Fly fishing flies can last for many years to come if properly cared for. It may seem odd that things as small as fly fishing flies need to be maintained, but they do. There are many people who are sure to take great care of their prized rod and reel, but then neglect their flies.

In theory, it just does not make any sense to ignore your fly fishing flies. After all, without a good fly, you are not going to be able to catch a good fish. Or, at least, you are going to have a heck of a time doing so.

Yes, it is relatively easy to head to the tackle shop and to buy some new flies, but why spend the money when it is so easy to maintain the ones that you have already? Besides, if you tie your own fly fishing flies, you definitely want to make sure that they last longer than the time it took you to tie them!

Here are some tips for maintaining your fly fishing flies:

Before you store your flies away, be sure that they are thoroughly dry.

As soon as you are done with a fly, attach it to the fleece patch on your fly fishing vest and let it air dry. The sooner it dries, the more likely it will retain its shape, and the less likely the hook will rust.

On the same note, if your fly box gets wet, be sure to remove all of the flies from it quickly. Again, be sure that both the fly fishing flies and the fly box is dry before you reunite them!

Be sure to store your fly fishing flies in fly boxes. These cases will prevent them from getting crushed or tangled.

Avoid stuffing a large fly into a small compartment. This can crush the fly. Just because you can fit it in there, does not mean that it belongs (think of that tight pair of jeans you can sometimes squeeze on. Just because you can zip them up, it does not mean that you should wear them!)

In the event that a fly does get crushed, you can get it back into shape by holding it over the steam from boiling water. Again, before you put it back in the box, make sure that it is fully dry.

It is especially important to make sure that your flies are dried and stored properly at the end of the season, especially if you have been saltwater fly fishing. Make sure to rinse the salt off of your flies before you store them.