ORGANIZE YOUR FLY BOXES FOR THE SEASON

With the changing of the season at the doorstep there is no better time than now to prepare for your time on the water.

There are various ways to organize your flies and finding a system that works for you is key to setting yourself up for success on the water.

Below are a few examples of systems that pros have developed that work best for them and their style of fishing/guiding.

“From my point of view I like to keep everything simple. Organization is key for me. I have the bigger boxes at home and then I'm breaking them down seasonally from there.

You have your spring, summer and fall boxes and then you can get more specific with a baetis box in spring and then in summer my box is nothing but dry droppers consisting of terrestrials, stoneflies and nymphs.

Then you move into fall and you're going to have a mix of everything: Streamers, some dry flies, hoppers, dry droppers... everything is on the table."

- Tanner Smith / Trouts Fly Fishing, Denver, CO

"I prefer to organize my fly boxes based on two factors:

Discipline and hatches.

For example, my dry-fly box contains my top 20 confident guide flies—ranging from #12 Chubby Chernobyl, to a #22 Tails Up Trico or #24 Griffith's Gnat.

This approach keeps all of my flies with me during guide trips, when you need flies at the raft when the elements, or hatches change."

- Landon Mayer / Umpqua Signature Tyer and Guide, Florissant, CO

"I use the Large Waterproof Bug Locker for my big foam bugs, stonefly nymphs, worms, and smaller dry flies.

My big foam bug boxes are divided into two boxes- a big foam and a terrestrial box.
My big foam box includes all Chubbies (organized by color) and large stonefly dries (salmon flies, goldens, etc).

My terrestrial box includes all hoppers, Plan B patterns, OG Chernobyls, and another other non waterborne large pattern.
My stonefly nymphs (mostly rubber legs) and worms are in the same box. Most of these flies are home ties.
All my smaller dry flies are in one box and that includes my upwing (mayflies) and downwing (caddis).
For all my mayfly (and some caddis) nymphs and soft hackles, I use the small Bug Locker 3618. It's the best box for smaller nymphs to ensure there is no spill over when closed!
I have a medium Waterproof Bug Locker for all my stillwater flies (both dries and nymphs).
For all streamers and swing bugs, I use a boat box.
I always have both big foam, both nymph, small dries, and streamer boxes at all times."

- KynsLee Scott / Guide, Missoula, MT