Allen Fly Boxes

[gretch6364]

I have never fully understood the high cost of fly boxes, but have paid it and been very happy with the quality. I have a Wheatley flat foam swing leaf box that I keep all my nymphs in and then a couple C&F boxes for dries and streamers.

Recently I have been craving a Wheatley compartment style box with foam on one side and compartments on the other. They run about $80. I find I am carrying too many boxes and want to try putting together boxes for either seasons, hatches, or rivers. What has worked for you guys in the past, or do you still just end up with several boxes with you all the time?

Anyhow, I ended up finding out about Allen Fly Fishing and thought I would give them a try. They make both Wheatley and C&F style boxes. Yes, I know Wheatley is now made in the US, and I do feel guilty about that, but the $80 Wheatley boxes are $13 from Allen.

Now I was obviously super skeptical about this, thinking there is NO WAY IN HELL, these boxes can be any good. Well, I ordered 2 of the "ABAL3" boxes, and they look and feel awesome. I am not going to claim they are the same quality as a Wheatley, but if a Wheatley box is worth $80, these have to be worth $60.

If the made in the US Wheatley boxes were $40, I would buy them, but find it hard to spend $80 when these are out there. Any one else have any experience with their fly boxes? Here is a link:

http://www.allenflyfishing.com/fly-boxes-1/

One last thing to add. The Allen boxes have ridged foam, which I am not a fan of, and don't have any other options. I ordered flat Wheatley foam to replace it. This makes me feel even more guilty, becuase without Wheatley around, I would not have liked these Allen boxes. At least all my rods and reels are made in the US I guess.

[Hugh Conway]

Okuma has them with flatfoam for cheap

[schwerty]

Cliff's boxes are solid too.

I've always been a fan of the good ole jig/lure boxes. They are cheap and hold a ton of flies. Don't make sense unless you have a bunch of the same patterns though.

[YoungManofTheMountain]

thanks for the info on the allen boxes, they fit my budget just perfectly. been having similar issues keeping my flies organized. fishing all year round and tying a bunch of different patterns, it gets difficult to keep shit straight. i think the multiple boxes for the different times of the year idea will work the best.

got one of the cliff's 'super days worth' boxes a couple years ago and although a cool little design with the magnets and whatnot, it completely fell apart after a couple months of regular use. wasn't too stoked.

[gretch6364]

I also forgot to mention that my focus is on wade fishing. I don't have a boat and our water is so skinny anyhow. If I did live somewhere that I was floating mostly, I would have a huge completely waterproof floating box that I could strap to the inside of the boat and would not worry about carrying too many fly boxes.

[snapt]

Allen has stepped up their game. Good deals on boxes, rods and reels are getting better.

C&F never owned the molds used to make their boxes which is why they got knocked off right quick. Good for the consumers, bad for them. We dropped distribution this fall.

[Crampedon]

That's awesome. As I kid in the 70's I lusted after Wheatley's. I finally bought a small one in Taupo from Frank Harwich in Turangi "best foucking nymphs on the river" in the 80's and it was expensive then. Those Allens look great, thanks!

[snapt]

I wish somebody would knock off clipped wheatley's for steelhead bugs. I just picked up 2 from a shop that owed me and they would have cost close to $200 with clips. Fugging redonkulous!

[critical-motion]

I have a couple Allen guide boxes and they are awesome! One has my entire salmon fly collection (for all 5 species) and the other is for dirty things (spinners and spoons). It is great to no longer have to carry and sort through three or four fly boxes each time I go salmon fishing. Their waterproof boxes are also of great quality and the price is great compared to some of the name brand boxes that are made in the same factory, but feature fancier logos.

[Hugh Conway]

I wish somebody would knock off clipped wheatley's for steelhead bugs. I just picked up 2 from a shop that owed me and they would have cost close to $200 with clips. Fugging redonkulous!

okuma had all clips... dunno why they discontinued them.

[tomicogs]

What has worked for you guys in the past, or do you still just end up with several boxes with you all the time?

I like the Wheatleys, have more than a few, some vintage antiques on display on the mantle and a few modern workhorses I've picked up over the years. On stream I carry either a 16 or 12 compartment w/ foam in the lid in a shirt pocket, other one in the bag. 16 is stocked for the expected need and the 12 is loaded with goto 'brookie' flies, there's some overlap/backup between the two and pretty much always have both along for the outing. The inventory of the 16 changes as the season progresses, the 12 rarely changes. Also carry a 32 compartment filled with hatch matching patterns in the purse, just in case the other two are lacking or fishing unfamiliar waters, but usually leave the big one in the car when fishing true native streams or Letort home waters where unknown hatch matching isn't expected...also stash a tiny Perrine box with a handful of Clousers and sculpins in a wader pocket in case I wanna swing some meat for a biggun. If you like the authentic Wheatley's, keep an eye teh eBay, picked up a pair of 32's a while back, filled with all sorts of patterns for a song, not much over $100 for the pair....never been a fan of plastic boxes.

[DeathVan]

You guys would laugh if you saw the pockets on my waders.
-I just reach in, fumble around, and fish whatever is stuck to my hand, seems to work out here

Good deals, thanks for the heads up