How to Choose a Fly Box
The first choice is aluminium or not. The more expensive Aluminium boxes last longer, are more traditional, form part of “our” and their owner’s heritage being handed from father to son (or daughter) and can be engraved. The non aluminium boxes tend to be more contemporary and normally only have foam interiors and made from some form of plastic or wooden material.
Buyers Guide to Size
Throughout Richard Wheatley’s long history boxes have always been referred to as 3 inch, 4 inch and 6 inch and this continue to be done in the old way. The boxes are actually 3 ½ x 2 3/8 x 1 inch (89 x 60 x 25mm) 4 ¾ x 3 ½ x 1 1/8th inch (121 x 89 x 29mm) and 6 x 3 ½ x 1 1/8th inch (152 x 89 x 29mm) or 6 x 3 ½ x 1 ½ inch (152 x 89 x 44mm)
Buyers Guide to Clips
These were all that there was during the early 1900’s. Some traditionalist still prefer them for the storage of fishing flies. The rule is simply – the bigger the clip size the bigger the fly that goes in them. Salmon fishers tend to have size 5’s and large 7s whilst trout catchers like small 7s and 10s. As each clip takes 1 fly, a 6 inch box is the favourite size for most fisherman. These are not suitable for very small or very large flies.
Buyers Guide to Compartment Boxes
These are designed for dry or floating flies and can have clips, flat foam or more compartments in the lid. Only available in Silver.
The 3 main options are clips, foam or compartments with a choice of having a swing leaf or not. The swing leaf increases the capacity to hold flies in the foam and clip fly boxes.