Great question. Every angler has been there—flipping through multiple boxes, trying to find that one fly while fish are actively feeding. The key is having a system that makes fly selection second nature. Here’s what I recommend:

• Organize by Fishing Situations, Not Just Fly Type: Instead of the standard “dry box, nymph box, streamer box” approach, think in terms of how you actually fish. A low-water summer box, a winter midge box, or a high-water stonefly box can make finding the right fly a snap. When you’re on the water, you’ll know exactly which box to grab for the conditions.
• Prioritize Your Go-To Flies: Your confidence patterns—the ones you reach for the most—should be front and center. I like to keep my most-used flies in the top rows of my box or in the first slot I see when I open it. Less frequently used flies go toward the edges or deeper rows. This saves time and keeps your system intuitive.
• Label Your Boxes: It sounds simple, but a small waterproof label or even a bit of colored tape makes a big difference. If you carry multiple boxes, especially ones that look similar, this tiny step eliminates wasted time. Instead of opening every box to find your caddis box, you’ll spot it instantly.
• Pre-Rig Key Setups: If you fish a lot of nymph rigs or dry-dropper setups, pre-tie a few and store them on foam rig holders. This way, instead of tying multiple knots while fish are rising, you can just swap in a new rig and get back to fishing. This trick alone has saved me a ton of time on the water.
• Carry a “Quick-Access” Box: I always keep a small, pocket-sized box with a handful of my confidence flies—something like a Parachute Adams, Pheasant Tail, Zebra Midge, and a few streamers. If I don’t want to dig into my full kit, this box lets me make a quick fly change and keep fishing.

At the end of the day, efficiency comes down to making small adjustments that add up. The less time you spend searching for flies, the more time you spend fishing—and that’s what really matters. Hope this helps!