As saltwater and salmon fly anglers know, fly storage can be a bit tricky. With the massive range in fly size you need for saltwater fly fishing, you need boxes that are capable of holding anything from a 6-inch streamer to a size 8 nymph. Thankfully, there is a multitude of fly boxes perfect for saltwater anglers.
Here is our guide for the best saltwater fly boxes!
Best Fly Boxes Quick Picks:
Cliffs Bugger Beast is the best option for large streamers. It's extremely large and has self-healing foam that allows you to organize and place your streamers wherever you would like.
For smaller boxes, you can't go wrong with the Crab Shack box from Cliff Outdoors. It's only six inches long and four inches wide. It can hold all of the crab and nymph flies you would ever need.
The Coldwater fly box is a unique design perfect for your salmon and steelhead flies. The stainless steel hooks that allow you to hang larger streamers are a unique design perfect for large salmon and steelhead flies!
Best Saltwater Fly Box Reviews
C&F Designs make some of the best saltwater fly boxes on the market. They're well-designed, with ample space for both your streamers and any smaller flies that you may be using. It's a waterproof fly box with five rows of fly storage on each side. The rippled design on the rows makes for an easier organization than many other boxes. It's the right fly box for anglers needing a box that can store medium-sized flies. Bonefish or salmon flies are easily stored in it. At around $50, you're making an investment, but it's going to last you for years.
- See-Through Cover for easy visibility
- Can store over 100 flies
- 10 inches wide x 1 inch deep x 15 inches tall
If you're an angler who spends time fishing the flats, the Crab Shack Fly Box from Cliff Outdoors is meant for you. It's not an overly large box, so it can easily fit in your shirt or shorts pocket. It's great for holding crab flies and nymphs. There is foam on both sides of the box, so there are no specific areas you need to put the flies. Fit and organize your wet flies however you need. The Cliff Outdoors fly boxes are well-respected! At around $25, you're getting a wonderful box that's going to hold up through years of use.
- See-through lids
- Self-healing foam that doesn't wear down after use
- 6 inches long x 4 inches wide x 1.5 inches tall
In terms of affordable, high-quality fly boxes, Adamsbuilt may lead the list. The double-sided waterproof series is just what a saltwater or salmon angler may need. The large size is perfect for anglers looking to keep all their saltwater flies organized in one place. If you want to keep saltwater flies on one side and salmon flies on the other, that's also an option! You can take out flies and put them into smaller boxes for your day trip, but this easily stores in a bag with the rest of your fly fishing gear. Adamsbuilt fly boxes have rows and triangle slits that fit any size hook you're hoping to use. It's a unique design specific to Adamsbuilt. For around $50, you are finding a great, high-quality box!
- Fully waterproof fly box
- Double-sided clear lids
- 15 inches long x 10 inches wide x 2.5 inches tall
If you use many large streamers, dries, and nymphs, you need to use the Bugger Barn from Cliffs Outdoors. I love this box for salmon and saltwater fishing. It's a great fly box that has all the necessary features for storing bigger patterns. Where many streamer fly boxes fall short is in the amount of depth they provide. The Bugger Barn is deep enough that your streamers don't get stuck on each other and create more of a mess than you would like. Even though it's portable, it still has enough room that you won't run into too many storage issues. Articulated streamers and bugs are at home in this box! For around $30, you're getting one of the best-selling fly boxes of all time.
- See-through all the way around for easy fly identification
- Self-healing foam for great storage of all types of flies
- 9 inches long x 4.5 inches wide x 1.5 inches tall
The Umpqua Boat Box is a unique design for fly storage. While you have the two sides of fly storage on the inside of the box, you also have an external foam sheet for storage while you're fishing from a boat. Whether you're polling your way through the flats or drifting for salmon, this external storage is a game changer. You can easily change flies and place them there to dry until you need them again. You have six rows of slots for you to keep the flies organized exactly how you would like. At around $60, you're making an investment into this fly box, but it's well worth the expense. It's going to keep the majority of your large flies in one place.
- ABS Plastic that's fully sealed and waterproof!
- Two locks for ultimate storage
- 13 inches long x 10 inches wide x 3 inches deep
The Umpqua Payload Boat Box is another large fly box that's ready for whatever flies you have. It'll store big, articulated patterns as well as small flats fly that you may be used on the same day. It's a double-sided box with an ample amount of room on each side to store whatever you may need. Similar to several other boxes on this list, it's deep enough that you don't run into trouble shutting this box when it's filled with large patterns. Plus, the magnetic lid is very efficient and provides more of a stylish design! At around $60, you're getting a box that will last a lifetime!
