My fly patch is made from the pin I took off of a wool patch. I glued the pin to an old motel room key, the credit card type. Then to the room key I glued a section of an old computer mouse pad. The back side of the mouse pad faces out. It works for holding barbless and debarbed hooks.
But sometimes I still loose flies from it because I have so many on it that I presume I knock some off trying to add to it. I presume some of them get knocked off by bushwacking through heavy brush.
Then on those rare occasions that I untangle “wind knots” I have knocked some off while resting the fly rod against my body or by getting fly line wrapped around the patch.
Ill have to look into those.. but.. as far as you know does the chemical used to keep it rustproof affect the flies in any way (like some kind of weird chemical reaction)??
Well after loosing a couple of flies from my patch the light came on and said, duh dummy if you pinch the barb how do you expect it to stay attached. So now I just drop them back in my fly box. Nah they didn’t rust at all.
honestly..in most cases since I am replacing one fly with another I put the fly back in the fly box as well.. the box is already open anyway.. :-).. but.. I have been know to get in a hurry and hook the fly to a fly patch.. or part of my ff’ing bag.. and that is where I usually lose the most flies (that and getting the fly really hung up on a limb or rock etc)…
now here is a weird idea .. similar to Scruffy Fly.. how about gluing a thin magnetic strip(s) behind the fly patch.. that way you have the magnet helping to keep the hook in place… ??
I just checked Orvis for those fly boxes and noticed they are compartmented boxes (no foam inserts).. is this the type of fly box that you usually store all of your flies in.. or do you select your flies for the day.. put them in the yellow fly boxes.. and then hit the water..??
*Well if you really want to go through the bother of making a magnetic patch, TMC includes a magnetic card in their fly packages. Just the right size I would say. *
.. was just curious.. Ive read in the past that some people will take numerous boxes of flies with them and then condense that by using one or two boxes filled with various flies from those boxes when they hit the water..
me.. for now.. I take everythign on the water with me.. but its getting to a point where I may have to condense down to one or two fly boxes in the bag for use on the water that trip ..
You get to know what is going to work for different bodies of water. I do pack all my boxes but as you say, I load up a couple with what I need and hit the water.
The other boxes are there if I need them.
On stillwater however, I take all the boxes in my side bags…why not, got the room..LOL
I have a zippered bag with several compartments where I keep all my fly boxes, tippets and leaders. I just throw it in my car with the rest of my stuff and off I go. I generally know which flies I will be using and grab the appropriate box when I hit the water. I even throw in several different wt rods & reels. Don’t want to have to say DUH why didn’t I take…
My fly patch is made from the pin I took off of a wool patch. I glued the pin to an old motel room key, the credit card type. Then to the room key I glued a section of an old computer mouse pad. The back side of the mouse pad faces out. It works for holding barbless and debarbed hooks.
But sometimes I still loose flies from it because I have so many on it that I presume I knock some off trying to add to it. I presume some of them get knocked off by bushwacking through heavy brush.
Then on those rare occasions that I untangle “wind knots” I have knocked some off while resting the fly rod against my body or by getting fly line wrapped around the patch.
My small “special” fly box for used or wet flies still works
the best. Never last a fly out of it…
that was the general point to my question to FG.. I know it is routine for experienced anglers to bring the flies they want.. and usually .. but not always.. bring a lot more than they think they might use.. and then take the flies from those boxes and put them in smaller boxes for on the water use..
as I said.. for me right now I bring all that I have because it all still fits.. lol.. if I ever really get into tying etc Im gonna have more boxes than I can bring on the water with me.. so with this discussion I am seeing the sense in using smaller boxes loaded with flies I know will work or as FG and you said.. think might work.. but still be able to bring them on the water easily..
in other words.. its true ya’ll can teach this old dog new tricks.. LOL..
until recently I only had the one good rod.. now I other options I can think about and as you said not have to say DUH… why didnt I bring that rod and reel..
Ive not lost a fly out of the box either.. my losses have been off the patch (or wherever I hook it in a hurry) or getting fouled so bad Ive had to cut them loose .. and of course that is usually the fly that is working the best and the las or only one I had with me..
so I like the smaller box(es) with a mix of flies better than toting all the fly boxes along with me..
*That box you bought from me MacFly can hold over a 100 drys, midges & nymphs. Even a small box like the Perrine # 60 has slots for 60 flies. I use to take two boxes on the water, but now I realize one is all I need. *
thats what I mean.. small box like that and Ill be good to go.. I may still get greedy and take two.. but thats a lot less area than 4 large fly boxes in my ff’ing bag..
