Keep a garbage can handy to toss out old plastic worms of dubious texture, empty containers of PowerBait and the like and all the other oddments our tackle boxes and vests collect over winter. I start things off with a cold water wash of my fishing vests and jackets and, of course, my canvas creels in the tub we use to wash the dogs. I should note that I don't put fish in my clothing, and the English creels I like have liners, so this is an easy task. Anything that needs a button or stitch is fixed after washing. Leather creel piping get some nice silicone waterproof finish too, and I spray cloth items with moisture proofing so they stay a bit drier in the rain or when I fall in.
Tackle boxes in general, and smaller plastic boxes in particular, get incredibly grungy. A scrub with a proper pad helps. If whatever's "fossilized" a hit with a Dremel tool grinder improves appearance and a dot of oil or whatever's suggested by the manufacturer helps hinges. If you're short containers, as is usually the case, consider using old 35MM or other film containers. I also get dandy large sorting containers free from my plumber and pharmacist. Well, given their rates maybe they aren't that free! Note, the little paddles and trays pharmacists use to sort pills are dandy for sizing shot and flies.
AFTER your containers are clean, type and sort flies or lures. For example, dries, streamers, nymphs, bass/pike, midges and assorted saltwater flies get pushed about on cookie sheets and counted. Each fly gets a close look with a magnifying glass and a dab with a hook sharpener. If the fly is mashed, a pass over the spout of a boiling teakettle and a bit of odd bobbin work helps. Flies past help get stripped if the hooks are sound - priced hooks lately? Good flies get a shot of floatant and are dried before they go back into fly boxes. Note: I use big stock boxes at home and only carry a small assortment of flies on the steam.
