Gear Review - Region Fishing Extra Large Double Sided Streamer / Boat Box
For years I have been saying I am going to get in to the streamer game. A combination of two young ones and less fishing time, however, has left me sticking to old tactics (namely, a double nymph rig hung under an indicator) that I know will produce when I am able to get out and wet a line.
This winter I decided it was time to quit pontificating and do something about it. What truly led to it was actually a lack of time on the water, stumbling upon some amazing streamer deals while Christmas shopping for others, and a deal I could not pass up on a 7 wt rod and reel. Nonetheless, several packages arrived prior to Christmas, and my wife bemoaned my lack of ability to communicate my wishlist or be patient.
With a bulk of new and large flies spread over my work area, it was time for a new box. I did a good bit of online research and ended up with the Region Fishing extra large double-sided streamer box. Surprisingly, there is very little by way of quality pictures of most of the streamer boxes available - even less so images that give you a sense of relative size and fly capacity. I also discovered - as is usual with Amazon - that there are a few other brands marketing an identical box, which leads me to believe there is one producer and multiple distributors. Nonetheless, I went with this one (the least expensive).
I wanted to share some images of this particular fly box with a handful of flies so you could get a sense of scale if you’re interested and going through the same purchasing dilemma. I may one day end up upgrading to one of the heralded Cliff boxes but until I know I am confident in fully committing to the streamer game, I did not want to go so big.
A few things I’ve noted thus far:
It is solidly built and fairly weighty - it does not feel cheap. I honestly feel like I could stand on it and it would hold up.
It has waterproof flanges - only time will tell if they’re truly waterproof. Good to keep water out, but remember to air them out when you get home if you end up with any water inside, as I’ve lost several flies to rust before realizing this with other waterproof boxes.
The foam seems sturdy. Again, only time will tell how the slots hold up to repeated use. There are several slots with a small circular lead-in. I actually wish they had just run long slots all the way through, as this would allow me to customize fly placement even further. I may do so with a razor.
The clasps seem well built and sturdy, but rely on a small molded rise of clear plastic on the door itself. Over time I could see it loosening and ultimately failing - again, only time will tell and I’ll update this post when I get to use it more.
The size is actually smaller than what I envisioned and measured out based on the dimensions listed. There is also a loss of potential space because of the design for the grab handle.
Like any self-respecting fly fisherman, I applied stickers to the box. I wanted to make sure it had ample surface area for said stickers. It was not a quick or haphazard placement either - I thought on it for a few days. Sticker obsession and sticker placement is a real thing and I plan to make a post on it as well.
On to the images below. I’ll update this post with more thoughts when I am able to deploy it more. The flies I’ve placed in it range from size 06 to 4 streamers and poppers and include articulated streamers as well.
