If your foam boxes work for you why bother going to the expense of changing them Noel 👍☺

 

I bought a silicone box to try, but to be honest found no noticeable advantage over foam.
B

 

Thank you Gentlemen.

 

Silicone is certainly better for barbless hooks but slotted foam also does well. Plain foam sheet is not very good for barbless. Silicone is a lot heavier. If you use barbed just stay with foam.

 

Silicone like the one below from Tacky works well for me (nymphs only).

But I didn't like slotted silicone like the one in the second picture. Too shallow and some flies kept popping unless I took the time to push them all the way back into the slot. Not good for dries if you have to manipulate them that much as the hackle might get ruined.

 

Silicone like the one below from Tacky works well for me (nymphs only).
View attachment 74367

But I didn't like slotted silicone like the one in the second picture. Too shallow and some flies kept popping unless I took the time to push them all the way back into the slot. Not good for dries if you have to manipulate them that much as the hackle might get ruined.
View attachment 74368

Those particular ones are no use to me, as I am left-handed. 😜 So, my flies go in facing to the left. However, I did get some with left-handed slots...

So, if you are buying slotted foam, make sure you get the slots on the side you want!

 

Really is horses for courses IMHO and if it works, don't fix it! I have both and all my hooks are barbless. I tend to prefer flat foam as it gives me the most flexibility in putting a box together, but if I'm honest, it's really because I just like Wheatley boxes.

 

You say that like it's a bad thing!

There might be a bit of a Wheatley box addiction going on here too.

 

I find most are ok for buzzards/ nymph but for dry,s they crush the wings
have gone over to some small tins that My son got from the coffee shop where he works that they received from the suppler giving different coffee
of the above think Silicone are the best

 

Just a public thank you to Brendan 'Jaybeegee ' for sending me a spare silicone box to try out .