Choosing the Right Fly Tying Vise with Kelly Galloup

We get a lot of questions from people who are just getting into fly tying about what kind of vise they should purchase, and whether or not they need all the bells and whistles of a high dollar rotary. This video is intended to answer some of these questions for the beginner and intermediate fly tyer, and we hope you enjoy it.

[@rodneyheckler5722]

your the man. I've watched all your videos and thanks for all the info you give.

[@jeffskidmore8138]

Kelly, another great video and really enjoyed the explanation of the different types of hair and their uses on the previous video. Keep up the good work and I will see you this spring.

[@newproonline]

Well said with the comparisons of your work tools. This is great advice for people buying the right vise!

[@schmoonkie]

I like Kelly's videos and his presentation style. He kind of meanders on his subjects, but is always informative and entertaining. I stop by his shop several times on my annual trips to the Madison and like to listen to him bantering with his customers.

[@DupeaFish]

Great video for beginners. The tips are really helpful...keep'em coming!

[@ohiosteve54]

Very helpful and perfect timing! New to fly fishing and have watched most of your videos. Just a couple of days ago I was looking for a vise video from you. Thanks Again.

[@ohiosteve54]

Mike - Sorry for such a late response. I live in Columbus. Family from Cleveland. I cut my teeth on steelhead with a fly rod a year ago. Mostly Rocky River and Chagrin River area. I went up to Chagrin a couple week's ago too. Had to deal with a lot of slush...Fun stuff...Way more to learn then know... Steve

[@irideaduck939]

Many thanks Kelly for producing great videos with no nonsense information! I should be back up your way the last week of June with Rick Reed!

[@streamcaddis]

Kelly I have been tying for over 50 years. I have 3 Renzetti's and one Dyana King Barracuda jr. I started tying back in the 60's, my mother in law lived on a Salmon river out in Maine. My first fly was the green cosseboom. I am from Michigan and yes I fished out of Rusty's on the AuSable for about 35 years. About 4 hears ago I was talked in to getting a Dyana king Jr. The first fly I tied on it was a fray ghost. When I took t out of the vise the barb of the hook was gone, not good...lol. Now days I use it for bass bugs and love it.

[@emhankinson]

Another fine video from the Pulpit of Kelly (I mean that with the utmost respect). Thanks to your videos, I am going to be purchasing a Renzetti after 25 years of using a Regal. I was tying last night and made a nice long dubbing loop and was irritated with the fact I had to rotate the long loop along the shank of the hook, hitting my light source continually, with the dubbing hook coming out of the loop. All the while Kelly's tying videos were going through my head and the ease of which he lays the materials on the hook shank using his rotary vice. Please keep up the good work! I am loving these videos and am learning a lot.

[@aristonmarcena4088]

Thanks for sharing your video. What you say is right. You deserve a BIG THUMBS UP.

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

Consider your chiropractor when buying a vice. The only times I have thrown my back out was in a couple of office scenarios where my arms were out front for too long through a day. Get the vice that allows you to hang your elbows at your side. The 80 year old you will thank you one day.

[@markw1354]

I've used a Dyna King " Prince " fixed jaw vise for 26 years. I've tied anything from a 3/0 to 22 midges. Burned through 2 sets of jaws, however it keeps my tying technique up to par ;)

[@junderhillmac]

Just the info I needed to get started. Subscribed too!

[@1976DannyG]

Hey Kelly. I have been watching several of your videos today. Earlier on another video I asked you which vise to buy as being new to fly tying.Then I stumbled onto this video LOL. I think the Regal would be a good match or maybe even the Thompson. Thanks again for the good videos.

[@veteransview4u665]

Another Gade-A video, thanks for sharing!

[@kitophiovideos]

Great vdo. Thanks for the info.

[@redshaftedflicker]

Thanks Kelly, your advice on vises is priceless. I'll get up to Cameron next winter in 2018. I'm saving up $$ for materials at your shop and of course for the badass streamers!!

[@davidmusselwhite547]

He soo right on. I will probably always be a simple fly tier So keeping it simple works for me

[@danceswithaardvarks3284]

great video. i was watching to see if a fly tying vice would work for making pyrography wire tips, but i must say i love your desk design. i work at a European style jewellers workbench, with an elliptical cutout, but might make one like yours as it looks more comfortable. still not sure if one of those vices will work for me, but will keep looking.

