to pass it on?
Using a standard business card and a thin refrigerator magnet, I have a way to move them easily from my hook box to the tying area. Further, this allows a place to write the hook information so I know what I am supposed to have on the card.
(1) and (2) below are the basic building blocks. I spray paint the reverse of the magnet white to let me see the hooks easier.
(3) is the painted and trimmed magnet. Note it is half the size of the business card.
Turn the business card over so the back is up and fold in half (4). Using a glue stick (5) glue the magnet to the card. (6) shows the completed assembly. While you can?t see it the hook information is written on the top half of the card. These fit very neatly in the Flambeau box I use for hook storage.
I use the $7 hook boxes sold in most fly shops. They have curved bottoms to more easily remove a hook. For smaller hooks, I place one of those magnetic squares (what use to come in the Tiemco hook packets) in the compartment to hold the hooks. I have about 5 of these boxes for Wet, Dry, Specialty Long Shank Hooks, Specialty Other and Steeelhead/SaltWater hooks. The salt water hooks I use are not super large (2/0 largest) so these boxes work well for me. However, I have not dropped one yet! I am careful when removing hooks.
Dr Bob
Rick -
The CraftMates Caddy that I have has those same plastic boxes in it that you use. The only difference is that the caddy is a cordura bag, with a handle and shoulder strap, whereas you already have that with your Fishpond bag.
John
Terry, yes, the boxes are durable. I’ve got to pick up one today for a material swap I’m participating in; will get you a link or more specific info posted tomorrow am. Ron
My solution for hooks I use was solved using Pill Bottles (not the locking type) but I also built plastic box-like structures into which I drilled a nest of holes for support. Each box has 4 rows of 8 holes. Now I can take any size bottle to the vise yet when I’m done all my hooks are stored in one place. I use a larger size compartmented pill box for my fewer salt water sizes.
as far as i know they are although i not in a habit of dropping them to find out 
heres the actual box. a little different than the earlier one i posted
I think my hook box is identical. I made up tags that I glued to the underside of the lid…that way I can see the hook SIZE & MODEL…without having to open the box up.
ronhenry,
do you think holes could be drilled in the round containers and then pack each one with dubbing??