Can anyone suggest a waterproof or water resistant fly box that’s deep enough that it won’t crush dry fly wings?
Bruce,
I’ve bought a number of the clear double-sided boxes on E-bay ($7-9) with slotted foam from a few different vendors (seems to be the same box, just different logos). I’ve taken a few swims and the boxes have kept the flies dry, much better than the Scientific Anglers ones. They also have enough room to keep dry fly’s wings pristine.
Regards,
Scott
Hi Scott. Do you have a link to them?
Bruce,
Like these
Haven’t purchased anything from this particular vendor, but there’s plenty of this style of box out there. Word of note, I haven’t put anything bigger than a #12 dry fly; if you’re wanting to store #6 hackle winged Adams, it might not be what you’re looking for.
Regards,
Scott
I actually suggest against waterproof boxes, in general. If you get so much as one hackle fiber in the gasket it leaks, or if you happen to put one damp fly in all your hooks rust. Better to go non-waterproof, because that way you have to remember to open up your boxes at the end of the day if you put in a wet fly or soak them, or if you just have a few hackle fibers out of place or one slightly damp fly in the box, no problem. I personally use Myran-type boxes for most of my personal flies and the thin magnetic angler’s image boxes for my guiding nymphs and just Plano tackle trays for my dries and streamers.
I agree with Wally on that. Over the years, I’ve owned several supposedly waterproof fly boxes, only to have ruined a number of flies when a bit of moisture got in them and was not aired out and dried at the end of the day.
I once owned an 0rvis vest that had supposedly waterproof pockets. The only thing was that water got in them and had no way to get out. I think Orvis only sold that vest for a year or two.
I have yet to find a foam box (ripple or slotted) that doesn’t either compress the top or bottom of a dry fly. After a lot of searching I only use compartment boxes now.
The other aspect of a waterproof box that I painfully found out, is that they float away when you drop them, instead of sinking right where you are.
One in each chest pocket in my vest and I can float Kootenai Falls.
Regards,
Scott
I now use waterproof fly boxes. After I use a fly I never put it back in the box until it dries out. Also, I tape a foot-long piece of string to my small fly boxes, then I put a loop in the other end of the string. Finally, using a safety pin, I secure the loop to my vest. That way my box won’t fall into the water.
Last season this system worked for me, but in the end, nothing is foolproof.
Randy
Great idea for the tether - will try that.
I am wondering if the small dessicant packets found in medication bottles might help with rust prevention in fly boxes. For many years I have saved the small barrel shaped plastic ones to store with all my hooks and they work fine (in my tying desk drawer). However I am wondering if the small paper type pouches/packets might work if taped to the flybox lid or along the inside rim. I have never put soaking wet flies back into the box but rather stick them onto my vest patch until later when they have a chance to dry.
Since the patent expired on the C&F/Scientific Anglers slit foam boxes a couple years ago, there are lots of good and less expensive options out there. I’ve been very impressed with these from Feather-Craft. https://www.feather-craft.com/wecs.php?store=feacraft&action=display&target=HG077 Like the original C&F boxes, they have the little “V” cut out at the top of the slit, which makes it easier to back the fly in. The lids are clear, with pretty good depth between the lid and the flies AND they have an attachment point for a zinger. Like others have mentioned, I’ve become a little paranoid about dropping a box and having a couple hundred flies float away at about $2 a pop, so I’ve taken to securing each box with an inexpensive zinger pinned to the inside of my vest pockets.
Walmart usually has the Plano 4.5" x 7.5" waterproof boxes and sometimes some small divided boxes at my local store for under $10.
Well, I actually meant water resistant. Something that will hold up after a quick dunking or rain event. I realize there are none that are seriously waterproof.
The CF boxes are still the best out there. The cheap knock-offs that every fly shop has now work, but the foam is not as high a quality as the CF boxes and the one with the middle leaf is guaranteed to crush half the fly box unless you are tying really small flies (I tend to just remove that leaf). The price is hard to beat, however, and they definitely hold up to a dunking and even a serious rain. I’ve never had a need for a box that I can actually submerge for lengthy periods of time, but I do want a box that will keep the flies dry in the rain or if I happen to wade a bit to deep, and both the CF and the knock-offs do that quite well. YMMV.
I’ve got several of the C&F knockoffs, and my only complaint with them is the adhesive they use to attach the foam loosens in the heat, and the foam strips deform. Would superglue hold in the heat to re-shape them?
I have several C&F fly boxes and like that you can swap out or replace the inserts. C&F boxes are very well made, but because they seal up nice and tight they hold moisture. I dry my flies before returning them to the box.
Tyrone, do they make a box that will hold dry flies up to size 10?
It’s been years since I last bought C&F box, but I do have C&F boxes for streamers.