I think that you should find the best fly box that you possibly can.
Why?
First, the difference between any random fly box and the best fly box is probably less than $20. That seems like a pretty reasonable cost for convenience.
Second, fit and organization matter. If a box is always falling out of a pocket or keeping you from zipping up your vest, it just isn’t worth it. If you can’t keep and locate your flies efficiently and effectively, it just isn’t worth it.
I’m sure there are other reasons to be shared, but those ought to put a pretty fine point on it. Practically speaking, the application of those points can play out in a variety of different ways. Your preferred packing technique and styles of flies will determine what the best fly box is for you. For me, it means a drawer full of dozens of them that I’ll turn to based on any given day’s variables.
One style I’ve been coming back to for decades is the foam box. They consistently meet my needs across numerous angling scenarios. Recently, I’ve been carrying a better foam box.
Mana Fly Fishing began selling two new foam fly boxes this year. Based out of Rhode Island, this small company has been selling branded hats and shirts while putting their boxes and other gear through research and design. The testing and prototypes worked, because the foam boxed from Mana are improvements on a classic concept.
Floating fly boxes have always been some of my favorites, but here are some ways in which these boxes excel:
Weightless: The high density foam is light. Stashing a box in the front of your waders isn’t going to cause them to droop. Having two or three in your vest isn’t going to cause strain on your neck. Of course, a few ounces isn’t going to be painful – but less is always better.
Convenient: Using small but powerful magnets, Mana’s boxes open up and close tightly with one hand. What separates them from other foam boxes is the wave-like pattern of the ridges. This gives you the opportunity to adjust fly placement based upon size while still using every foam ridge – allowing these boxes to be your one fly box if you desire. Ridges, in my opinion, are the most versatile surfaces for fly storage.
Durable: Foam boxes are great because they are crushproof and hinge-less. The latter is especially a reason for boxes to break. Thee durability is more than on the outside One of Mana’s boxes is slotted, which will effectively make it receive hooks indefinitely without falling apart.
Ergonomic: Because they are foam, they will give a bit if they’re against your body and you move. This is great if you are going ultralight or packing it into an oversized pocket. They’re the right size for almost every fly; bigger bodied poppers being the only exception I’ve noticed.
Floating: An all foam box is obviously going to float. That isn’t going to stop your flies from getting carried away downstream, but it is going to give you a greater chance to grab them. Also, Mana went the extra step to mold a lip into the box. This doesn’t make it water proof, but does make it water resistant (which is great – I don’t want water trapped in with my flies).
All in all, I am a fan of these boxes from Mana. They have tweaked a common piece of fly fishing gear in a couple of ways that anglers will appreciate. If you’re looking for a “do-it-all” box for trout, warmwater, or even salt flies, you’ll be happy to have one of these fly boxes in your collection.
The slotted and regular boxes come in at $25 and $20, respectively. That puts them just above the mid-range for fly box pricing. Take a look at them and pick one up on the website of Mana Fly Fishing.
