This is a good time of the year to go through your fly boxes and get your flies ready for your next trip. Many of the dry flies that have matted and crushed hackles can be brought back to excellent condition by steaming them over a teakettle using very long forceps or tea strainer for a few minutes. Set them aside to dry, then put them back in your fly box.
Check all of your streamers, nymphs and drys to see if they need to be sharpened and remove any tippet material left in the hook eyes. Some flies may be beyond saving and should be discarded and replaced with new flies.
Organize your flies as you return them to your boxes in any system which helps you find them when you need them. Here is the way I organize mine in separate boxes: Eastern Trout Drys, Western Trout Drys, Eastern Trout Nymphs, Western Trout Nymphs, Eastern Trout Streamers, Western Trout Streamers, Bass Streamers, Bass Nymphs, Bass Surface Flies and Bugs and Saltwater flies.
Not only is this very helpful but it whets my appetite for the coming season.
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