Fly Vise

Perhaps the most important tool you’ll use in fly tying is the fly vise. If you look in fly fishing magazines, you’ll have an opportunity to seeplenty of advertisements for lots of different fly vises. It can getconfusing just trying to sort out the features you need from the ones theysay you need. So, what’s the bottom line? What features are important ina fly vise?

First, a good fly vise must hold a variety of hook sizes and shapessecurely. It isn’t enough to hold just a few sizes or shapes well, it musthold them all. If the vise won’t do that, don’t buy it. That’s the mostbasic and important requirement.

The jaws of the vise must be positioned or be able to be positioned at anangle that allows you to tie flies of various sizes with it. Some viseshave jaws that are too big to use with a variety of hooks. Others don’thave the jaws positioned at an angle that allows the tyer to work withsmall hooks.

Look for a vise that has jaws positioned at an angle that allows you towork around and with the smallest hooks you might someday use. That mightbe size 28, so check to see if the vise will hold this size hook securelywhile allowing complete access to the main length of the hook shank.

Choosing the right vise is very important. Take your time.
Ron & Beth

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