Flies come in very different sizes, depending on the species being fished. For trout, flies are generally only a few centimetres long (or even less), whereas for marine and freshwater predators, flies can reach 20 cm or more!
Boxes will therefore be adapted to the size of the flies, but also to their use.
When boating, large boxes won't be a problem, as they can be stored in a waterproof bag or compartment on your boat. When wadding, on the other hand, you'll need to use smaller boxes, which can be stowed in your vest, chest pack or saddlebag.
The different types of fly boxes and their use
-Square boxes
These boxes allow you to store a variety of flies without them being attached to the bottom of the box. They are less neat and tidy, but have their advantages.
The main thing is to avoid damaging or crushing your flies, so some models can be kept as they are.
Some have long compartments for storing flies that need more space, such as bass or pike flies.
- Boxes with notches
Trout flies are often small in size and assembled in numerous copies for the same model, as it is common to have several sizes of the same type of fly and small variants.
The trout fly fisherman will often have a large number of flies to adapt to the hatchings of the moment, and will carry several dozen or even hundreds of flies with him. They need to be well organized and stored by size, model, color... So you can find your way around the water.
Some are double-winged, so you can store even more flies in the same box, which has the advantage of taking fewer boxes with you.
Nymphs often take up less space, as they are generally tapered and will be arranged meticulously so that the angler can find them by size and weight.
- Big boxes
Large boxes are ideal for storing large numbers of flies.
For transport, they are bulkier, but for certain types of fishing, such as reservoir fishing, they allow you to carry with you all the different techniques you can practice. The boxes are transported in a watertight bag or in a large briefcase that can hold all the necessary equipment.
They come in different sizes and thicknesses depending on the models they are to contain.
- Deep boxes
These boxes are used for bulky flies generally employed for fishing large marine or freshwater predators.
They allow you to store taller flies that require more space.
- Watertight boxes
These boxes are very practical when you're wadding or if you want to be sure that your flies don't come into contact with water in the event of a fall or bad weather.
We use them a lot at sea, whether on our coasts or in exotic locations, because salt is very harmful to flies, which oxidize and deteriorate.
- Selection boxes
Some anglers also use one or more boxes to store the flies of the moment. They make a selection for the day or for a given period so as not to have to carry all their flies to the water's edge.
It's very practical and allows you to lighten your vest or saddlebag, but you'll need to know which flies to take with you so you don't miss out on the day's fishing!
As you can see, every angler will have his or her own preferences. On the market, there are a huge number of models to suit all tastes, with their own advantages and disadvantages.
