Fly Tying Vise Comparison Table

Why a Vise Should Be Included In Your Fly Tying Supplies

How to Choose a Quality Fly Tying Vise

Intended Fly Type

Most vises work with most types of flies. What you need to pay attention to is the size of the hook you plan to be using. If you plan on tieing something like extra-large saltwater flies or jumbo muskie flies, then you will need a particular vise. Otherwise, everything else should fit.  

Material

Vises will come made from aluminum, steel, or a combination of the two. All these options are very strong and durable, but aluminum is lighter in weight and more corrosion resistant.

Vise Type

A non-rotary vise is the most common and affordable version available. It will simply hold the fly in place for you. A rotary vise is preferred, though, because it gives you 360 degrees of movement in the fly. This allows you to wrap it easier, inspect it better, and generally construct a better fly. 

Base Versions: C-Clamp vs. Pedestal Base

A c-clamp base allows you to attach your vise to the edge of any flat surface and work from there. A pedestal base, on the other hand, is a flat weighted surface that the vice is attached to. The choice between the two is a matter of preference.

The benefit of having a pedestal base though, is that you can set the vise anywhere, even your lap. Base materials vary as well. The bronze pocket option is durable and easily portable, while a traditional bronze base is very stable but a little bulky. Aluminum bases are often the smallest and lightest in weight, but you sacrifice stability to achieve that.

Performance Features

When looking at fly tying vices, you should also assess how strongly it can hold the hook, how easy it is to adjust, what range of hook sizes it can accommodate, as well as the features of the jaw itself. It is essential to prioritize strength and ease of use.  

Accessories

Some of the best fly tying vises come with accessories. Look for holders for your bobbins, LED lights, material clips, magnifiers, and even profile plates to make tying your fly even easier.

1. Peak Fishing Rotary

The Peak Fishing Rotary fly tying vise is easy to use, versatile, and durable. That’s what makes it our top pick. The jaws are made from a hardened and tempered tool steel that can securely hold a wide range of hooks as you work on them.

The full rotary vise mechanism makes tying a fly very easy because you can move it exactly where you need it and how you need it. Stability and strength in movement combined with a certain amount of fluidity open up more possibilities when it comes to creative fly design. 

The vise is available with a c-clamp or a pedestal, and if you usually are c-clamp averse, you might want to reconsider this design. The lower rabbeted jaw is reversed to get a grip range from 2-1/4" to 11/16". The clamps jaws are also situated on precision guide rods that keep the jaw faces parallel.

That contributes to the secure grip, and since there is no rotating clamp screw, you won't run the risk of marking up or damaging any table you clamp to. The overall construction of the vise provides a very stable working tool that you will probably find yourself using for years to come. 

2. Griffin Montana Mongoose

The Griffin Montana Mongoose fly tying vise is our close tie for first place with the Peak fishing rotary, so we decided to highlight it as the best rotary vise for fly tying. For starters, the vise sports the immovable hook holding power that you would expect.

Tempered steel jaws hold hooks from 4/0-28's. The strong collet jaws are on a precision full rotary system that utilizes a rotation lock screw and a fine tension screw so you can perfectly control the resistance in the rotation. That's the level of control you need to expertly make the flies you need. The more precision you can get out of your vise, the better you can craft each fly.

The overall design of the Griffin Montana Mongoose is optimized for ease of use. The addition of an extension handle allows a choice of a more extended rotating handle, for example, so you can mold the vise to suit your needs.

Also, the cam lever can be locked in a forward or backward position, which allows for more clearance while tying. The strength and versatility of the design alone make this vise a great option, but then there's also all the free accessories. These include a c-clamp, pedestal, bobbin cradle, material clip, supreme bobbin, hackle gauge, and deluxe carrying case. In addition to that this vise also comes with a lifetime warranty.   

3. Griffin Odyssey Spider Fly

4. Regal Travel

If you need a fly tying vise that you can take on the road and out on the water, then the Regal Travel fly tying vise is what you need. This compact vise packs a lot of style and functionality into a small package.

The smaller size of the vise does come with some limitations like having a partial rotary instead of full rotary assembly, but that isn't nearly as limiting as you might think. You should be able to construct most of the flies you’ll need within the range of motion provided by this vise.

The Regal Travel fly tying vise provides the durability and functionality in a small enough package that you can confidently use it almost anywhere you go.

5. Nor-Vise

The Nor-Vise fly tying system as it is called is different from your regular fly tying vise. It is a very high quality engineered piece of equipment that comes with a price tag to prove it. At first glance, the Nor-Vise might even look a little foreign to anyone well acquainted with most fly tying vises.

The basic principles are still the same, though, and the Nor-Vise even comes with a one hour instructional DVD to guide setup and use. The Nor-Vise is ultimately well worth it. The jaws grip any hook you might want to use and do so extremely securely. The rotary function is smooth and well balanced, too, so you can easily build your fly.

6. Danica Danvise

With fly tying vises, quality and price are unfortunately pretty strongly tied together. Sometimes though, you can find a vise that exhibits high price qualities at a good value. The Danica Danvise does exactly that.

With true smooth full rotary action and powerful hook holding power that accommodates hook sizes from 22 to 7/0, you might expect the price to be $200 or higher. This vise, however, consistently clocks in at under $150. Other excellent features like the cam operated jaws made of tempered hardened steel or the jaw taper which increases strength at the jaw tips just add to the value.

7. Renzetti Original Traveler 2000

Similar to the Danica Danvise, the Renzetti Original Traveler 2000 is a good value for the money. In this case, though, the price tag, and quality, are a bit higher. This vise first entered the fly tying world in 1988 and has remained popular ever since, and for good reason.

It is near impossible to find any significant flaw with this vise. It is a compact vise with a fairly traditional design, and in many ways, there isn't anything especially remarkable about it. Yet, the sum of all its parts seems to just work. It is the kind of vise that people buy and then never buy another after because they don’t need to.

That's how good this vise is. It covers all the bases you would want it to. A secure hold of hooks, a smooth and true rotary, and a stable base. Small additions like the Black Oxide finished patented cam jaws, a black powder-coated base, and the integration of a polyurethane O-ring all create a professional finish and feel to this excellent vise.     

Essential Fly-Tying Tools & Materials

How to Tie a Fly with a Vise

Fly Tying for Beginners: Tips & Tricks

People Also Ask (FAQs)

How much does a good fly tying vise cost?

Most good fly tying vises cost between $100 and $200, while others can cost even more. You can find good fly tying vises for less, though. It is all a matter of what best suits your needs. The $100-200 price tag usually comes about because of the quality of materials and construction found in the vise. 

What is the best all-around fly tying thread?

Fly tying threads come in different materials and sizes. Nylon, polyester, and Kevlar are the most commonly used materials, so any of those used as a 6/0 thread is best all around. 6/0 thread is great for medium-sized flies, and it is strong enough to secure the fly yet low profile enough to not add too much bulk.

What is the best knot for tying a fly to the tippet?

What is the best UV resin for fly tying?

Are vises absolutely necessary for fly tying?

Fly tying vises are not absolutely necessary for fly tying but it is very highly recommended that you have one. Without a vise, you are basically tying a fly with one hand since your other hand has to hold the hook. This becomes complicated very quickly. Without a vise, you won’t be able to make the same quality of fly.   

Where can I buy the best fly tying supplies (like a vise)?

The best place to buy fly tying supplies is Amazon. You can find a wide variety of vises and other tools there that you won't be able to find elsewhere. The reviews and ratings make comparison shopping much easier as well, and this is especially important when selecting a new vise.

Conclusion