Homemade fly boxes

[chris kowaleski]

I want to make fly box using an old cigarette case, and I'm sure some of you have made your own fly boxes out of various things. I was wondering what type of stuff you guys attach to the box to stick the flies into? Or know of a source where I can get a nice looking piece of material or slotted foam to put inside of it.

Post photos of your homemade boxes if you got em!

[Allen Morgan]

I've made a couple impromptu fly boxes out of Altoid's tins.  I just glue some 2mm foam into the top and bottom of the tin, and stick the hook into the foam.

Although, you could get some 4mm foam, cut it into strips, glue the strips into the tin, leaving some space between the strips.  Once the glue sets up, use a razor or a hobby knife and cut slits into the foam, like most decent fly boxes, to hold the hook by the bend, and keep from crushing any hackle.

[John Sheehan]

Thanks for the idea I need to do a few of these .

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I can vouch for this idea - I have one of Allen's Altoid Fly Boxes. Im thinking I should have gotten him to autograph it...

Sucrets tins should also work just as well. I work for the company that used to make them and I have a mess of the old tins hanging around. Ive used them for all sorts of things, including fishing tackle storage. Add some foam, ala, Allen Morgan and you should be golden.

[Joe Angelucci]

Altoids tins also work great as a telescopic pole box. I add about 50 feet of 4 lb line, associated hooks, dry flies, and micro plastics. I also added a few B split shot and two trout magnet floats. I have the best of both worlds with this small box. I can manage both bait and fly fishing (dapping) with my Mr Crappie 10 foot pole. 

[Vince Fusco]

Good idea, Allen. I need some more fly storage space, and will give these a try. 

[Allen Morgan]

I forgot to mention my "big fly" box.  It's made from a plastic pencil box.  Got it at Wally World last year, about this time, for 97 cents.  Think "back to school" stuff.

Again, I glued some 2mm foam to the bottom and the lid.  I put my streamers, large wooly buggers, large Clousers, etc., in that box.  It's not pretty, and probably not very water resistant, but it works.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

None of my fly boxes are water proof, Allen. Is that important?
I mean, I'm gonna throw the flies in the water at some point, so....

Is waterproof a "purist thing?"

[Shannon DeVine]

It may be a purist thing, but I accidentally soaked a box once and didnt' realize it.  Because I didn't let it dry properly I rusted out all of my hooks.... it was a big bummer.  So, waterproof is a novelty, but it can save you a mess of rusty hooks.

[Allen Morgan]

My two store-bought fly boxes are waterproof.

Something to think about, if the box is waterproof, and you put your flies back into the box wet, there's a good chance you can rust a hook or two.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

So the choice is between airy and ventilated, or waterproof with entrapped moisture.

Dang! Is nothing easy in fly fishing??

[Allen Morgan]

If you use common sense, I think a lot of things are easy in fly fishing.  However, some folks like to "over think" things and also to "over complicate" things.  I try to not do the latter, but am guilty of the former.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

DItto, buddy, ditto. I try and am guilty still... the story of my life, I suppose.

"I fishing is a religion, then fly fishing is its High Church" - Tom Brokaw