[@bowhuntznj]

Kelly great video and advice! I think most new or intermediate fly tiers would be better off spending the extra money on a class rather than the top of the line vise. I've tied on Thompson, Dyna-King, Renzetti, and Regal and I have to agree the talent lies in the tier not the tool and my flies looked equally wonky even on the top of the line vises! Thanks

[@jpfishing9519]

thanks for the advise

[@thestalicho]

Nicely said, I made one, then finally bought a Snobee

[@theedgeofbreakup5192]

Hey Kelly, Your videos really are priceless......thanks for sharing your expertise to us beginners. I would like to purchase my first and only vise (don't want to have buyers remorse). I will not be tying a lot of flies, but want to ty my own as I am nearing retirement and will have time. Under $200 which c-clamp vise would you recommend? Small wooly buggers to size 22 dry flies. Thanks, Dave

[@michaelogden5958]

Perfecto! Thanks!

[@bdtanner]

Thank you for the video. Great Grandfather taught me how to fly fish in the Missouri Ozarks when I was 12. Now, 32 years later I am learning how to tie flies. Have a hodge-podge of things to start out with. But your videos have been very helpful! Thanks again.

[@SKragseth]

Thank you!

[@jderifaj]

I'm just getting into it too. The reason? I can watch the videos online and they are amazing! They make me want to tie and I'm 48.

[@m40_kid70]

I have wore the black power coat off my rezetti traveler in places, where I tie about daily

[@augypark]

Hey Kelly. I love your tying table setup. Did I hear correct that you built it? If so, could you do a video how you built it? Don't expect you to build another one from scratch just to make a "how to". lol. Perhaps show the table from all angles and do a quick summary? Thanks.

[@mcgonigle16]

Unsure if this is where I send a Q&A but I was wondering what is the difference between left handed and right handed vises. It seems that you would just rotate the vise left or right. I am a lefty and I am looking to buy my first vise, thanks for the help

[@TheSlideinn]

Not at all, it is just another aspect of the whole fly thing. It is really fun pass time but more people buy than tie. thanks for watching. Kelly

[@mikejessmax]

Been tying for many years and never used a rotary - don't plan to either. I would however buy a Regal.

[@exploringwoodsman]

Good advice on growing in to a vice. I use a very inexpensive c-clamp vice I picked up at Bass Pro several years ago for about $30. It works for me up to a 2/0 hook. Exactly the same principle I used with my table saws. My first table saw cost about $1K, that was 1993. 2nd table saw was about $2.5K. My third saw which came many years after my first saw is a 10.5' Sliding Table Saw, price: $9k. Thanks again.

[@TheSlideinn]

Man if only I was good enough to have a 9k table saw, thanks for watching. Kelly

[@josephevans6875]

Kelly I'm interested to know, what are the absolute and most dominant big streamer or big trout fishing factors. What I mean is the conditions to fish for these fish, weather, water, moon cycle, type of fly and when, etc. hope u can answer this in a video love your videos thanks so much.

[@johnnybeane2090]

I bought the type of vice you showed at the beginning of the video and now I don't know how to set it up. Can you do a video on how to set up this type of vice?

[@Nastyhookset]

Great video! What do you think about norvise?

[@derekspace]

Great job! Any of you guys watching this and buying your first vice? This is solid gold advice. Kind of like back in the late 80s if you had an uncle that worked at Microsoft and advised you to buy stock. Kind of like advice from someone who worked at Amazon in the mid 90s and said...buy stock in Amazon. Back in the 90s I tied commercially (trout flies) out of my home with a fixed head C-Clamp Regal for 6 years. I still use it today. Been thinking about a new vice so having heard of Kelly for decades I clicked on this video. Kelly, you nailed it! On every point you nailed it. But then I didn't have to tell anyone that. Thank you

[@davidsullivan1019]

Kelly Great video makes total sense. I have been tying on a fixed beginner type vice for years. I tie strictly trout flies. I am considering buying a renzetti rotary vice. Would not be interested in buying a $500 vice. I usually tie 6-10 times a year so spending the extra money for more spit & polish would not fit me. Wondering if you ever come across used renzetti vices? Thanks for your prompt response on dropper system earlier.

[@TheSlideinn]

I have never seen a used Renzetti but I bet if you checked Craigs list or Ebay beat you could find one? Or you could do a traveler vice, great vice and only in the $200 range. KG

[@metamurph]

Great stuff, but at the end it made me think about the comment your dad would make from your drop-shotting setup...wait, you are in business to sell flies, you are telling them how to not lose as many??? Of course the more expensive vice ties better flies :-) I have come close a few times to buying the whole Nor-Vise setup, you watch Norm just spin those materials on but then I realize where I am with tying flies and stay happy with my Apex.

