Now that Panman has sent me all these wonderful flies my fly boxes are starting to get full so what does everyone recommend to use to keep their flies organized. Just thought I’d ask.
Wait!! I know Fly Paper!
Sorry I knew someone would say it so I thought I would beat everyone to the draw
“ORGANIZE a fly box”?? You mean, some people, DO THAT? Really? Nawwwww, come on, you’re josh’in! Right?
Why in the world would you want to do that?
Oxymoron…
JL - Glad the flies arrived safely. Here is how I start in the spring. By mid summer all is lost.
Tim
I store mine in Medium sized plano boxes labeled dries, nymphs, streamers. Then they just go into a cabinet until I need them.Each compartment in the plano box has about 3-6 of each pattern in it.
I keep the storage boxes organized and my fly boxes. I re-organize them when they get messy. I keep up on it and it is easy to maintain a clean box.
Chris,
That’s way to anal for me (if it actually works as a storage system, it’s too anal for me, I’m a free spirit-read lazy).
I use those handy storage systems designed by the folks at Glad. You can buy different sizes, put a lot of flies in them, then put the smaller ones inside the bigger ones if you need to be ‘organized’ (I usually just pitch them in/on an old cardboard box, that way I can’t find what I need and have to tie more so I can actually fish with them…). They come with ‘zip lock’ tops, and if you remember to use them the flies won’t even fall out…learned that lesson the hard way…pointy little things, them flies…got to remember to close the baggies or get thicker socks…
Buddy
WHAT? http://www.terracelibrary.ca/kid_files/webpages/heiya%20-%20goofy’s%20rights/goofy%208%20belt.gif
Doug 
Organize? Thats just crazy talk!
Heck, half the fun of the fishing trip is digging through all of the boxes to find the fly that you know you tied a half dozen of just for this trip, and then on the way getting side tracked into using 3-4 different patterns to varying degrees of success along the way.
At least I heard that that was an enjoyable part. Uh, I never would do that. I’d search until I found the fly I was looking for. Yeah, that’s it! 
I make really primitave boxes have an obvious how to on the blog I ocassionaly write…you can use anything you have case wise:
http://riffleskiffles.blogspot.com/2007/05/what-to-do-with-shrek-in-four-easy.html
usually I just stuff them in and then pick what I need when I go out…try to pack light.
Janus
I have my flies stored in about 25 Plano 3700 boxes. I can use the adjustable dividers to configure each box as needed, whether I need a compartment for size 22 midges or 10/0 billfish flies.
Justice:
I have fly boxes for fishin’ in which I only carry a few of each fly. They start out organized but end up like “a dog’s breakfast” by the end of a season; although I do TRY and keep things in their place.
I keep the “extras” in the car in a large duffel in those wonderful indestructible Dewitt clear boxes which hold a lot but can be found in nice small sizes with lots of compartments. I have about 10 of the 3/4" thick 18 compartment boxes full of flies organized by type.
The Dewitt boxes may be more $$$ than some other options out there but they last forever and they are TOUGH and small.
That’a all perty silly…most sporting goods stores sell "fly boxes " I have about 6 or 8 of various kinds. I just tie lots of pretty flies till they’re all filled up each winter. Then, if there’s still more flies, I eat lots of Altoids and stuff the empty cans full. Then I pretty much take ‘em all with me fishin’, leave about 90% of ‘em in the truck, and stuff the pockets of my vest with the rest. There! I’m all set. I usually get home later needin to tie a few more patterns I wish I had. This way next time I have plenty…
…ModocDan
By the way, whenever I am fishin’, I leave a few flies hangin’ up high in some trees and bushes, so everbody will know all the good spots. 
Go to Michael’s or any local craft shop and get the large divided boxes you will find in the beading area of the store–holds a lot in each compartment (depending on size you’re tying) and there are many compartments in each box.
OR go to Wal-Mart and in the hardware section they have boxes for screws that come with create your own dividers–these have been good for bulky dries and streamers
Organize? Just something to do but never accomplish.
I confess to trying to organize during the winter - even going so far as to take an inventory and even write down what box contains what flies. By my second fishing trip everything is all jumbled up - and stuff just seems easier to find for the rest of the season as I catch fish, lose flies and tie new ones!
I wonder if anyone ever did a study of the personality and job of fishermen whose fly boxes stay organized and those whose fly boxes are all mixed up.
Let’s see:
Accountants - organized
Salesmen - jumbled
Elementary teachers - organized
HS teachers - jumbled
Andrew… don’t know about the “personality and career aspects” of those that keep fly boxes well organized or not. But, the VERY FEW, that I’ve known over the years who do keep meticulously ordered fly boxes… are also the ones that… "iron their socks and underwear, polish their wading boots, oil their retractable ball point pen mechanisms and buy Valium and Prozac in the “economy pack” sizes.
Or, in short… think of the TV show, “Monk”.
Paul,
is it bad if a 15 year old is buying prozac in the economy pack??
LOL! jk, I just like to be organized and find it takes no time at all to find things once you know where they are.
Just for the record, I though everyone ironed their socks??? NO???
QUOTE; “iron their socks” Paul, My Grandma used to repair socks by putting a Light Bulb in the holey sock and darning the hole with thread!
She might have ironed them too, I don’t know.
You can just imagine what my Mother said the first time my Dad asked her to darn his socks! :mad:
Do you Iron your underwear???
Thanks,
Doug
DOUG - Whats “underwear”?
