How to Use a Rotary Fly Tying Vise

Fly tying is an art form and a science that requires selectively placing various materials on a fishing hook in an attempt to imitate an insect. The hook is rigidly held by a vise while the fly tier wraps the thread, fur and feathers on it. A rotary vise is one of the tools used by fly tiers and allows the hook to be rotated 360 degrees during tying.

Things You'll Need

  • Rotary vise
  • Fish hooks
  • Thread
  • Tying materials
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Instructions

  1. Tying Flies Using a Rotary Vise

    • 1

      Clamp the vise securely to a table or tying bench. Pressure will be placed on the hook during the tying process, so it is important to have a stable and sturdy platform.

    • 2

      Adjust the vise jaws so when the hook is attached, the shank extends along the rotating axis. When the vise is rotated, the hook should rotate around the shank so the shank forms the axis of rotation.

    • 3

      Clamp the hook firmly in place and make sure enough of the hook is held by the vise jaws so it does not fly out and injure the tier. Check the hook by gently flicking it with your finger to make sure it does not move.

    • 4

      Attach the various tying materials such as thread, fur and feathers to the hook. While tying, rotate the hook, which is held in place by the rotary vise jaws, to check for uniformity and to allow the tier to see all parts of the fly.

    • 5

      Rotate the finished fly to ensure all materials are properly applied and the fly's proportions are correct. Quickly spinning the fly while it is held in the vise jaws will show errors in your tying, size inconsistencies or gaps in material.

    • 6

      Remove the finished fly and readjust the vise jaws for the next project. Larger or smaller hooks will require readjustment of the vise.