Tom Rowland | How To Store Tarpon Flies & Jigs So They Swim Perfectly | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 441

Tom Rowland is a professional fishing guide, tournament angler, and host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, and in this How 2 Tuesday episode, he reveals his proven system for storing tarpon flies, bonefish flies, and jigs using plastic sleeves and Plano Edge tackle boxes to keep them swimming perfectly. If your tarpon flies aren't getting eaten after multiple follows, or your bonefish jigs aren't swimming right, the culprit might not be your presentation—it might be how you're storing them. Tom breaks down why traditional foam fly boxes are destroying your flies, which plastic sleeves from Johnson Bag Company he uses, and why the restrictor technology in Plano Edge boxes protects your hooks from rust. This tactical episode could be the difference between hookups and frustration.

Why Traditional Foam Fly Boxes Destroy Your Flies

Tom opens this How 2 Tuesday by explaining the problem most fly fishermen don't realize they have: their storage system is ruining their flies before they ever hit the water. He holds up a standard foam fly box—the kind with ridged foam inside where you stick the hook point—and reveals why it's sabotaging your hookups. The foam smashes the hackles and feathers. It crushes the materials that give the fly its swimming action. Sometimes feathers get caught in the lid when you close it, permanently bending them out of shape. For tarpon flies especially, Tom emphasizes that the most important thing is that the fly swims properly—and traditional boxes make that impossible. He shows a perfectly tied fly from Drew Chikane's vise, hackles splayed exactly right, and explains that this is exactly how it needs to look when a tarpon sees it. Tom demonstrates the problem with foam boxes and introduces his solution at 1:47.

The Plastic Sleeve Method That Keeps Flies Swimming Perfectly

The secret to Tom's fly storage system is surprisingly simple: plastic sleeves from Johnson Bag Company. He holds up these clear plastic bags and explains that he uses the heavy-duty versions sized specifically for different fly types. When you slide a tarpon fly into one of these sleeves, the feathers, hackles, and squirrel tail stay exactly as tied—no smashing, no bending, no kinking. Tom pulls out an Enrico Pugliese fly from a sleeve to demonstrate how it emerges looking and swimming perfectly. He applies the same method to rabbit flies, bonefish flies, and even bucktail jigs. Tom shows a white bucktail jig that was stored improperly—the bucktail is kinked off to the side and won't swim right—then compares it to one stored in a plastic sleeve that looks brand new. The sleeve doesn't just protect the materials; it also keeps water off the hook, preventing rust and keeping it sharp like it just came out of the box. Tom reveals the plastic sleeve technique and shows the dramatic difference at 3:10.

Why Plano Edge Boxes Are the Perfect Storage Container

Once your flies and jigs are in plastic sleeves, Tom explains where to store them: Plano Edge tackle boxes. These aren't just any tackle boxes—they have specific features that make them ideal for fly storage. The clear lid lets you see exactly what's inside without opening it. There's a space to label the box. But most importantly, Plano Edge boxes have restrictor built into the plastic itself, which acts like a rust preventative for everything inside. Tom uses two different sizes: the 3,600 for jigs and the 3,700 for tarpon flies. He particularly likes the Edge Flex boxes because they come completely empty, and you can configure the dividers any way you want—really long compartments for long flies, or short compartments for bonefish jigs. The boxes also include a water wick thing that can act as a divider and pulls out any moisture that might get into the box. The lid has a positive seal that keeps everything protected. Tom explains the Plano Edge box features and shows how he organizes his flies at 4:37.

How Improper Storage Costs You Fish

Tom gets serious about why this storage method matters so much. He describes the heartbreaking scenario every tarpon angler has experienced: a fish follows your fly once, twice, three times—but won't eat it. Or multiple tarpon follow but the fly keeps fouling. Often the problem isn't your cast or your strip or the fish being finicky. The problem is that your fly is swimming slightly off because it was stored improperly. Tom says if he were to store a fly in a way that caused someone not to catch a fish, it would kill him. He emphasizes that storing flies correctly could make the difference between two bites a year, five bites a year, or even two bites a day. Whether you're fishing for yourself or guiding clients, proper fly storage could be the difference between catching a fish and not catching one. For bonefish jigs, the same principle applies—bucktail that's kinked or bent won't swim with the right action, and bonefish will refuse it. Tom's method ensures every fly and jig swims exactly the way the tier intended. Tom explains why this matters and how it could change your season at 8:04.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I can't tell you how many times I've seen anglers lose fish because their flies weren't swimming right—and they had no idea that storage was the culprit. When you're spending money on beautifully tied flies from guys like Drew Chikane or Enrico Pugliese, or investing in quality jigs, the last thing you want is to ruin them before they ever see a fish. This plastic sleeve method has saved me countless flies and probably helped me hook fish that would have refused a kinked or smashed fly.

The Plano Edge boxes are a game-changer too. The restrictor keeps your hooks from rusting in the saltwater environment, and the clear lids mean you can find exactly what you need without digging through multiple boxes. Whether you're fishing the Keys for tarpon, heading to the Bahamas for bones, or fishing anywhere that presentation matters, proper fly storage is one of those details that separates successful anglers from frustrated ones.

This is a short episode but it's packed with information that could legitimately change your catch rate. If you've been storing flies in foam boxes or throwing jigs loose in tackle trays, this nine minutes could be the most valuable time you spend this week. Give it a listen and let me know if you make the switch.