The majority of the nymphs in my box have beads, and the oxidation of those beads used to be a problem. Over time, some of the shiny flies that left my vise would lose a little of their luster or start to discolor. For a while I thought perhaps it was the quality of the beads’ finish, but I eventually realized that it was more often the result of moisture. Even flies kept in a waterproof box are exposed to moisture every time the lid is opened, and oxidation can easily occur in a slightly humid box.

So … in my waterproof fly boxes I started tossing in a couple silica gel packets. It works.

Overwhelmed with disappointment all of my life that I could NOT EAT the tempting silica gel packets, I have made my peace by perpetuating their usefulness.

Couple points: the packets don’t stay dry forever (not so perpetual), and they need to be replaced. When I find the magical packets, I save them in a sealed pill bottle, preserving their super-powers of absorption.  I change out the ones in my fly boxes every once in a while — when I figure they’ve absorbed what they can and have lost their effectiveness — it’s just a guess.

Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
domenick@troutbitten.com