Abstract: Crushing or other damage to the hackle of an artificial fishing fly during transport of a fly rod is prevented by a device which includes a base member and a clip engageable by the hook of the fishing fly. A first facility mounts the base member in close proximity to the rod near its handle. A second facility mounts the clip to the base member for selective movement between two positions. In the first position, the clip is retracted and physically proximate to the base member and the rod so that the base member and the clip present a low profile and do not interfere with the line during fly casting. In the second position, the clip protrudes and extends away from the base member and the rod by a distance sufficient to hold the hackle of a fly away from and out of contact with the base member and the rod when the hook engages the clip thereby preventing crushing of the hackle during transport of the rod.