In this fly tying vise guide we want to provide you with all the info you need on the best fly tying vises on the market.Disclaimer:?All products in this guide are independently researched by our team. We only recommend products we believe in and never get paid for the reviews. Learn more about our review process?here.There is little more exciting in fly fishing than seducing a fish to take a fly you tied yourself. To get started with tying is easier than you might think. Your flies won’t be perfect from the get go but simple patterns can be learned quickly.In order to tie your own flies you need a tying vise, often also called tying vice. We give you an overview of the best fly tying vises on the market no matter whether you’re a beginner, advanced fly tier or expert.
Table of contents:We picked vices for all levels of fly tying to make sure you choose the right product no matter your level of fly tying. At the end of the article we will also explain what to pay attention to when choosing your vise. You might think: do I need a rotary vice or can I do with a tying vise with fixed jaws? Don’t worry, we got you covered here. Let’s go!Key features:– Four positive locking angle adjustments for stable tying– Fully machined with high quality stainless steel and aluminum for extra durability– Made in the USA. Dyna King Inc. has been in the business for almost 40 yearsThe is everything you are looking for in a high-end fly vice. The fully rotating vise comes with a sophisticated quick clamping system. It can be precisely adjusted to hold hook sizes from #10/0 all the way to #32.The clamping jaws have two notches of different sizes, which are designed for medium and very large hooks. The can be brought into a horizontal position as well.Key features:– 100% made in the USA.– 360-degree rotation– Jaw capacity of 28 to 4/0The is probably the best fly tying vise for the money if you are just getting started. It has everything you ask for in a fly tying vice: a bobbin holder which is a prerequisite for a rotary vice (360 degree rotation). (Read more on rotary vs. fixed jaw here)The advantage of a rotary fly tying vise is it’s versatility. The rotation enables you to tie more advanced flies more easily. The only disadvantage we found in the is the fact that you have to clamp it to a table, it cannot stand on its own.Key features:– Tempered tool steel jaws securely hold hooks from size 2/0 to the smallest hooks around– The pedestal base is heavy and stable and holds the vice in place safelyThe is another great fly vise for the money. At around $150 it is a great choice for fly tiers who are a little more advanced already. You can get the Peak Rotary with a C-clamp or a pedestal base.The features a minimum design to focus on what’s essential. It is made from super stable materials including stainless steel and aircraft aluminum.Key features:– All stainless steel construction made in the USA– Very sturdy setup. C-clamp holds tightly and base is very heavyThe is an excellent choice for intermediate fly tiers. Built like a tank the full rotary vise features a rock solid pedestal and a C-clamp. A material clip is included as well but no bobbin cradle.Holds hooks in all sizes from 2/0 all the way down to 18. Downside: The plastic screw that holds the main arm can be a little weak at times.The Renzetti Traveler 2200 has the following features:– All parts of the traveler are anodized for extreme durability– Renzetti claims the strongest hook holding power in the industryWith the you enter the territory of professional fly tiers. First introduced in 1988 the Traveler Rotary Vise has been extremely popular ever since.The Renzetti Traveler 2200 comes in two versions: pedestal or C-clamp which makes it even lighter, ideal for travelling as the name suggests.Key features:– Revolves 360 degrees and articulates 220 degrees up and down– Ultimate hook holding powerThe is one of the best products on the market. Yes, you have to invest a bit of money but if you are a serious fly tier you won’t regret spending your money on a Regal vise.Regal’s flagship product can be used to tie any fly ranging from small dries and nymphs all the way up to big streamers for large predators. The is fully rotating and articulates up and down by 220 degrees.Key features:– 360 degrees rotation– Excellent hook holding capabilitiesThe is another hugely popular vise amongst fly tiers. It comes with a lifetime warranty that gives you peace of mind in case something does not work as planned. The rotary vise enables a 360 degree jaw rotation. Stainless steel, extra tough around the jaws, ensures a long lasting quality product.Grooves in the jaws ensure a secure fit of the hook when tying with the . A clamp on the pedestal allows for a vertical or angled operation. You can switch the solid pedestal for a C-clamp if you prefer to attach your vise to your tying desk.Key features:– Built to tie the largest flies for saltwater species– C-clamp and pedestal availableIf you are into saltwater fishing and want to tie your own patterns to catch bonefish, stripers and co., make sure to check out the . Named after one of the game’s most famous people, Bob Clouser, this vise allows to tie larger saltwater flies such as the Clouser Minnow.Just like its brother, the , the comes in a pedestal and c-clamp version. However, the saltwater series can hold larger and stronger hooks which are essential when hunting strong saltwater species.Now that you have a good overview of the best fly tying vises out there on the market, we want to focus on one of the most essential gadgets when it comes to tying your own flies: the fly tying vise light. If