Similar to Alice, I’ve been known to fall into a rabbit hole or two. Once I start to like something, I can get borderline obsessed with it. I have been described by my friends as “loyal to a fault” and I take this as a compliment. Once I get a system I like, I stick to it. About 10 years ago my fly storage process changed for the better. I was looking for a larger fly box for articulated streamers. My solution came in a box named “The Bugger Barn”. I had never before heard of Cliff Fly Boxes but the Bugger Barn was exactly what I was looking for. It was a sturdy box that could get thrown around the boat while securely holding large flies all without crushing my sloppily tied deer hair heads. Like fly storage should be, simple but effective. Into the rabbit hole of Cliff Outdoors did I fall..
I now almost exclusively use Cliff fly boxes for all my fly storage. I find the fly boxes especially perfect for holding large bug and baitfish imitations. This is because of the unique design of the foam. The boxes have slots cut into a foam type material that actually grips the hook. To add a fly, one simply needs to back the hook into the slot and the fly will be securely held in place. To remove it, just back it out. This means no rips or tears like traditional foam boxes. These boxes are made in Wyoming out of polycarbonate so they are bomb proof and built to last. They are also designed by fly fishermen. This means there are details that cause something simple like a fly box to actually be thoughtfully fashioned for different scenarios. An example of this is the Cliff’s Crab Shack.
For my recent trip to Andros South, I wanted a smaller fly box that I could use for all my bonefish ammunition. Like most fly fishermen, I can be a little bit of a gear junkie and consistently bring too much stuff. Unnecessary weight and gear while walking the flats was something I was determined to avoid. I wanted one fly box that could hold a handful of bonefish patterns tied in two different weights. The Crab Shack is exactly what I needed and then some. The size of the box, 6”x4”x1 5/8” is large enough to hold my flies while designed to still fit into a fishing shirt pocket. I was able to walk the flats like a minimalist, I didn’t even need to bring a pack. I had a pair of pliers on my waist and my Crab Shack in my pocket, bonefish beware! For the days where I didn’t have on a traditional fishing shirt, the box fit perfectly in my Patagonia pants pocket.
In fly fishing, I always say, “The beauty is in the details” and the attention to detail when designing the fly boxes is what makes Cliff’s products a favorite of mine. Whether you are swinging flies in the Pacific Northwest, sight casting midges on a technical tailwater, or walking the flats in South Andros, Matt Cassel and his team have a fly box designed for your fishing needs. For more products, check out their website here. You will find a range of fly boxes that were thoughtfully designed driven by time on the water. The products are built to last in Casper Wyoming.
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