If you’re looking for advice to buy the right streamer fly box you’ve come to the right place. In this 2021 Buyer’s Guide, I will go through our top 10 streamer fly boxes on the market today. I will also describe what the main types are and which ones are likely to suit you the best.
Our top ten list might surprise you, as I am a firm believer that it’s not always the most expensive product that wins. For the best streamer fly boxes, we’re looking at affordability, level of weather sealing, closing mechanism, and storage capacity.
Image | Product | Details | |
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Top SellerWhite River Fly Shop Magnum |
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C & F Small Waterproof Streamer Fly box |
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Cliff Outdoors Bugger Barn Box |
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Plan D Pack Fly Box |
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Cliff Outdoors The Bugger Beast Boat Box |
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Tacky Big Bug Fly Box |
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Contents
ToggleDetailed Best Streamer Fly Box Reviews
These days there are hundreds of fly boxes to choose from. For large streamers, the choice becomes quite tricky as you need a good securing foam and ample fly storage. Below we’ve ranked our top ten favorite streamer boxes for streamer fishing!
10) Aventik Large Streamer Boat Box
- $22.99
- Not weather sealed
- Locks with two sliding latches
- Foam inserts
- Size 10.43” x 8.27” x 3.15”
The Aventik Large Streamer Boat Box does everything you want a boat box to do. It comes with three different loose foam sheets that allow you to choose what configuration you want inside your box. The third extra sheet can be attached to the outside lid of the box as a drying dock for used flies.
The box is available in three colors, which include yellow, orange, and grey. The foam inserts assist with preventing rust, however, I suggest cleaning saltwater flies thoroughly before reinserting them back into the box.
9) C&F Small Streamer Fly Box CF-1500
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- $35.95
- Not weather sealed
- Foam insert
- Double-sided
- Size not disclosed
The C&F Small Fly Box is available in several configurations. The one best suited for streamers is with flat foam (CF-1500). The box is a good choice if you’re only planning on carrying a couple of different patterns with you. It is not weather-sealed so we recommend storing it in a waterproof bag (a zip-lock bag does the trick for a cheap alternative)
8) Plan D Boat Fly Box
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- $41.99
- Not Weather sealed
- Multiple foam combination choices
- Closes with two sliding latches
- Foam insert
- Double-sided
- Size 10.5” x 8.5” x3.25”
The Plan D Boat Fly Box is a great option for anglers who not only use standard streamers. The box is available in configurations that can hold normally styled streamers, tube, and articulated flies. As with all boat boxes on our list, it is not weather-sealed, so should be kept in your waterproof backpack or on the boat. The box holds a large number of flies which make it perfect for guides or extended trips.
7) Tacky Big Bug Fly Box
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- $34.95
- Two sides
- Not weather sealed, magnetic closed, no latch
- Silicone insert
- Inside diameter 7” x 3 ¾” x 1 1/4”
The Tacky Big Bug Fly Box can hold up to 144 streamers (which depends on the size of the flies). Tacky has recently been bought over by Fishpond, which means you’ll find these boxes in great color combinations and designs. The silicon inserts last extremely long and grips flies firmly. The box is not weather sealed and the lid is kept closed by 4 magnets. I would, therefore, only recommend this box for the angler who uses high-quality waterproof bags or fishes from a boat. This is recommended as one of the best fly box in the market today.
6) Cliff Outdoors The Articulator Box
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- $35.99
- Designed specifically for articulated streamers
- Foam insert with a memory coil system
- Not weather sealed
- Double-sided
- Size not disclosed
Cliff Outdoors has come up with a clever solution for carrying articulated streamers. Usually, the hooks of these flies would be secured in a normal slit-foam box, leaving the articulating bodies to dangle around. I’ve always found articulated flies to be a pain to carry around due to this as they always seem to come loose. The Articulator Box features a memory coil system that holds the body in place. If you fish articulated flies regularly, this is the box for you.
