How many fly swaps do you get into each year? How many do you think is to many to get into?
I get into a large number of swaps each year and I enjoy them a lot. I am just wandering how many others get into and there opinions on entering multi swaps. Everyones opinions are welcome and wanted. John
I get into 3-4 swaps a year on other boards as it is hard to get into ones here on this board if you dont constantly check on them hourly. 
They tend to fill up fast.
I was in one on another board and that one took about six months to get the swap flies due to people being late, dropping out without ever telling the swapmeister, never rplying to numerous PM’s asking them if they are still in and the swapmeister not having a handle on his duties. That sure does discourage me from getting into swaps.
Norm, try to get into some of the swaps here they are run great, the Swapmeisters, stay ontop of things and most swaps finsih in less than 2 months. If You want to get into a swap sometime and it is filled. If I am in it let me know and I will let you take my place. You will not find better swaps and where that can outdo the swaps on FAOL. You could also start a swap yourself it is a lot of fun hosting a swap. Many here would help you. Thanks for your reply. John
i try to limit myself to only “owing” flies to two or three swaps, and i like to have them mailed about 2 weeks early. but once i get a set or two mailed i join more swaps.
I dont limit myself to a set number, just what i think i can keep up with. I will have to check my spreadsheet when i get home but i think currently i am in 7 or 8, but i only have 3 that i need to tie for, the rest have been sent and the earliest due date i have to meet is mid-February.
This is my big swap time, as it gets closer to spring i will slow down a lot and by the end of summer i usually quit altogether.
I think i have tied between 300-350 swap flies in the last year (again needto check speadsheet for accurate number) which equates out to roughly 30 swaps
Joe I do mine about the same as you. I usualy get my flies tied up within a week after I join a swap. Swaps are so fun, I learn a lot from the other swappers. I do enter a lot of swaps. I am currently in 15, which also include 2 that I am conducting. 1 of mine is a swap box though. I hope you all have as much fun as I do with swaps. John
I have been in about a dozen swaps since joining this site. Unfortunately have had to drop out of two; one due to family illness and one due to me overestimating how much free time I really have since having my baby. 
They are a great way to develop your tying skills and see what other people come up with. I have a pile of flies sitting here from swaps… can’t make myself fish with any of them so if they look good I’ll tie up a few copies and give them a whirl.
I’ve been in 2 swap boxes too and those are great! The last one disappeared halfway through though and I never had the chance to see it. The recipient never answered any emails and managed to make off with a lot of really nice tying materials… not cool but I guess there’s people like that everywhere. {{{{{SHRUG}}}}}
this week marks my third year flyfishing and almost three years tying. Myfirst swap was on FAOL and I was reluctant because I barely knew what I was doing. However, the flies turned out just fine and I was proud to see the pictures with all the other flies in the swap. I keep going thru my fly tying goodies and finding boxes of flies from various swaps I have been in. One of these days I will get them organized. I suppose I have been in eight swaps this last year.
SheTies, You have been in a swap or two with me. I would welcome you to any swap.
I have been in 3 swap boxes myself, the first one the box never got to me from the person who was in line just before me. The host of the box and myself tried many time to contact that person but he never answered our communications. This does happen once in a great while. Do not let that discourage you from joining in. I an now conduting my second swap box and so far they have both gone great. Thanks for your reply. Family does come before swaps rightfully so. John
I do 3-4 per year. I dont want to get bogged down in having to keep up with swaps. I normally do 2 or so here, and 1 or 2 on rec.outdoors.fly.fishing.
I know a lot of people do more. I think you are doing too many when you can’t keep up with getting the flies in on time 
Now my problem is what to do with all the flies . . LOL . . I put alot of them in my boxex and fish 'em. Some patterns that are not used locally sit around on my fly tying desk. I am saving some of the unusual ones for a shadow box that I would like to build. I have a few flies from Australia and Europe that I would like to mount and display somehow.
wayne
I have the same problem with the a lot of flies I received from swaps, I try to put them all in boxes but some I do share with new tyers and new fly fishers. John
I host swaps here on FAOL and tie for most of them. On top of that, I join other swaps once in a while. Most people who see my flies will understand that I’m not much of a tyer, but the scary part is that I’m getting better. I like coming up with unusual themes that will help people explore new flies, techniques, or materials. That is mostly so I can push my own boundaries, though. Swaps are a great way to get to be a better tyer.
