Something eating my flies!

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Coral Maestro
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Something eating my flies!

Post by Coral Maestro »

I was checking through my fly tins yesterday and noticed that the contents of a couple of tins have been nibbled by insects unknown.The hackles and wings have suffered the worst to the extent that they've had to be binned. Admittedly, the contents are up to 40 years old so the critters have had plenty of time to get nibbling.
I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for sprays or other ways of discouraging the offending insects?
What do they know of fishing who know only one fish and one way to fish for him?
- Jack Hargreaves.

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Catfish.017
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Re: Something eating my flies!

Post by Catfish.017 »

Moths usually, mothballs the remedy.

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Santiago
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Re: Something eating my flies!

Post by Santiago »

They'll be mites. It's a wee difficult for moths to get into tins, assuming you have lids on. A bit of camphor (cedar)wood inside the tin will sort them out. Otherwise get some moth balls.
Last edited by Santiago on Mon Apr 01, 2024 6:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"....he felt the gentle touch on the line and he was happy"

Hemingway

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Coral Maestro
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Re: Something eating my flies!

Post by Coral Maestro »

Thanks for your suggestions!
What do they know of fishing who know only one fish and one way to fish for him?
- Jack Hargreaves.

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Banksy
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Re: Something eating my flies!

Post by Banksy »

A piece of mothball is a wise addition to a box containing fly tying materials, as I found out too late.
Those Metz capes do not come cheap!

Thank goodness I only had a few 'seconds' from Mackenzie Philps at the time.
:Chuckle:

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Santiago
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Re: Something eating my flies!

Post by Santiago »

Another thing you can do is to occasionally put your fly tins (flies inside ) into the freezer overnight. That way you can avoid tainting the flies with unwanted chemicals.
"....he felt the gentle touch on the line and he was happy"

Hemingway

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Coral Maestro
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Re: Something eating my flies!

Post by Coral Maestro »

I like the idea of putting them in the freezer!
What do they know of fishing who know only one fish and one way to fish for him?
- Jack Hargreaves.

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Olly
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Re: Something eating my flies!

Post by Olly »

Certainly kill the bugs in the freezer. Put your fur coat in there!

I use wooden balls - camphor - but put them in large box containing my fly boxes.

The - insects - will also attack bait in bags - so I apply the same to bait as flies - - a box or boxes within a box with mothballs. Had about£50+ of bait destroyed by 'bugs' a year or two ago. Especially pellets!

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Walkerburt
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Re: Something eating my flies!

Post by Walkerburt »

Trout will chomp on moth-eaten flies with abandon, probably more so than on our carefully tied versions…

It’s the natural look
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Olly
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Re: Something eating my flies!

Post by Olly »

With salmon flies costing an arm & a leg - freezer!

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