The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

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?

Moths usually, mothballs the remedy.

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.

Thanks for your suggestions!

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.

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.

I like the idea of putting them in the freezer!

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!

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

It’s the natural look

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