Swaps are great fun, we 've had several over the years. Spinners for salmon, steelhead, trout, we have done spoons once, jigs, and nymphs.... (may have missed one or two).
Usually they are handcrafted originals duplicated for the number of folks taking part in the swap.
Swaps are structured to go something like this.
Someone announces they will hosts a specific swap, i.e. dry flies or inline spinners, yarnies, jigs.
PM the host with your address and post your intended involvement in the swap thread.
After a few weeks the thread closes and the number of participants are set.
The host will PM the group with the address where the items are to be sent.
If 6 people join, one identical item is crafted for each person. ** this means one would actually send in 5 items; being one of the 6 is yours, which you don't need to send to yourself. Most everyone sends that extra one anyways, in which case, the host keeps the extra(s) for...... hosting consideration
As well as the sending the flies, spinners, ect, including postage for the return delivery is necessary. Whatever the weight your sending, the same amount of postage is necessary to ship them back.
Once all the items are sent to the host, they are divided up and shipped back with the pre-paid postage.
The event is bigger than just for the direct "participants". When folks start posting pictures it's a chance to see and share some really cool designs, concepts, and applied theory with/on/for fishing gear!