[MrEsox]

Just wondering what others do with flies that they dont use anymore? Since I've gotten into tying my own flies, I've used up 2 fly boxes and have had to put some of my bigger flies into a plano box. So needless to say I got a few flies. I just dont want to get rid of any of them.

[fyshstykr]

If it's a pattern that has just taken up room in the box and does not get used I'll give it away.
If it's a fly that has been worn out or was used on a memorable fish, I'll bag and tag it for future referrence, or let the wife use it with a pic of the fish in her scrapbooking.

Recently read a story from Craig Matthews where a fly that was used on a good day get's put into his daily journal, held in place between the pages with a piece of scotch tape. Kinda cool.

[Alex Guthrie]

toss 'em - they're just taking up valuable room.

actually i sometimes take some of my old flies and experiment techniques with them; for instance i practiced learning how to epoxy heads with some of my old flies and didn't feel so bad when i had to toss'em.


tight lines!

[Davo]

As guide I have a boat full of flies. Large cabelas box in the seat stogage, and about five large fly boxes in my vest. The ones that get chewed up or whipped to death by clients I toss. The odd fly that never gets used usually come from A box I've found out on the river. I eventually toss these as well. The inventory in my boxes turns over several times a season. The service I guide for provides flies for the clients and settles up at the end of the day for flies they lost. It works out better than taking the client to the shop and having them buy a mess of flies they might not need once they leave for home. Plus a fair amount of our clients are non fisherman who just wanted to give it go.

Davo

[tie one on]

Many of the flies I have tied over the years end up in the
"Jar". Any fly that happens to end up there is 90% of the time
placed in the vise & stripped down to the bare hook to be
re-used. If the hook is bent/damaged it is discarded safely.
I typically do this during the winter months when the weather
here in Michigan makes the rivers unsafe, therefore giving me
more time to tie flies.

Tie One On

[liv2fish]

Since I am still learning more than anything, when I first try a new pattern and it doesn't come out great, I'll give them to my girlfriend or roommate/friends. Usually they have small things wrong with them like the ribbing is not just right or the tail is too thick/thin for my taste, or the bead I used it slightly too big for the fly. They will still work just fine but if I am learning a new pattern and tie 10 or so, I might as well give them the first few and keep a 1/2 dozen that came out a little nicer for myself. The only hooks I have reused after they were torn to pieces have been larger hooks for pike flies. They are easier to strip and more expensive so I feel its worth my time.

[HuronRiverDan]

I like the thought of recycling them. Here's another use for them if you have some you never use; donate them to a group like Reeling and Healing or some of the other similar groups. I know they would appreciate them, however many you donate.

Dan