Storage of Soft Hackle Flies

[paparex]

After I tie a soft hackle, I usually preen it a little to get the hackle to stand out and be angled just so. I know of course that a soft hackle fly performs wet and in the water, but I want it to look as nice a possible in the fly box. My problem is that the flies seemed to lose their sharpness, their Fred Astaire elegance, very quickly no matter what style of fly box I use. Any suggestions, or am I just fussing over nothing?

[Old Hat]

I gave up trying to accomplish that years ago.

[William Anderson]

I'm surprised you haven't recieved a smattering of responses as its an issue we either all deal with or ignore. Either way it comes up. Sorry I don't have a clever solution for you, I just use the newer slim cases, trying to push the hackles back under the fly as I put them in, and I don't think it makes any real difference. These also mash the top hackles down along the body a bit as well on larger flies. They are great for nymphs and tiny dries as well, but they are less than ideal if you want to keep the hackle appearance as it looks coming off the vise.


I also use (mostly for storage now as I'm trying to pare down what I carry) the C&F boxes which all the hackle to drop a bit. This doesn't solve your problem completely either, but I have been keeping flies in these for years.



For storage I also have a number of these Plano foam boxes that do allow you to catch the hook in the peak of the foam and the hackle can suspend without being mashed up, but I don't worry much about it. I tend to mangle the hackle a bit when I'm tying on the tippet and reset the hackle one last time after it's tied on if I remember.



What are you using now?

[DUBBN]

Sorry, I should have responded sooner to your question. I quit worrying about the looks years ago. Most everything I tye gets fished so I dont worry about the looks too much. I have to admit though, that I wish my patterns looked as well when I take them out of my fly box as they did when I took them out of my vise.

[Kelly L.]

http://hartflyfishing.blogspot.com/2009 ... y-box.html

I've got one if these, it is huge. I bought it last year right after my birthday. The box is amazing. Anything close to that in the USA would be too expensive. I got mine on sale, with free shipping.

[William Anderson]

Paparex, curious if you came up with a solution.

[narcodog]

Your just trying to over engineer something. Relax and go fishing. Those flies are for the fish not beauty contest winners.

[DUBBN]

Your just trying to over engineer something. Relax and go fishing. Those flies are for the fish not beauty contest winners.

Agreed!
This is the best place to display patterns.

[Mataura mayfly]

I got on to a supply of cheap plastic 8" boxes here that seem well made and have one side near 3/4" deep, the other standard depth. Guess one side is meant for streamers and the other nymphs or the like. Both sides have split foam bases and can hold about 100 flies a side.
If your really worried about hackle crush, you can place the flies standing upright in the deeper side so the hook eyes are standing up and the hackles sit like umberellas......... plenty of room for flies up to 3X long # 12 and down........ not so good if you use this method for tailed flies though!

[Otter]

I have to admit though, that I wish my patterns looked as well when I take them out of my fly box as they did when I took them out of my vise.

That problem is a frequent flyer.