you have a bright desk lamp you might as well use that one but if you are new to tying you can consider getting a fly tying light together with a vise. Here are a few good options for you to consider.For a little over $30, the offers a great entry level fly vise light. It features an integrated 1:1.75 magnifying glass surrounded by a bright LED light. If your eyes are a little weak or if your tying room is not perfectly lit, the will offer you everything you need to tie your flies with precision. There is even a version with a 1:2.25 magnification.The comes with a heavy base and a clip, so you can choose how you want to use it at your tying desk. The gooseneck is highly flexible and you can easily bring it into the position you desire. The fly vise magnifiers and lights of the are very reliable and will last you a long time.The is another solid option if you are looking for a fly vise light. In contrast to the it only comes with a C-clamp which means you can attach it to your tying desk but it doesn’t feature a base that enables it to stand on a desk.The features a 2x magnification and the LED comes with 3 very bright LED bulbs. It can either be run on power with an 4.5v AC/DC adapter or on batteries (which you will have to get separately). Comes with a limited lifetime guarantee.With 220 Lumen, the offers maximum brightness. Thanks to separate LED lights and magnifiers you can use them individually. The overall magnification is 2x but the offers up to 10x spot magnification which makes it an excellent choice for the ones whose eyes have gotten a bit weaker over the years.The comes with a solid base and a C-clamp so you have the choice in attaching it to your fly tying desk. The base even features a small built-in storage tray and magnet.In this section we want to give you more information on what to be aware of when choosing your tying vise. We will cover why it makes sense to tie your own flies, which product is good for you and what features in a vise are important.Some fly fishermen tie their own flies, others don’t. While there is no need to tie your own flies we want to give you advice on why we think it’s a good idea.First and foremost: we think you’ll become a better fly fisher if you start tying your own flies. The reason behind this is the fact that you will become more knowledgeable about insects and their artificial counterparts that tiers try to imitate.If you are on a fly fishing trip for example and bring along your vise (look for a travel model) you can quickly adapt to the conditions and tie a few flies at night that might make a difference the next day.Especially nymphs can be tied easily and quickly. Techniques such as euro nymphing have become increasingly popular in recent years – most of all because they are so successful.Last but not least catching fish with your own creations is incredibly fun and satisfying.In order to purchase the right product you should ask yourself the following questions before getting one.If you only tying flies every once in a while it probably doesn’t make sense for you to invest hundreds of dollars in the most sophisticated vise. The same holds true if you are only getting started.If you are mainly tying flies for trout any of the vises we reviewed above will work just fine for you. If you consider tying saltwater flies you might want to consider getting a vise that can hold large saltwater hooks: recommendable models are the or the .The question whether you prefer a clamp or pedestal vise can only be answered by yourself. Here are the advantages of the respective versions.A vise with a clamp can be attached to any table and is hence very versatile. It is easier for travelling because the pedestal is often very heavy and sturdy to ensure a stable setting on a table. Several of the models we reviewed above come in both version for you to choose from.A fixed jaw vise has no option to rotate. It comes in one position that is not changeable. Most modern day vises are rotary vises.In a rotary fly tying vise the head can rotate. When you are tying more advanced flies a rotary vise makes adding materials to your creations easier. When tying a fly you can hold the material steady and simply rotate the head which can increase precision and result it better tied flies.Of course you could argue that a rotary vise is not necessary. It won’t help you become a better tier. You will have to learn the fundamentals no matter what type of vise you use.If you are just starting out your first vise might not have to be a rotary vice. Once you’re sure you will stick with tying and have learned the basics a rotary vice can make your tying life easier.Since everybody has their own budget it is difficult to give a simple answer here. You can definitely start tying flies with a vise such as the which will cost you less than $100.If you are looking for something a little more advanced medium-priced vises between $150 and $200 are a good choice, for example the or the If fly tying becomes your passion you can invest more than $350 to get some of the best fly tying vises on the market such as a or a .Last update on 2023-01-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising APIIf you are looking for additional resources make sure to check our other stories in “Fly Tying“.Here are some how to’s for a number of different flies:Notice: The Wading List is reader-supported. We take part in so called affiliate programs such as amazon associates or avantlink. If you click on one of the links in this article and end up purchasing a product we might earn a small commission at no extra cost for you. Thank you! All images courtesy of amazon.