5) Cliff Outdoors The Bugger Beast Boat Box
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- $52.99
- Not weather sealed
- Closes with two sliding latches
- Foam insert
- Double-sided
The Cliff Outdoors Bugger Beast Boat Box is one of the best boat boxes around. It features Cliff’s popular blue foam inserts that just seem to last. The box’s exterior features a recess on one side and a raised section on the others. This means you can have multiple boxes stacked on top of each other and prevent them from slipping around. The box is intended to be kept on the boat and can store hundreds of flies. If you’re looking for something slightly smaller, the Junior version is a great option.
4) Plan D Pack Fly Box
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- $34.99
- One side
- Weather sealed
- Lid locking mechanism
- Foam insert
- 9.54” x 5.22” x 1.41”
The Plan D Pack Fly Box is available in three variations. The Pack Articulated Plus can store up to 20 articulated fresh or saltwater streamers. The Pack Standard is has a flat foam surface with long cut slots perfect for most streamers. The Pack Tube Plus is a great option to store up to 20 tube flies. The box only has foam on one side and a clear lid on the other. This will help you quickly identify the correct box. The box is weather-sealed and has a locking mechanism for the lid.
3) Cliff Outdoors Bugger Barn Box
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- $26.99
- Two sides
- Not weather sealed
- Grips fly properly
- Foam
- No latch
- Inside dimensions 8 ¾” x 4 3/8” x 1/3/8”
The Cliff Outdoors Bugger Barn Box is one of my favorite streamer fly boxes. It holds a good number of flies for its size. The foam grips a hook securely and, if used correctly, lasts a long time. If you’re planning on wading this box should be kept in a watertight bag as it’s not weather sealed. The Bugger Barn box offers good value for money when taking into consideration the quality of the foam and the storage capacity.
2) C & F Small Waterproof Streamer Fly box CF-1600
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- $42.95
- Weather sealed
- Closes with latch
- Foam insert
- Double-sided
- Size not disclosed
If I had to choose a small box to carry a couple of my most precious streamers with me on the water, the C&F Small Waterproof Streamer Fly Box would be my choice. It differs from number 9 on our list by being fully waterproof. It is available in different configurations, but the one suited best to streamers is the flat slotted foam inserts. The only downside to this box is that, for its size and fly capacity, it’s quite expensive.
1) White River Fly Shop Magnum Double-Sided Fly box
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- $24.99
- Double-sided
- Weather sealed
- Closes with latch
- Size 9” x 6 ½” x 2”
- Foam insert
- Clear doors so you can see the flies
At the top of our list of the best streamer fly boxes, we have the White River Fly Shop Magnum Double-Sided Fly Box. It ticks all the correct boxes (pun intended). Its great value at only $25, weather-sealed, has a good locking mechanism and can carry a good number of flies. Although it is double-sided, it has two clear doors that allow you to see the flies on the inside. This makes finding the right fly a breeze.
What is a Streamer Fly Box?
A streamer fly box should allow you to carry all the streamer flies you’ll need on the water. These flies are large, have big hooks, and take up a lot of space. In some cases, a normal fly box will get the job done, but having a dedicated streamer fly box keeps things organized and neat.
In my opinion, there are two basic types of streamer fly boxes. The first is one that you can carry on your person. This box is either stowed in your fishing vest, chest, or waist pack. For peace of mind, the box should be weatherproof which prevents the ingress of water (or at least to some extent).
This box should have a balance of being small enough to be carried with you on the water, yet offer enough space for at least 30 large streamers.
The second type of streamer box is what is known as a boat box. These boxes are large and able to house a ton of streamers. Due to the large size, and general lack of weather sealing, the box cannot be carried with you on the water, except if stored in a backpack.
This type of fly box is meant to be kept on land, in your truck, or on the boat.
If you’re looking for some fly fishing goodies come to you every month, then you might want to check out our post here on the best fly fishing subscription box.
Conclusion
Investing in a good quality streamer fly box is absolutely necessary for any fly angler. We spend a considerable amount of money and time (if you tie your own flies) in flies. Looking after them properly will save you money and ensure that the hooks and material remain as sharp and fresh as when they were tied.
I’d recommend the White River Fly Shop Magnum Double-Sided Fly box simply because of its price value. You get more without breaking your bank.
Please leave any comments and questions and the bottom of the page. We would love to hear what your favourite streamer fly box is.