Thinking Inside the Box, and Storing Your Tackle

Adapted from Capt. John King's articles "Thinking Inside the Box" (2009), "Storing Flies & Meat Rigs" (2008, updated 2020) and the storage section of "Making Trolling Flies II" (2010) on MichiganSportsman.com. Originals: Thinking Inside the Box · Storing Flies & Meat Rigs.

Thinking inside the box

  • Trust your instincts and don't overthink it.
  • If you've tried different depths and speeds with no bites, the fish aren't there. Move.
  • Never go back over water that didn't produce.
  • "Just changing colors is not going to put fish under your boat. Adjust your speed & depths before thinking dramatic color shifts is going to save your day. Boat location is everything!"

Storing flies and meat rigs

  • Use storage cases with foam inserts, and load hooks on one side of the foam.
  • Keep glow tackle out of full sun when stored. Sun curls Mylar and wears out the glow.
  • Store newly tied flies in a sandwich-style zip-top bag until use, so the fine Mylar strands don't tangle. Water use will set the Mylar.
  • John's 2020 update: use only a short section of protector sleeve on a fly so the Mylar keeps its action.
  • No Mylar fly lasts forever, "but the more chewed up they are? ...it seems the better they work!"

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