Fly Tying On The Road

[rkfiske]

So... I don't know how many of you tie whilst traveling but I often will bring my stuff with me on trips where I won't even fish. Maybe it's a trip to vegas with the girlfriend or a family get together with no real water in sight. It's a good way for me to basically get some "work" done. The only problem is, I find it difficult to pack in all my materials in a convenient and organized way.

I've been to a couple tying nights and I must say some of you don't really organize any better than me (you shoeboxers know who you are ) I have a smallish toolbox that I've been using for awhile but honestly it just doesn't carry my stuff very well or very organized. So I'm trying to figure out a way to carry stuff. Any ingenious ideas out there? Something cheap and simple? Tips and tricks?

[Pete]

I "borrowed" a make up case from the wife and daughter. Its about 10" x 8" x 5", with zippered compartments. I keep my travel vise ( Regal with Cabela's pedestal) and tools. Another for thread, wire, beads and hooks. And one for feathers and fur. Its black, and cordura, so it doesn't look sissy

Just have to be organized with what I plan to tie. Can't take it all with you. Well.....unless you can talk the girl friend to leave her stuff home . I also have a canvas rolling tool bag for extended weekends and camping vacations. A school backpack with zip lock bags also works well.

Pete

[Benny]

I have a wooden artist case from Micheal's. Fits more than enough tying materials and tying tools. It's also light and fairly easy to put away when not in use. Kind of like a mini suit case, just made out of wood. It looks very similar to this one below.

[Raider]

Hi, I had the same problem. How to get the stuff you need to tie whatever.(you really don't know what you will be required to have sometimes) Keeping it all in a convienient sized package and organized enough that you don't spend more time looking for what you need than using it. I had a pretty expensive tying kit, but it was largely ineffective. I was wondering through Walmart, following my wife on her normal rounds, on one of those rare non fishing weekends, when something caught my eye. A plano soft sided tackle box. The one with the plastic boxes that fit perfect inside. 20.00!!! WOW!! That baby went home with me. I can't imagine anything better. I added some of those * together storage containers for my beads and some of those tubes with the plastic ends for thread(the most expensive part of the thing) and I have as close to perfect as I can hope for. I have more than double what I could stuff in my old one with a lot of room to go. I have everything well organized, each type of material in it's own container. It has plenty of storage for tools and vise on the outside. Cheap, easy and works better than anything I've seen. Now, I just buy 2 when I buy new materials, one for home and one for the travel kit. I have plenty of room!! Hope this helps, Later, Raider

[1mocast]

I use a portable hanging file holder. It has a handle and is made of clear plastic. I stick everything in ziplock bags. Small bags will organize into bigger bags. Film canisters for beads.

Which reminds me. I need another one of these. I think I bought them at target.

[Rob909]

I've been to a couple tying nights and I must say some of you don't really organize any better than me (you shoeboxers know who you are )

But it's a really nice Simms Boot box!!!!!


Rob

[FlyinFish]

For me it's been leftover Plano stowaway boxes from when I buy soft sided tackle bags for salt fishing. You can adjust the dividers to fit most things, except for hackle. Those I just carry separately. It's hard to do on the cheap, so don't worry, my stuff is a mess and awkward to carry around. I'd rather spend money on more materials or tools...

Benny, that seems pretty sweet, but pricey. How much?

[rkfiske]

Thanks guys, I've been looking into soft tackle bags too but aind of bothered by its inability to store hackle and things like herl (materials I carry often) has anyone seen or used the fly hive? I think its on sale for 50 bucks and if it works as well as it kind of looks, might be a worthy competitor!

[Benny]

Benny, that seems pretty sweet, but pricey. How much?

My art supply box was only like $20 at Michael's. I'm quite sure I've seen coupons in the Sunday Los Angeles Times that have something like 40% off which would make it very well worth your while if you like the wooden case type storage/travel system for your tying supplies.

Here is a link to the one I have Artist Carry Case

[Eric]

Benny, that seems pretty sweet, but pricey. How much?

My art supply box was only like $20 at Michael's. I'm quite sure I've seen coupons in the Sunday Los Angeles Times that have something like 40% off which would make it very well worth your while if you like the wooden case type storage/travel system for your tying supplies.

Here is a link to the one I have Artist Carry Case

Michael's coupon for this week is 50% off one item.
Eric

[rayfound]

The problem is, you're going to end up always wanting to carry more, as you accumulate new materials, etc...

I think the best plan is: Leave your creativity at home. just bang out staple flies when you travel, and pack your (small) kit with only the stuff you need to tie your 5-6 most used patterns. Don't take from your main supply, just take a small portion, and manage the travel kit as a separate inventory so to speak... so when you're ready to go, you just grab the travel kit and go. When something runs out in the travel kit, you refill from the store or your bulk supplies in your main stuff.

my theory is that you should use your travel time to bang out your staples... trying new stuff and the once-in-a-while ties can be done at home.



You're welcome.

[Justin]

What Ray said, that's how I have always done "tying on the road"
Except when I'm at the beach house, I'll ty merkin's and clousers So I keep all my salt water materials separated from the rest of my stuff.
Oh yea I just use a container like we use for our waders etc to travel with, I have the size down from what we have.

Justin

[beachbum]

I use a old wooden salt water tackle box. The slide out trays and drawers are great for threads, dubbing etc. It's been all over the USA, sat on picinic tables on a lot of good rivers. It may weigh a bit more then plastic, but it's indestructable.

It's pretty old, covered in stickers, and after an eight year lay off, I just took my vice and fly tying materials.

[briansII]

For the record. I don't tie on trips anymore. If I don't have it, I don't use/need it.

Ziplock freezer bags. It's the most efficient use of space, if your traveling. Like Ray said, just decided on what you need to tie, and don't plan on tying a wide variety. To organize efficiently, and cheaply, take a look at these.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... _THUMBNAIL

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... _THUMBNAIL

They can fit tools and material in one small package. You can even fit your vise in the bigger sizes. Something similar is sold as a "fly" binder, but of course it cost double/triple because it's for fly fishing. I am going to switch to these for my striper fishing. I'll still have a traditional box or two for topwater, but my streamers will go into these binders. BTW, the plastic bags are about double thickness, so they should be plenty durable enough for tying supplies.

briansII

[1mocast]

This is what I use...and lots of ziplock bags inside of ziplock bags.

http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct. ... &section=1