When it comes to storing our pike and predator flies I’ve seen all sorts of configurations over the years. From the fly wallets that used to be popular back in the day, to the more recent “fly rolls” that have hit the market, there are many options. Some guys even prefer to construct their own storage from boxes and foam purchased from the local craft shop. One thing is for sure, we need somewhere to house our meat!
Fulling Mill have had that covered for a number of years now in the form of their IP67 rated Xtreme fly boxes. These boxes provided me with a flawless service. And, coming in three different sizes, they cover possibly any predator fly fishing situation you are likely to encounter. I loved them, at least until this new box came along.
Fly storage is a subject that has never really got me that excited. After all, it’s only somewhere to put your flies out of harms way. Or is it? Not one to be resting on their laurels, FM had recently launched a new series of polycarbonate moulded fly boxes. Initially they launched five in the range in a bright red. In this unmissable colour, they covered most of your game fly fishing needs. Then, the range was extended to eight boxes with a grey and blue alternative available in some of the models.
Do you want to learn more about our new boxes? Read here about the history of our range.
The most recent of the boxes added to the line up is the Streamer Max. It’s a real meat locker, boasting dimensions of 18x27x6 cm. The sizing of this box makes it perfect for stacking inside most modern boat bags. Additionally, It will be easily accepted into the popular seat boxes and wheeled tool boxes boat anglers enjoying using. Finally, the size of this box also makes it of great interest to the pike/predator fly angler. A length of 27 cm will allow anglers who like to throw larger flies a safe haven to store them. And, with a depth of 6cm will stop the most bulky predator flies from becoming overly crushed.
Read about our other new boat box, the Guide Box.
As with the other models in the series, the Streamer Max is formed with a moulded polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a tough plastic material with outstanding strength, impact resistance and light weight. Typically used in the engineering industry, they will not be damaged if they are dropped.
Unlike the Xtreme fly box, the Streamer Max is not a fully sealed waterproof box. But honestly, do we really need a waterproof box for storing large streamers? I don’t think so. And, bear in mind that once a fly has been used and is wet, most of the time they go straight back into the box and get the others wet. Instead the box has six neodymium magnets, the strongest magnet commercially available on the market. Three are positioned on either side, which gives the tightest off closures. What’s more, two staggered moulded lips on either side of the boxes leaf’s are perfectly positioned to place your thumbs to help separate the strong magnets to gain access. The opposite side sees a piano style hinge run the length of the box with a steel pin inserted, which gives a super smooth open and closing hinged system.
To read more from Paul, head to his profile on the blog
Internally, the box follows a similar theme to the outside. Put together with the finest quality high density foam, which is light weight and of tough to ensure it will last a life time of use. Each side has 14 vertical slits that run the length of the foam, which gives a very secure fit to the flies. Once the fly is firmly pushed into place, they are simply going nowhere. This is important, especially during bumpy boat rides where the flies can become dislodged as they bounce about in a bag on the bottom off a boat. I also prefer the black foam to some of the other lighter coloured foams on the market that can get discoloured and dirty over time. Secured to the inside of the box with a high impact adhesive, the foam will stay in place for the duration of its life.
The Streamer Max is available in all three of the colours now available. The vibrant red where it all began—I like this colour a lot as it stands out well and can be easily seen if misplaced—the more monochromic grey colour for those who prefer a more subtle shade, or finally what can only be described as a stunning royal blue box. This is possibly my favourite out of all three of the shades. When the light hits the box it almost seems as if it’s glowing!
To learn about our other boxes offered in these colors, head to the blog.
The beauty of having different coloured boxes in the range means flies can be arranged in order of the colour of the box. This means you don’t have to open several boxes of the same colour looking for the required fly.
The boxes are manufactured here in the the UK as well. The initial design, building and testing took 18 months to complete. It shows the commitment FM put into getting these unique, one of a kind masterpieces right!
Retailing at £44.95 the old saying “you only get what you pay for” rings true here. And maybe, just maybe, this fly box has me a little bit excited.
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