bugs mites in fly box

[icejohn]

hi all,

I know about crystals moth balls in packet etc, but the problem i have is some little ****** has got in and munched my dry flies only got hooks and thread left.

This was after having left the box in the freezer last year for 2 weeks.

Does anyone know a solution to stop you fly box getting contaminated. I think there was some plastic / metal addin into the flybox or tacklebox that the flyfisherman mag advertised last year that stopped hooks from rusting.

If anyone knows anything about it as i my hooks rust as well.... but it might also stop the bugs?

Any ideas solutions etc please post up. The box i have is a snowbee with foam and am not sure the plastic/foam will stand up to microwave. Also metal hooks will kill the microwave.

ah yeah i tried the boiling water and that doesnt stop the buggers tired this in the past.

[flyinghigh]

Did you put the box back in the freezer.

eg. in the freezer 2 weeks out for 1 day back in for 1 week.

This always does the job i'm lead to believe.

Flyinghigh

[arkle]

I suggest you discard ALL the damaged flies, then put the complete box on a glass plate & microwave it for a couple of 15/20 second bursts. If the box is to large then remove the remaining contents & treat as above. Then thoroughly wash the box & dry in fresh air before re-stocking it. Use a spray mite proofing agent before re-stocking though. Treat any other boxes that have been near it as well. As you've discovered, just freezing them doesn't always work.

The foam & box should be okay with short bursts of m/waves, & the hooks also providing they're not touching each other & on a pyrex type plate.

F.F.I. check out the earlier thread re "using m/wave to rid materials of bugs"

[icejohn]

hi all tx for the replies,

yes i know micowave kills bugs (except cockroaches had some survive 45 secs

Main problem is the flys in the box are like 200 plus so i figure restocking unhooking them from the foam will take ages.

Just wandered if there was sure fire easy way to do it.

Will just have to do the 2 week freeze and then unfreeze and then freeze again. Wont be using that box for a while.

Anyone for the record know about that insert that stops rusting of hooks?

[arkle]

Many years ago, Partridge used an impregnated paper like material called "Nox-Rust", you could also use those small bags of silica-gel crystals.

However "PREVENTION is better than cure", so DON'T put wet flies back in the box ! Dry them first on the sheepskin patch that's on your waistcoat, then you won't have all this hassle !

[ickypimp]

I would suggest a hang up fly killer that contains DDVP such as vapona or a flea collar...

i used vapona to kill mites in my reptile vivariums with great success in the past

[icejohn]

HI guys i found what i think i was looking for.

Its called Flambeau 6642ZR Zerust Capsule Rust Prevention For Tackle Box.

obviously for lure fisherman but i reccon a few slivers of whatever the stuff is would do wanders in a fly box to stop hooks rusting.