I’m always looking for ways to make my fly tying more efficient so I can whip out a few more flies when I sit down at the tying bench. Sometimes the best ideas come from my friends and family who don’t even fly fish. I was completely surprised these holidays when my wonderful Mother-in-law handed me this magnetic parts tray to open up Christmas morning. What a brilliant idea on her part to find a way to help me keep track of my terminal tying materials and finished flies. God knows I spend a fair amount of time on my hands and knees searching for items falling off my tying bench. No more will I be constantly dropping my hooks, beads and other materials on the floor when I’m tying flies. For any fly shop owners out there that happen to see this, I recommend you pick some of these guys up and stack them next to the cash register.
Keep it Reel,
Kent Klewein Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter!
Great idea! I actually have one of these out in my garage on my ski tuning bench, mainly to corral loose binding screws when I am mounting skis. Never thought to us this for fly tying.
Jeff,
It has been a great addition to my tying table. Hooks, beads, and finished flies are best suited for the dish. Have not dropped on since.
Kent
I think someone needs to invent an auto-beader. Dump the hooks in one side, the beads in the other, viola, your hooks come out beaded (with the counter sink point the correct direction, of course). That would save me a LOT of time at the bench.
@richard,
I am with you man. Those tiny beads and hooks can seem impossible to thread at times.
Kent
Richard – I picked up a pair of tweezers at Sierra Trading Post (I live near their actual store) that have a little magnifying glass on them. They are perfect for picking small beads up/out of the box/bag, and then getting them on the hook. I think STP is sold out, but if you google ‘magnifying tweezers’ you can find all kinds on the web.
Now I like that idea!!! I have long shag carpet in my man cave, dropping a bead in it turns into trying to find a needle in a haystack. I try to put the bead in the palm of my hand then hit the hole with the point of the hook.
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Harbor Freight has them! Three bucks!
I have been using one of these for a year now. Mine is rectangular and I stick it on my vise base. It keeps loose parts and my trimmings from falling on the floor.I no longer repair cars and got looking at my magnet trays and put them to use on the tying bench. Great idea from your mother in law.