I usually have 1 or 2 swaps going at any given time. Right now though, I’m working a 26 person swap, and I’m not going to start another until it gets done. It will be a pretty big undertaking. That one hasn’t filled up quickly, though.
(Shameless plug: There are still 4 spots left on the A to Z swap…So if you are looking for an excuse to tie 26 flies for a swap and have been waiting for the opportunity, here it is)
This is my first year at swaps and I am or have been in 10. I throughly love them and think that they have improved my tieing abilities 10 fold. I would be signing up for others now that I like but am currently resigned to bed with pnemonia. I have been a swapmaster of 1 and am excited to see how that comes out. I store all my flies from the swaps in .50 soap boxes I got from wally world. When I go to fishins I will be taking them with me to display on a board I am building just for that purpose. If I am in a swap and someone new wanted to join and there was no room I would give my spot to them just so they could experience the joy of swaps.
John I think most swap masters and participants should be saying a big thank you to you for all the pics you have taken and all the help you have given in this area. I know without it I would have fallen on my face many times So THANKS
I have been in three flies swaps and 1 of glass beads. I started to swap this last December and I would join more if I had the boxes to send the flies! 
I try to join swaps that consist of flies that I use and fish a lot. So far I did not get any flies back yet. But I hope to have them soon. Most of them are due in Feb.
so here I am looking forward to get those flies and learn something new and fish them.
I also like to tie them as soon as I join the swap. The very same night or the next day.
Martin
Malevo, one of the best, cheapest, and easiest swap boxes is a simple video cassette container. They stand up to almost anything the postal service can throw at them, and new ones are available for about 50 cents each.
I think I’ve got two down and 4 to go? I’ll have to check. I would sign up for one or two a month if they were available but I can’t promise to do that from June/July through September/October.
I love them because they get me back into fly tying and challenge me a bit. And, best of all, I get to realize how many excellent fly tyers there are here on FAOL! I love checking out their flies. And meeting new people here (although they all see pretty funny looking as far as I can tell <g>).
Thanks to every one for there comments so far. Beleive this is also helping me learn a few things. John
You’d better get your sick Harley Butt out of bed to sign for my second attempt of successfully shipping my lake flies to you! I thought you harley guys and gals were supposed to be tough! My friend and neighbor thinks she is but not really (and she is kind of a celebrity in your world (so she claims <BG>). She’s in the Sturgis Hall of Fame, BTW.
Good thing I didn’t add signature delivery this time Bob! Almost did. Wow.
How long have you had this pnemonia and been resigned to bed? Maybe the package I sent on 12/16 is sitting on your doorstep afterall?
Hope you get better soon Bob!
-paul
I’ve never been in one. Although last year (?) somebody with a different handle on a different board, but my real name, signed up for one and reneged. I’m not sure that the swap organizer really believes that it wasn’t me.
EdD, not Pezking Eddie
RG/AR, Thanks for the idea!! I will get some video containers for the next ones.
Martin
This is my hobby, it turns out. I thought it was fishing. Silly me. It seems I’m in about three or four swaps all the time, and I see postings for swaps i really want to join because they sound like so much fun. I have so many flies from old swaps laying around that I don’t know what to do with them all. My skills as a tyer have improved significantly and I’m tying flies I didn’t even realize existed. That Mardi Gras swap “cheap” Ed ran last year using the beads is an example. The Dremel swap. Diane’s rainbow swap was just something else. We did a Tom Nixon swap, and a Rick Z swap. Lots of fun ones, and I’m sure, more to come. That A to Z swap was something I fidgeted about for a long time, too long to get in with a Zoo Cougar. What a great idea, though. I’m about ready for the 12 step program. “Hello. My name is John and I’m a swap addict ?” JGW