The "New Guy" needs some help

[FishinPI]

Trying to get different opinions about a good, reliable and well-made vise for a novice (as in, no previous experience) fly tyer. I don't want to spend too much, but would like as much quality as possible so that I don't get frustrated with it. Looking for name brands, models, jaw sizes, etc. Pretty much anything a newbie would need to know to get started.

I live in the Tampa Bay area and would probably only tie about a dozen or so flies per week as I am just starting out. So the need for a true rotary design is not neccessary for me just yet. Any thoughts?

[PAUL SCHWACK]

Thomson "pro" Or Model "a" Are Good- Well Under 100 Bucs. I Would Bet More Guys Than Not Got Started On One Of Them. Or If You Can Swing It The Entry Level Regal About 105 Or The Dynaking "kingfisher" For About 115 Bucs Are Both Very Good......

Stick With It And Have Fun......

Paul

[kujo24]

I started out with a Griffin vise set. It came with vise and all the tools needed to get started and it was not expensive. I used the vise for about a year and then purchased a better vise. But, I still use some of the tools that came with the set...good buy

http://www.fishusa.com/HTML/Griffin_Fly_Tying_Tool_Kit.asp

Take a look at this site...I'd recommend buying it from a local shop though.

[Ray]

I use the Regal vice. I find it perfect for what I tie. It's stout and holds a wide range of hook sizes.

[WinstonMan]

I just bought a new vise and am selling my old one. Dyna King FC enhanced.. Dyna King are great vises with the best jaws in the business.. in fact, I moved to another Dyna King, and that's the only reason I'm selling this one. Was going to put it up on Ebay, but figured I'd make the offer. $160 new, I'll sell it to you for $80 and you pay shipping/insurance. I used it as my primary vise for about 2 years (2-4 dozen flys/week on average), but I take great care of all my stuff, and vises are no exception. Looks like new.. and functions like new. can send you a pic if you want. Full rotary, though not "true" rotary.. I still used it in the true rotary style.. very smooth. Pedestal model. Great saltwater vise, handles up to 6/0 without any problem. You can check it out at www.dyna-king.com.

If you aren't intersted, that ok too.. I'd recommend anything Dyna-King or the Renzetti Traveler.. lots of fans of that vise. My first vise was a regal and I like that vise alot.. My advise is stay away from cheap, but don't go crazy either.. not until you know you love tying flys.. took me 12 years to get to the vise I'm at now.. and I think sometimes I'm crazy for it even now... (#$119)

[FishinPI]

Thank you for all of the great information guys. I really appreciate it. Believe me, it surely will not be my last question I have for all of you.

WinstonMan, I saw your post about moving to Ft. Myers. Congratulations, you will love it. I have several good friends in that area and we love to get out and fish Lover's Key, Estero Bay, etc. I have always wanted to fish around Sanibel and Ding but haven't made that trip yet. If you all would like a fourth, I may be able to join you as well. I'm fairly new to flyfishing, so don't be upset if I bring a spinning rig or two with me! I may just take you up on your offer for the vise, but I am not looking to make a purchase until mid-March or so. If you decide to hang on to it for awhile, I might very well be interested in it.

Thanks again for all of the helpful replies...

[sandeel9]

All replies have been good. I'd go with quality, w/o big bucks ($100-150); a used DynaKing or Renzetti is a sure thing. But, you want it to work well, and more than likely you'll get into tying. Besides, after you get your vise and materials, it only takes about 70-100 flies to break even (fewer if you buy expensive flies), and it's all savings after that. A question you might want to ask yourself is if you're a creative person. If yes, you'll have a ball and will get "hooked"!

[Quicksilver]

If I had to replace my Regal I would purchase a Anvil vice. I think the cost brand new is $100. If you check out ebay you may find one for less. The Anvil vise comes with both a clamp and pedestal base.

[WinstonMan]

Not a problem at all, and I probably will still have it then.. should be living in Fort Myers May 1, so maybe we'll get together for some fishing and I'll let you take a look at it in person, then you can decide.. Definatly try fly tying though.. once you start, you won't stop, and it will probably make you a dyed in the wool fly fisherman.. there is just something about fly fishing that gets in your blood! Talk to you soon,

Mike

[Yozuri-Man]

If you have no experiance, you need any vise, not a $100 vise. Go get a $30 vise and learn the basics of tying. Take it from a guy with a basic vise who can tye his ass off...invest in materials over a vise. I simply refuse to spend a lot of cash on a vise. Remember, most things in this "flyfishing" world are overpriced. I'm sure you looked through the catalogs.

Save you $$ for materials!!!!

[Sean Juan]

One thing to be aware of is the range of hook sizes you will be tying. Not all vises will hold all ranges and over the long term it is often cheaper to buy one vise you are satisfied with, than to keep buying them until you are satisfied.

If done right a vise can be a life-time investment - with that in mind even a pricey one can be considered cheap.

Regal is a great vise - I use one a lot (It was my father's and is 30+ years old still in perfect condition even though he was a commercial tier and I tie dozens of HUGE flies) my primary vise is a Dyna-king barracuda which can hold much bigger hooks than the Regal - the rotary is something that I never thought I'd use now I can't live without.

[Guy]

If you want cheap and a vise that will hold huge hooks very securely, check out the Regal knock offs by either Integra or Sunrise. I bought the Sunrise knock off after placing 8/0 Gamakatsu Octopus (my shark fly hook) in many different vises of various quality and price and then seeing how securely the hook was held. It holds these big hooks extremely well. I can attach wire and hard mason shock tippit to the hook in the vise and snug up all the knots as tight as I can pull and the hook never moves. They are a big and bulky vise, so tying anything smaller than #8 is uncomfortable but for the large saltwater style flies, they certainly do the job. If you wish to have a vise that will tie smaller hooks as well, then you'll have to go to something different. (BTW, I have the Thompson vise and it is great for trout size hooks but when you get up to big guys, I am not impressed.)

Yes, there are better vices that may tie 10,000 flies instead of 1000 flies before wearing out, so yes you do get what you pay for. It boils down to individual preferences. In my case I was looking for a vise to tie a fairly specific size range rather than a one size fits all type and could not see myself tying 10,000 shark and other large saltwater flies.

Guy

[bluefishercat]

I'll second the Regal knockoff. Mine works fine. You could always weld a pair of Visegrips to a shaft, That was Lefty Krehs recommendation circa 1972. :brow
Pete