How many out there knows how to tie without a vise or any tools?
Am I the only one that thought that was impossible.
It’s not, I just got back from a class that showed how to do it.
I even tied a beaded pheasant tail nymph size 20 with out any tools at all.
how many times did you poke yourself with the hook? lol 
Did your fingers and hands cramp up?
Phil
There is a very famous fly that was invented ‘stream-side’ and not only tied without a vise but without any ‘tying materials’.
Hi Bunzo,
I’ve heard of a fairly large number of people who can tie flies very effectively without a vise including a number of salmon fly dressers. In the case of the salmon fly tyers, this was often done to make the craft look more difficult to master and to discourage potential competitors. I’ve never tried this trick myself, though I’m pretty certain that I could become reasonably competent if I had to do it. I doubt that I will try unless the government suddenly confiscates all fly tying vises. I admire those who accept and conquer this challenge but I have no wish to emulate them. Nor will I try to use the little hand-held vises. I love my Regal. Just my 2% of a dollar. I’m sure others will disagree. 8T 
next time tie a size 32 with no vise. now that would be impressive 
Carrie Stevens was a famous fly tier from the Rangeley Lakes area. She is said to invent the Grey Ghost streamer. She didn’t have a vice or tools that we use today. She did it all by hand. She tied some beautiful flies and caught some nice fish, that are still on record today
Well some have heard about it I hadn’t.
The trick is you use WOMENS NYLONS as the thread. Unravel / tear a few threads depends on the size of the fly. Color to match, Black is always good.
You can start and stop at any time without having to keep tension on the fly. The nylon keeps every thing in place as you go and you tie the fly as normal.
And the best part is there are no knots. When you get done. Just several wraps for the head as any other fly then a small amount of cement or what ever to keep in place.
I haven’t fished any tied like this yet,but i’m being told it’s stronger and more durable then thread. The person that gave the presentation is from Bosnia and this is how he learned.
Just think your best fly is coming apart on the stream. A few wraps of nylons and your back in business.
Don’t get me wrong it will take a bit of practice but it was interesting to do.
If I knew how to attach a photo I would show you my frist try at it. It’s fishable.
I also attended the meeting today at the Central Iowa Fly Fishers. We did have a fellow fly fisherman (he moved here from Boznia 9 years ago) demonstrate fly tying without a vise. They do it because of economics but it is a great talent to have. Lee Wulfe actually tied flies to match the hatch in the middle of rivers. He also show us pictures of 130+ pound trout from Boznia. It is a very interesting country with a great fishery.
I have attached pictures of two of the flies we tied today, a bead head pheasant tail #18 similar to Bunzo and a 18 dry fly I tied even with a broken vise (cut finger).
This was a lot of fun and I think enhances our skills in this sport. You never know when you might need to tie a fly.
iaflyfisher
Central Iowa Fly Fisher
Born in the 20’s–dad had orders to fill so around the age of nine I finally could do a good job of tying with only hook material and scissor. Three fingers thumb, and middle to hold the hook and material,index to hold the thread to the hook until I would half hitch. The half hitch would leave you pause between adding material. Most were New England Carrie Stevens type streamers for landlocks but we also tied very small flies. With a little yankee ingenuity I found a jewelers Pin Vise would hold those small hooks better than fingers. Then in high school shop class I built a cam vise that still works today. Add material,half hitch add material–easy.
You will find true old flies with colored heads are painted—we had only black thread. Just like Ford in those days any color as long as its black. We used yellow red and white paint.
I used to tie with my fingers during fly club meetings–I’ll have to get back to doing that again. Try a Royal Wulff. I sat at Lee Wulffs tying desk and there wasnt a vise in sight. Bill
JC when my dad and I were on a stream and we didnt have a fly to match the hatch he would open the trunk tie six or so and catch our limit in no time. BILL
I’ve told this story a time or two, but I have to relate it again.
Back in the mid 80’s I saw Lee Wulff at the Texas Fly Fishing Conclave in Dallas. He was sitting alone at a round table and motioned for me to sit down next to him. About 3 or 4 other guys sat down, too. He had a tiny hook, a tiny feather, and a 2 inch long piece of thread - nothing else. He worked for about 30 seconds and he tossed this thing that looked like a cigarette ash on the table, mumbled something, smiled, and walked away. We all stared at it. I picked it up but, even 20+ years ago, had trouble seeing it. He walked back to us and tossed a small magnifying glass on the table and said, “Try this.” He laughed and walked away. It was a perfectly proportioned size 28 dry fly. Tail, thread body, and hackle. No wings, but we let him slide on that. He had to have been in his 80’s back then. Most unbelievable thing I ever saw. Like an idiot, I left that fly there. What I wouldn’t give to have that fly now.
Joe
Joe what a cool story, I’v heard of a feller down in Williamsburg Va. tyes them the old world way as they call it I think, the way the settlers would do it…
Hi MSD,
You’re right about Carrie and many of the other old-time tyers. Tying without a vise mostly occurred because people didn’t have access to a vise and a good set of tools. Many hand tyers who did have access to tools and chose not to use a vise, learned the hand tying method from an older tyer and never switched over. “I don’t need no fancy, schmancy Thompson A vise to tie my flies.” Today, while a few people can still tie without a vise, few do it except for the novelty of the experience. As I remember Production Fly Tying, A.K’s hooks were definitely attached firmly to a vise :). It would be interesting to see how an old-style hand tyer compares to a modern tyer using a rotating vise and automatic bobbin. I think it would be a slaughter. Once again, just me 2% of a dollar, please feel free to disagree. 8T
selene dumaine tying a carry stevens style fly - no vise
http://flytyer.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/selene-dumaine-lady-miller/
Hi Normand,
Thanks for sharing the video of Selene Dumaine tying a Carrie Stephens fly without a vise. As a long-time Carrie Stephens, Joe Bates, and Rangley steamer fan, it was a real treat to watch. In spite of my feelings about tying flies without a vise, it’s nice to see tradition live on. 8T
It has taken me almost 25 years to get over feelings of inadequacy about my fly tying skills after seeing Lee Wulff tie that fly in person. I was finally starting to feel better about myself and then I see Ms. Dumaine in the video tie her fly without a vise - and make it look easy! I’m depressed all over again!
Joe
Next time you tie a size 32 with a vise, I’d be impressed. I can’t even see a size 32 hook and if I were able to see it, the fly would be useless because I’d never get a tippet through the eye.
Jeff
I’m with Jeff on this one. A size #32 hook tied in or out of a vise is a pretty impressive. Even if I managed to tie a fly, it would be totally invisible at the end of my tippet in all but the best light, smoothest water and the shortest distance. 8T
Interesting thread indeed. I love traditional ways and admire the skills that it took to complete the task. While I have absolutely no desire to aquire these skills for myself, it adds to my appreciation for what we have available to us now as far as equipment.
I also enjoyed the video. I thought it was cool how she rotated the hook to wrap material instead of rotating the material. Rotary fly tying techniques came first and then stationary techniques followed when we came up with stationary vices. Cool piece of the puzzle indeed.
Rick
Here is some info on Harry Lemire who ties salmon flies w/o a vise.
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?page=ff_fea_pro_Lemire_Freeman
And some of his flies
