Mother Of All Fly Boxes

[Steeldrifter]

Down to the last week of getting ready for 2 weeks on the Au Sable so just been getting all my gear ready and decided I needed a new "boat fly box" for taking out in my boat when I head out for the day with all the BIG streamers for pike/bass. I've bought a number of large boxes in the past and they never were big enough, or laid out properly to my liking. So I decided to simply make my own so it would be just how I want it.

I started out with a craft bead style box from Michael's and 4 sheets of 6mm thick closed cell foam (about $10 total) 15" x 15" box

I made a template of the bottom of the box out of paper and used that as a guide for cutting and gluing the foam inside the box. Made a carrying handle by using a shoulder strap from a duffel bag, dremeled slots into the front of the box, cut the strap and re-stiched it into a handle shape. Added a rubber post which a spool of Maxima fits onto perfectly (my fav streamer leader material). Added a post which a pair of hemos fit on in the lid because it seems there are never hemos handy when you have a pike in the boat trying to dislodge a fly from his toothy mouth. Also added a 2nd upper foam piece into the lid of the box for top water flies and jig style flies. This foam in the lid is replaceable since it is bolted into the lid.

One problem I have had in the past is hooks getting rusted because of putting flies away wet. So I added a foam strip on the outside of the top lid which has slits in it so you can use it as a fly patch to dry the flies prior to putting them away. The foam inside the box holds the flies the same way, with slits cut into half the thickness of the foam (same way C&F boxes holds flies)

Added a pair of nippers on a lanyard which comes through a hole in the front of the box but stays attached, dressed it up with some decals I made on the ALPS printer, and the end result is the Mother Of All Fly Boxes ;)



http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/9076/flybox1.jpg

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/2164/flybox2.jpg

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1807/flybox3.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7417/flybox4.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5286/flybox5.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1034/flybox6kswn.jpg

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/66/flybox7.jpg

Steve

[dgawlak]

Steve that is one Sweet Arse Fly Box!!!

What did you use for the posts that hold the Tippet and Hemo's..?

Did you buy the foam at Michaels or from some where else?



Dave

[Steeldrifter]

The post is actually a rubber insert for an epoxy rod finish bottle. Yep I found the 6mm closed cell foam at Micheals as well. They never use to carry it in anything over 3mm so I don't know if they just started carrying this thickness or what but they had it. The 6mm is perfect for a fly box, goes about halfway up a size 4 hook gap.

Steve

[Bull Market]

Wow, Steve. What a box. But, looking at the professionlism of the artwork on the lid, I was beginning to think . . . Here's someone else with WAY too much time on their hands. But, my second thought was what an attractive piece to use to help promote your business. Very nicely done.

[Troutbum64]

I'm going to have to copy that, think of it as flatery...
I always end up with 3 or 4 boxes of streamers on the boat and hate having to dig through them to find the fly I want. very nice box

[coppertop]

Sweet Fly Box! Thanks for posting pics.
I may copy as well- although I'm not sure I can go to the level of detail you did.

Tight lines

[dgawlak]

I have been trying to find the boxes but Michaels in Holland doesn't have them...