INSIDE THE BOX

Inside the Box is a feature in Tail Fly Fishing Magazine that gives the reader a glimpse inside some of our best fly boxes for an up close and personal look at what top tyers and anglers they bring to fish with.  Some of them are beautifully ties flies and very neatly packed, while other are just what made it to top of a messy fly bench, but any angler will agree that there is something to be learned by every photo.
Many of the photos we have shared over the last 22 months are geared for a specific destination or target a particular species on the fly.
We have featured bonefish, tarpon, redfish and blue water species like marlin, sailfish, mahi- mahi and tuna.  While it is a fairly simple feature, it’s surprisingly difficult to capture the essence and quality of a nice selection of flies in just a single photo.  Many of our guides and pro tyers submit photos for the feature which sometimes end up in our publication.  Inside the box gives you a look at what flies anglers bring to target various species throughout the world and now that we print Tail, back issues can also be used as reference material moving forward so keep them handy.  Here are some fly boxes that you may have missed in 2017 so far.
If you are a tyer or angler with a unique collection of flies that you want to show off, send us an email.
Admin@tailflyfishing.com

A Bluewater Box – Pacific Ocean
(published in Tail – Issue 27: January 2017)

Sardines, mackerel and squid are some of the common prey species of the Pacific Ocean and the most commonly imitated prey by saltwater fly anglers targeting these species.  The flies in this box are tied to mimic them and entice big pelagic species like mahi-mahi, marlin and sailfish to strike.  Many times a popper is paired with a baitfish teaser about six inches behind the popper hook to entire the predator to strike and often times it works.  My bluewater box includes my version of the Green Machine, which is a classic mackerel pattern.  It is about 6 inches long and has a green barred upper with a white belly.  Sometimes It is tied on a 4/0 hook with very very little or no green fiber on top and a black tail is added with permanent marker to better imitate the fleeing mackerel.  Another pattern which is similar to the Green Machine Fly is a sardine baitfish pattern in blue and white.  This one is also about 6 inches long and usually tied on a 4/0 hook.  Poppers in pink are a staple for sailfish and striped marlin but it will also entice mahi mahi to strike as well.  The EP articulated squid is another great pattern for the Pacific blue water species but because these are somewhat labor intensive to tie, some people shy away from it.  We have had great success with it for mahi-mahi.  These all work in the Atlantic too.

Bonefish Box for the Bahamas
(published in Tail 28: March 2017)

Lowcountry Redfish Box
(published in Tail 28: May 2017)

The Lowcountry Box
by William Cochran

Where the “Lowcountry” emerges in the Northeast Region of Florida this concoction of crustaceans will undoubtedly add to your experience with floodtide tailers, lowtide belly-crawlers, redneck permit and big ole uglies. Tyer William Cochran of Coch’s Flies has you covered, regardless of what time of year it is, with a combination of colors and patterns to satisfy every fishy soul. Who knew crab and shrimp could ever make playing in the mud look so good.

Use on redfish, sheepshead, tarpon and we would be willing to bet that you could even get some success with bonefish with some of these.

Tarpon Teaser Box
(published in Tail 28: July 2017)

These are some of my favorite flies that I use for tarpon in the Florida Keys. Tarpon flies are some of my favorite to tie. When fishing the backcountry, I like to use flies that have a lot of movement and different weights and colors to match different situations. On the oceanside I like to use flies that will ride higher in the water column to get those high and happy big girls.