[@JEMHull-gf9el]

I love that Whitefish unlimited hat

[@ronwilliams8500]

love your videos! your down and dirty approach is what beginners need to get started. your video on hair selection excellent. do you have a catalog for sore purchases?

[@TheSlideinn]

Thanks Ron, just on line www.slideinn.com

[@somebodyelse50]

Thanks

[@dannifaye13]

good video

[@smcewen7]

I tied my 1st flies with a bench vise and a pair of pliers,lol

[@jacobbeers1136]

haha me too!

[@owenkern2386]

I think my vice was like 15 dollers works grate it's adjutable and spins not the best of quality but it works great

[@wildman8601]

I just want to tie teasers for my leaders and my plugs for striper and blues and fluke pretty much what would you recommend

[@kellygalloup6073]

wild, get some plastic tubes and just use bright colored flashabou , run them above a swivel. Iv'e done them for steelhead and they show up like a willow blade

[@SlickRoode]

Kelly, how's things. I'm very interested in the set up you used to make your custom c-clam and how you've attached it to your desk. Is it clamped to a shelf under the desk, just like your dubbing comb? Also, Jesus, is that a beautiful desk. How was it made and what timber is it, I love the angled design.

[@TheSlideinn]

Slick, mine is not really a C it is more of a fixed. 6" x 1.5" x 3/8 plate steel drilled and counter sunk holes with a piece of 3/4 cold rolled boared and welled to the plate, the 3/4 also has a set screw bored thru the side so I can adjust the height of the vice.

[@SlickRoode]

TheSlideinn any chance of a quick peek when you do your next video, I'd really appreciate that.

[@zionkid420]

Hi Kelly -- What Renzetti is in the desk's C-Clamp... is that a Presentation 4000? And is the one in the SW Pedestal between it and the traveler, a Pres. 2000?

[@TheSlideinn]

Yes and yes, 4000 and a traveler. KG

[@zionkid420]

Thank you so much Kelly!

[@frankmerentino6455]

Did you make the desk too?

[@TheSlideinn]

yes

[@gregt1148]

I have an old Thompson vine from the 1970’s that I used as a kid. I’m left handed and it seems that the vises you showed are set up for right handed people. Do they make vises with all the knob and and adjustment screws set for left handed people? Or is it just not financially justified for these companies?

[@TheSlideinn]

Greg, They do make vises for left handed tyers, we just have to special order them in. If you ever want one let us know and we can special order it for ya!

[@outcastpiper714]

Kelly, do i need to make my own flies or can i just buy them? i'm a beginner at fly fishing, Help!!

[@Sunburnt99]

you can buy almost any fly

[@jackallen7557]

What would be the best vise for mainly bass flies and can be converted to tie small trout flies?

[@TheSlideinn]

Jack, they will all do both but I would figure out what you do most. A lot of the bass guys like the regal for the bigger flies where they are not using the rotary as much? I also see a lot of Dyna kings out there in the bass world. KG

[@davidhaines4927]

I agree. The vice doesn't make the tier. Remember they used to hold the hooks with their hands and tie flies in the olden days.

[@meriahcameron2908]

Would buying equipment first, than materials be good for beginners?

[@TheSlideinn]

Meriah, That's what I tell people to do.Then buy the materials for the fly you want to start with. Tie that fly and then buy what you want for the second fly, in short order you start to extra materials and hooks and you wont have to buy as much. When you buy kits you generally get a bunch of junk you don't really need. Thanks for watching, kelly

[@meriahcameron2908]

@@TheSlideinn I have no material's, except feather's. My kit don't come with any. Do I need any glue?

[@kellygalloup6073]

@@meriahcameron2908 just buy the materials for one fly and yes you will need glue. Kelly

[@terrinewman7390]

buy once/ cry once!

[@mikewest712]

C clamp vise positions you at the edge of a table. Dropping small components in the floor is no fun.

[@JGunit]

It's 2020... actually. Waka waka

[@altexlan415]

most as whole never say the hook size the vise hold.

[@TheSlideinn]

Altex, most would like to think their vice will hold any size hook? Some do that better than others for sure. KG

[@user-mt4vo4ey5n]

Looking for a entry level c clamp vise suggestion that is not Chinese junk. Did not get one here. On to the next vid.

[@TheSlideinn]

Nevada, Pretty hard to beat the Thompson A, started about every tier i know. KG

[@strattdaddywars]

does Kelly have ADHD