It isn’t uncommon for fly fishermen to have 30 or 40 flies of different sorts and sizes. This can create quite a problem. Keeping them loose in a tackle box or creel is a great way to have an unwieldy mess that can make it difficult to find the fly you want, and almost invariably results in punctures from the sharp hooks. There is a way around this though, use a fly book.
When we talk about fly books, we aren’t talking about books about fly-fishing or on how to tie flies. In fact, we aren’t talking about printed material at all. A fly book is simply a place to store fishing flies so they can easily be selected, while helping to protect the flies from damage.
Fly books can be purchased, and many of the bought variety do a fair job, whether they are a magnetic sort or other construction. However, a good durable fly book can be created without much effort or expense, and this can last for years.
To make a fly book, you need:
1 8 inch x 8 inch square of fake wool
1 8 inch x 9 inch rectangle of leather (soft leather works best)
1 or 2 clothing snaps
Heavy thread
Leather needles
A leather punch (a knife can be used, but it makes the creation of the fly book more difficult)
Step 1: Punch or cut a hole in the leather to contain the male side of the clothing snap(s), and crimp the snap into place. The placement should be 1/4 to 1/2 inch in from the edge, along one of the eight-inch sides of the leather.
Step 2: Turn the leather over, and then sew the fake wool to the leather. It should be sewn all the way around, but flush on three sides so there will be a one-inch overlap of leather.
Step 3: Fold the material in half so the fake wool is on the inside, fold the one inch flap of leather over, and punch a hole or holes for the female ends of the snap so they can snap tight in the male ends. Insert those or that side of the snap. This will hold the book together to protect the flies and prevent them from coming free accidentally.
You should now have a completed fly book, eight inches long and four inches wide, to hold your flies. To attach the flies, simply unsnap the book and slip the hook into the fake wool, then snap it closed again. The fake wool holds the hook in place, yet you can easily remove it by just pulling on the hook.
A fly book made in this way isn’t very expensive, and the leather causes it to last for a long time. Better still, you can arrange your flies according to type and size. This means that by just opening the book, you (or the fly fisherman in your family, if you are making this as a gift) can easily find just the fly that is desired. Also, it means that simply opening the book and taking a quick glance, it is easy to see which flies need to be purchased or tied.
A fly book of this size is capable of holding a surprising number of flies, and since the fake wool is soft, it protects the fur and feathers the fly was tied from. At the same time, the leather protects the fly from the elements.
If you are a fly fisherman and have never used a fly book, you will quickly start to wonder why it took so long to try it. If you make your own book and see how easy it is, you may wonder even more. A fly book is something every fly fisherman can use, and unlike many other things they may have for fly-fishing, it is inexpensive, especially if it is home made. This leads to less time spent finding the fly you want, and more time spent in catching the fish.