- Megaslit Hybrid Foam that easily holds all types of flies
- See-through lids for easy fly selection
- 11 inches long x 7 inches wide x 2 inches deep
If you're looking for a portable salmon fly box, the New Phase 1457 box is a good option for you. This box has a unique design with storage for 16 flies. Each end of the box has 8 "hooks" on it for you to hang any of your larger, articulated streamers. These hooks keep your flies organized, and they're spread far enough apart that your flies won't be directly on top of each other. Plus, there is slotted foam in the box that you can slide the hook into for double the security! At around $25, you're getting a portable fly box capable of storing days worth of salmon flies.
- See-through lid for fly identification
- Rubber-gasket around the edge keeps the box waterproof
- 7 inches long x 4 inches wide x 1.5 inches deep
Region fishing is a lesser-known brand that produces a phenomenal fly box. It's a large box with see-through lids for fly identification. Plus, it is able to hold dry flies, nymphs as well as streamers. There is around .75 of room between the foam and the inside of the closed lid, so you have plenty of room for some of those larger flies that you may be carrying. Depending on how you want to organize your box, you can have one side act as saltwater fly storage and one side as freshwater! There is plenty of room for both. The best aspect of this box is that it's only $35! You're paying far less than you would for more of a well-known brand.
- Holds up for 420 flies
- Fully waterproof with a handle
- Built with ABS plastic
The Coldwater Fly Fishing box is another great option for salmon fishing. Similar to the New Phase 1457, you're going to have two sets of 8 stainless steel hooks on each side of the box for you to store any extra large streamers. There are still slits for you to store the hooks as needed. This is only a one-sided box, so it's not going to hold a ton of flies, but it's big enough for a day's worth of fishing! The extra thick foam is going to keep your flies safe and secure no matter how rough of water or road you're traveling. At around $35, you're getting a wonderful deal!
- Slightly colored lid to prevent fly colors from fading
- Fully sealed and waterproof
- 9 inches long x 4.5 inches wide x 1.5 inches tall
The Bugger Beast from Cliffs Outdoors is one of their largest models. It's made for all of the large flies that you would need to use. Whether you're targeting salmon or saltwater fish, you want to make sure you have this box. It's going to keep a week's worth of flies stored inside it fairly easily. There are no specific rows or areas where you're forced to store flies, so you can keep them in rows and spots that you would like! At less than $50, you can't go wrong. Cliffs Outdoors are very reputable.
- Self-healing foam
- Colored lid so you can't identify flies from the outside
- 8 inches long x 14 inches wide x 10 inches tall
Saltwater Fly Box Buying Guide: What to Look For
Capacity – How Many Flies Can It Hold?
Most saltwater anglers carry quite a few flies. Different colors, sizes, and patterns fill up multiple fly boxes! Depending on what you’re willing to carry out on the water, you want a box that’s going to keep up with your needs. Most anglers choose a medium-sized box that can hold a day or two worth of flies! The Coldwater Box, C&F Box, as well as UPG Payload from Umpqua can hold anything that you would need for a full day on the water.
Is It Waterproof?
Saltwater can ruin flies extremely quickly. If saltwater gets into your fly box, it can rust out the hooks in a matter of days. Waterproof fly boxes are an absolute necessity for fly saltwater fly anglers. You want to make sure it’s fully sealed every single time you close the box. Make sure it doesn’t say water-resistant! It has to be waterproof.
How Durable Is the Box?
Durability is another important feature. Make sure the fly box you’re purchasing is made of ABS plastic! This plastic is able to withstand drops and any other challenging conditions you may put it through. It’s rumored that some of the ABS boxes are able to withstand being run over by a vehicle. You want something that can take a beating.
Does It Use Foam or Silicon to Hold the Flies?
Depending on your preference, you may want a fly box that has silicon or foam inserts holding your flies. Foam has been the design that has been used for years, but silicon is making its way into the world of fly boxes. Both options are good! If possible, find a box that has self-healing foam.
What Design Features Does It Have?
Design features like a magnetic locking system, see-through lids, and self-healing foam are all things you want in your fly boxes. Even the external foam insert for quick drying and access is a nice feature.
Conclusion
Quality saltwater and salmon fly boxes can make your life easier while you’re out on the water. Take a pick from any of the boxes mentioned above, and you’re not going to regret it. They have all the necessary features and a design quality that is going to last you for many generations!
