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3. How long do flies last?

Every year, I have some flies in my box that need to be discarded, some used a lot and have survived many a Trouts mouth and some not used even once yet still rusted/ fell apart, why?? I guess from putting wet flies back into the box too soon? What I would like to do is put all myflies ties from this year together and keep track of how long they last on average in terms of number of seasons and the same for next years batch to get an idea, anyone have a guess? Thanks

Putting flies that are not fully dried back into a box with other flies will likely start to cause rust on the other flies. I never put a wet fly back in boxes where the flies just mingle with other flies. Boxes with little square compartments may be good for bulk storage of larger dry flies but don't put them in wet.

I have a bunch of the newer fly boxes with foam and each row of foam has many micro slits in it. I might not be as careful to put a damp fly into one of these slits because the flies do not touch each other.

Flies will last for decades if they are never used and kept in areas with little humidity and no issues with moths. I have steelhead flies I tied in 1984 that look as good now as they did when I first tied them thirty-four years ago because I've never used them.

I've heard about rust in fly boxes and being certain not to put wet flies in them.

I've never had a problem though. I dry the flies a little before I put them away, but they're still not dry.

Rust is a cancer that doesn't go away. If there is rust in your box it will grab onto a new fly and turn it.

You might clean your boxes real well or get new ones.

Yeah, I would like to wait too but what happens when you’ve used a bunch and are stream side? Gotta our em someplace To get em home

Adirman,

Buy one of those ripple foam fly driers with a big safety pin on the back. Pin it to the outside of one of your upper vest pockets and put the flies in it after you change flies. By the time you are ready to leave most will be dry.

Try a drying patch, it works for me. Also available is small packets of a desiccant.

Never used one before but a good idea, how many flies would it hold roughly while drying

Most of them are about 2" x 3" and have 4 or 5 rows of ripples. Probably will hold about two dozen smaller flies, #14 - #18 or a dozen bigger dries and nymphs.

Here is an Orvis model. I saw others that are similar for $5.95.

https://www.amazon.com/Orvis-Ripple-Foam-Fly-Patch/dp/B06XVBTSKF

I love these, as they keep me from losing flies: http://www.avidmax.com/c-f-design-cfa-25-s-fly-fishing-fly-protector-4-row-for-fishing/?CAWELAID=478529679&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=12286003353&CATCI=aud-418330309196:pla-294680686006&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4_zVBRDVARIsAFNI9eAThYL4f0ucs5ZBtUV3Y7xUoqOmRRnTLDAomcV1T-ZZgzfSqVaNdoMaAr6cEALw_wcB. I've had flies fall out/get knocked out of foam patches. C&F has a larger model that I like, but they seem harder to find.

Cool, thanks for the link 👍😊

My vest has a "wool" patch,not really wool,synthetic.I just pin the flies there and put em in the box later when dry.

The only flies I've ever had rust problems with have been my smallmouth flies which are, of course, larger with a good deal more surface area to hold moisture. I dislike the pin on patches regardless of what they are made of (foam or the older sheepskin patches). I've never liked them. So for my bass flies, I've always carried an old Orvis sheepskin fly wallet where I put all the used flies on a given day. This keeps them from contacting and dampening my other flies. Then, when I get home or to the motel or wherever that night, I upen the wallet and let everything dry overnight and then rebox the now dried out flies in the morning and I'm good to go.

Probably seems like a lot of fussing, but I don't like the patches..

I have one of those C&F foam fly patches with the clear plastic cover. It doesn't work for me so if you want it I'll sell it to you for $6.00 + postage.

interesting thread here

I've rarely had hooks show rust since years ago I started using a scrap of chamois to gently dry flies in. No need to really squish the fly, just fold the chamois over it and gently squeeze to draw the water out of it. If I'm done with the fly I'll clip it off the tippet to store on a fleece patch until I get back to camp, home, or a convenient time and place to get the flies back in a box. OR if I want to continue fishing a dry fly I'll add a drop of home-brew floatant (see an older post on Albolene substitutes) and cast away.

tight lines, all,

Roguerat

'Less is more...'

Ludwig Mies Vande Rohe

Rleep can you take a pic of the sheepskin wallet please?

Wbranch, sure send me your address and ill mail you a check if youd like

>>Rleep can you take a pic of the sheepskin wallet please?>>

Well, I don't take photos and post them online. Just personal policy...

However, the wallet I use is essentially identical to this one I found on E-Bay. Many years ago as I was shifting career gears, I worked in an Orvis shop and I dug the wallet out of the clearance bin. I gave my boss (who owned the shop) $1.75 for it and bought his lunch (take out chili and a plastic spoon from the restaurant across the highway) and we called it square.

Here it is (You may have to copy/paste the link to make it go live..):



https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Orvis-Company-8-Fly-Rod-Lures-On-Lambs-Wool-And-How-To-Fish-Instructions/132557520703?hash=item1edd0b3f3f:g:GWsAAOSwgNxakvUW

Adirman,

I wasn't sure I could find the fly holder quickly but I go lucky and found it in a few seconds. There are 18 micro slits in each row and there are four rows so theoretically you could put 72 flies in it. I'll mail it in a couple of days. PM sent with my address.

Ok great, thanks Matt

"How long do flies last?"

Depends on how many teeth are in the mouths of the fish you are catching...and, I suppose how much head cement you applied...mine usually are done when they start coming unraveled. I've heard that pike flies will often last only one fish...

BTW I use a mesh-sided hat when doing most of my fly-fishing (unless it's just too damned cold) and when I snip off a fly I put it in the mesh to dry for the rest of the evening. In fact, they often stay there and I just end up pulling them out of my hat before they ever make it back into the fly box!

Jonathon