The Complete Fisher Forum

[Grey Hackle]

Anyone got any tips about how to store flies whilst fishing. I have been using a foam ribbed fly patch attached to my fly vest to date but have found that a lot of flies drop off. This is mostly due to them being barbless. Have tried a sheeps wool patch but that shows similar results.
Getting a bit p....d off with losing some great flies and would welcome any ideas.
Thanks in advance.

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To be able to wing correctly a small dry fly is the height of attainment in trout fly dressing and is the most difficult part of the art... Roger Woolley

[lakefisher]

I have a large fly box with slotted foam inserts which hold my de-barbed Pike flies extremely well I just push the lower edge of the hook into the slot and its held firm.

Thinking that someone somewhere has produced a fly patch with a similar style of hard foam attached - I did a swift "google" and sure enough - loads came up :-

https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=jnonWYezGqyBtgeH7qSQCw&gws_rd=ssl#q=slotted+foam+fly+patches

Something from that range should suit your needs, and using one such patch,would still allow your flies to "air dry" yet be readily available .

HTH ....... Tony
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[fossil-fish]

Gave up on fly patches and barbless hooks a long time ago. A method I was recommended was an old 35mm plastic film canister with a few small holes in the lid. (melting with a hot needle does the job). Wet flies go into the canister which fits into one of the small pockets on my waist coat. On returning home I place the wet flies on foam block to dry out properly. Back into their original fly boxes prior to next trip. Works for me.
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[trout]

Try a denser foam which should hold the hook a bit more securely. I have a small 3x3 clip shut box with foam in which although not as accessible as a patch, fits nicely in my wader pouch.
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Trout

[Grey Hackle]

Cheers for the replies.
Reckon a small container/canister is the way to go possibly lined with tissue.


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To be able to wing correctly a small dry fly is the height of attainment in trout fly dressing and is the most difficult part of the art... Roger Woolley

[RogB]

Didnt get on with the C&F then Chris?
Fly patch thread
I see wychwood have a good looking option Vuefinder patch . I havent tried one as still have my Lamson Flytrap.

[Grey Hackle]

[midlander]

[Grey Hackle]

Simple idea - ta!


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To be able to wing correctly a small dry fly is the height of attainment in trout fly dressing and is the most difficult part of the art... Roger Woolley

[midlander]

You're welcome, Chris. I know it's a bit boring, but, for crushed barb or true barbless hooks, it's the best option I've come up with.

Back in the 70s/80s when everything was barbed the sheepskin patch was great. In the 90s I got a posh Simms waistcoat with one of those ridged foam patches. If I bent or sat down, a fold of fabric or over full chest pocket usually found a way of exerting just enough pressure to make a fly or two pop out if I didn't push the hook in past the barb. Losing flies really annoyed me as, believe it or not, I detest tying flies unless I'm working on something new. Going barbless just made matters worse, so I had to put everything straight back in its box. Now I'm the proud owner of flies that have been in the box and produced countless fish for multiple seasons. I've even got some muddlers in there that, once the heads got so raggy as to be non existant, I unpicked them, spun on some new deer hair and finished them off. Good as new. Tight, me?