You can buy plastic sleaves in different dimensions and stick the fly in one when it is dry. Certain materials, particularly natural fibers will straiten if you steam them- ie using the steam from a tea kettle- if they become mis shaped.

mike

 

You can buy plastic sleaves in different dimensions and stick the fly in one when it is dry. Certain materials, particularly natural fibers will straiten if you steam them- ie using the steam from a tea kettle- if they become mis shaped.

mike

Hey Mike. Been using the bags for over a decade. notice this pile of flies. They have hooks but you can grab them like a bunch of ketchup packs! http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=22685

I don't really sweat it with bucktail, because it will pretty much fix itself in the water. With stuff like ultra hair however, it's a pretty big issue. I used to bag them mainly because they would tangle together with hooks, and when you've got fish circling that really sucks! Now with tubes I do it just to keep them straight.

As to access to bags when I used to tie commercially I would order them bulk from Umpqua and Frontier. That was HORRIBLE and it often took months to get them for some unknown reason. Here's a site where they come out to be under a penny a bag for 2x4. Hopefully you have some friends to split them up with

 

Klint,
I don't buy little plastic bags for my tube flies. I make my own (to size) with standard quart and gallon ziplock bags and an ancient Oster bag-sealing unit (no suction). I cut the ziplock part of the bag off, then measure and melt seams into the plastic. My tube bags look a little weird sometimes (sides not exactly parallel), but they are quick to make and work fine. And like I said, you can make them almost any length and width you want. If I didn't already have a funky bag-sealing unit, I'd look for one in a Good Will.

Like a lot of the other folks on this site, I keep sleeved tubes in standard-sized, clear plastic lure boxes (Plano, etc.).
Mark

 

This is what I use with hooks in the tubes. I believe it's made by Bug Box and holds a ton of salt water flies. Picked it up at the last fly show in Bellevue.

 

Dang... Forgot to list the site :beathead: http://www.monsterpackaging.com/group/1227/Flat-Poly-Bags-2-Mil.aspx

 

Phil, which size bag do you find the most useful? The 4"?

 

Little trick I learned from my father for streamer type tube flies.Clean drinking straws cut down and slide over the tube fly to keep the wings from getting damaged then put them in a plain stowaway adjustable compartment box.
Got real lucky buying a milk shake the other day with over sized straws big enough to put over my tuna tube flies I have been tying for an up coming trip.

 

I happen to have a bag sealer that I am going to try out.

Great ideas thanks for sharing.