Thinning the herd (purging a few fly boxes)

[Buzzy]

There's no doubt in my mind that I have far too many fly boxes and in those, far too many flies. Seriously - on a day when I can't get it figured out, how many change-ups do I make? Maybe a dozen? Maybe 15? And of those dozen or so change-ups, how often do I open all (I won't say how many fly boxes are in my pram or my float tube; obscene?) the boxes: Never. Yet I continue to tie more flies. Why? Duh, it's fun! And when I see a forum member posting a pattern in "What's catching you fish?" (https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/whats-catching-you-fish.40/page-54#post-183025), I have to tie some up.

Okay - over the past couple of windy days, I decided to tie a couple forum member inspired flies but when I opened the fly box to insert the new ties, there simply wasn't room to fit the new miracle "guaranteed" flies into the box. Purge time:



There's about 170 flies in the picture ----^ I tossed perhaps 40 or so into the trash (a friend asked me why I don't salvage the hooks). These came from three of the ------ boxes. I have a few more boxes to purge. What the heck do I do with these? Huh. I better go fishing.

 

[mcswny]

There's no doubt in my mind that I have far too many fly boxes and in those, far too many flies. Seriously - on a day when I can't get it figured out, how many change-ups do I make? Maybe a dozen? Maybe 15? And of those dozen or so change-ups, how often do I open all (I won't say how many fly boxes are in my pram or my float tube; obscene?) the boxes: Never. Yet I continue to tie more flies. Why? Duh, it's fun! And when I see a forum member posting a pattern in "What's catching you fish?" (https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/whats-catching-you-fish.40/page-54#post-183025), I have to tie some up.

Okay - over the past couple of windy days, I decided to tie a couple forum member inspired flies but when I opened the fly box to insert the new ties, there simply wasn't room to fit the new miracle "guaranteed" flies into the box. Purge time:

View attachment 113166

There's about 170 flies in the picture ----^ I tossed perhaps 40 or so into the trash (a friend asked me why I don't salvage the hooks). These came from three of the ------ boxes. I have a few more boxes to purge. What the heck do I do with these? Huh. I better go fishing.

Pat, we all have this problem . For me, it's size 12-14 bushy dry flies for small creeks.

I always say "I'll give them away" but then I realize I'm purging them because they're not up to my standards so then I'm to embarrassed to give them away and the cycle continues.

 

[Dr. Magill]

Actually @mcswny your flies are probably way better than you think
You could donate them anonymously to a club or something if you want

 

[Merle]

Wow Pat, that is a great looking selection of flies... Can't believe those are the purged ones! Those would make a great general lake fishing box (or two).

I have the same problem, tying the latest hot fly that someone on here got me excited about, and then trying to shoe horn them into already overflowing boxes.

What to do with them... if you have any empty boxes you load those up and stash them in your vehicles as "emergency" fly boxes, in the event that you forget your good ones. But I'm guessing you already have a contingent of back up boxes strategically placed in your vehicles and water craft.

You could probably sell them here for a few bucks, or donate them, maybe to PHW or if you know any young up and coming flyfishers.

Andy

 

[mcswny]

Actually @mcswny your flies are probably way better than you think
You could donate them anonymously to a club or something if you want

Appreciate that.

 

[Phil K]

I’ll give you $20 for that sheet of nymphs.

 

[dep]

after getting a peek into what you use, I feel good about my fly selections that I use

 

[Stonedfish]

Pat,
I need to do the same, but with my saltwater boxes. I’m not sure how many clousers I have here, but it is a lot. Yet I continue to tie more.
Part of my plans in retirement is to downsize everything, especially my fishing gear.
I’m going to give part of my clouser collection to @Kfish because he needs some patterns with dumbbell eyes, bucktail and palmer chenille.
SF

 

[Buzzy]

I’ll give you $20 for that sheet of nymphs.

If you are serious about wanting that sheet of nymphs, send me a PM with your address and I will mail them to you. I don't want the money. //Pat

 

[Mossback]

Those all look fine to me, but maybe my standards are too low.

Leeches to last a lifetime on that big sheet.

 

[Nick Clayton]

Pat,
I need to do the same, but with my saltwater boxes. I’m not sure how many clousers I have here, but it is a lot. Yet I continue to tie more.
Part of my plans in retirement is to downsize everything, especially my fishing gear.
I’m going to give part of my clouser collection to @Kfish because he needs some patterns with dumbbell eyes, bucktail and palmer chenille.
SF

Good idea Brian. I've been thinking for a while that we should start up a collection for poor Lou! While we're at it we could all tie up a couple src patterns with schlappen collars to donate to @jasmillo . I am sure he's lacking in that department

 

[jasmillo]

Good idea Brian. I've been thinking for a while that we should start up a collection for poor Lou! While we're at it we could all tie up a couple src patterns with schlappen collars to donate to @jasmillo . I am sure he's lacking in that department

Thanks that would be appreciated. I’m also in the market for any fly with palmered peach marabou. I’ve expanded my horizons as of late.

 

[Wetswinger]

We all have flies we never use. I end up using about 8 different freshwater lake patterns and maybe 6 saltwater ones. These are my "confidence" flies and I feel uncomfortable using others. But I still tie others..why?

 

[Evan B]

You could donate them anonymously to a club or something if you want

Also forum owners who don't like tying

 

[Buzzy]

Also forum owners who don't like tying

Sorry, man - the flies are spoken for. Except for the nymphs for @Phil K if he was serious.

 

[Phil K]

I was feeling a bit guilty about scarfing up those flies. I meant the comment as a joke, though in retrospect…. It really wasn’t that funny. But, sure!