Reviving Old Flies

[flyfishermanj]

Found this at Field & Stream:

Use Steam to Revive Beat Up Flies

May just save a few of those drys with crushed hackle from being in the box too long.

JH

 

[tomgamber]

Always heard that never tried it...let us know how it works...

 

[JackM]

It works, but don't hold it in the steam too long or you'll risk melting the head cement.

 

[RLeeP]

There is a speed way to do this if you are long on flies and short on patience like me. Use a small wire mesh spaghetti strainer and put a dozen or so in at a time. Use a saucepan instead of a teapot to enlarge the area of steam. Then hold the strainer over the stream and jiggle the flies around with a motion like you'd use to shake an old time corn popper.

Goes a lot quicker..

 

[afishinado]

RLeeP,

Exactly, you beat me to it. I just did that to all my dries last weekend. It works well.

 

[ErnieBall]

I have a bunch of old flies of my dads that I'll have to do this to, great advice

 

[dryflyguy]

fj:

I keep all of my flies in boxes with compartments - and don't have the ripple foam - and never have a problem with hackle
V-ing out.