I was reading an article in the archives by Ron Lucas Sr. with regard to the true in-line rotary vise. I recently learned what a “double haul” was, and gathered it was the premier method of fly casting in just about all respects.
I somewhat gathered from Mr. Lucas article, that if used to it’s fullest extent, the in-line rotary vise is actually the premier method of tying. While I do understand from all the threads posted about vises, that just about any fly can be tied on a regular vise, however much more efficiently on the in-line.
I guess my question is since I am relatively new to this, Should my learning techniques in tying , if possible, be learned on the in-line rotary?
Fly Tying Vise is a tool, the tool only helps the user of the tool, if the user is comfortable using the tool.
Starting with a basic vise, is fine, in the beginning, because you are in the learning phase, where you need to learn the basic procedures to dress flies. Later when you have advanced your fly dressing skills, you may wish to upgrade to a rotary vise. With your improved skills, you will be able to appreciate, how a rotary vise can assist you in improving your fly dressing further.
Your original fly tying vise, can still be used for a traveling fly tying vise, when you are away from your home.
I would start with a standard fixed vice. This means you will get lots of practice at thread control, making the wraps, focusing on proportions, etc. A standard vice keeps the tools simple, which allows you to concentrate on the skills involved in getting the fly itself together (how much dubbing is too much? How far forward until I’m crowding the eye? How long should my tail be? etc). Once you’ve got those skills under your belt, and you’ve tied a fair number of flies, then you will know what tools you would like to upgrade.
I’m still using the cheep vice that came in a starter kit I bought 8 years ago. It holds the hooks just fine and does all I need it to do.
If you don’t rotate a rotary vise…you’ll be in a sense, Tying stationary!!!
at any rate,It’s always good to have a vise that allows one to roll the fly for inspection during the tying processes…Seeing both sides helps greatly in keeping proportions intact…Just some thought’s
Rookie you have mail regarding the vise you inquired of…
I learned on a stationary vise and moved on to a rotary. You can tie a beautiful fly on either but, if you are willing to spend the extra bucks for a rotary you’ll find some things easier to do.
I tied on a Thompson Pro for a number of
years. Just a good solid hook holder. Then
I bought a Danvise. A true rotary with none
of the glitz and glamour of the high dollar
vices. I love it. It suits me. I find
that I tie more efficiently with it than I
did with the Thompson. Warm regards, Jim
All of the above seems to me to be good advice. Fixed vice for starters is fine. Learn thread control, thread pressure, placement of materials - all that good stuff. Then move to a true rotary. They’re wonderful. Moved my tying ahead tremendously.
Very Important. Get a good rotary tying instructional tape or DVD. I’ve seen and recommend Al Beatty’s instructional video on tying with a true rotary. It’s wonderful, helped me tremendously. I believe there are others but Al’s is super.
Start simply, learn basics, go rotary, get the video!
Good luck.
I used to have a friend who was a machinist. The gentleman he apprenticed under and who ran the shop had a standard response whenever someone would complain about not having the right tool:
Anyone can do it with the right tools. It takes a Master to do it with the wrong tools.
“that just about any fly can be tied on a regular vise, however much more efficiently on the in-line.”
Just for the record as I think you have a (common) misconception here. There are certain flies that will be tied more efficiently on an inline but not all and not even most. It doesn’t help with many flies aside from being able to rotate just to view the other side (which a regular rotary will do).
Just wanted to point this out because if you get an inline vise thinking it will be handy for all your flies you will be disappointed.
I was actually using, or interpreting language used by Ron Lucas Sr. in his article I read in the archives about “True In-Line Rotary Vises”. He mentioned that the value in one lies with using the vise to it’s ,here is the key, To It’s Fullest Potential.