There are many different ways to classify fly tying vises; one of the most obvious ways is whether or not the vise jaws are offset, or in-line with the axis of the barrel. Here are examples of what I’m talking about:

Renzetti Clouser Traveler Vise (in-line jaws) Courtesy Renzetti

Renzetti Traveler 2200 Vise (offset jaws) Courtesy Renzetti

A quick market check reveals that many models in the upper end of the price range have offset jaws. This could lead to the natural conclusion that offset jaws are the best design for a vise. But this is not always the case. In the following article, we discuss why you might want to consider buying a vise with in-line jaws instead.

Thompson Model A
(Click for larger image)

Almost any kind of mechanical design involves some compromises. Designing a fly-tying vise is no exception. The classic “old school” fly-tying vise featured in-line jaws, held at a fixed angle. The jaws could not rotate once a hook was locked in place. The archetype is the venerable Thompson Model A, which was first introduced to the market over 100 years ago, and is still available on the used market or as inexpensive knockoffs, even today.

Veniard Salmo Ultra
(Click for larger image)

Subsequent design innovations include different size and shape jaws, various jaw-adjusting schemes, various clamping devices to hold the vise in place, adjustable barrel angles, pedestal stands, and rotary capability.

Rotary vises allow the fly to be spun along an axis parallel to the hook shank while it is being tied. An early example of the rotary feature can be seen in the Veniard Salmo Ultra vise (right). This baby featured adjustable barrel angle, a rotary feature, and a position lock.

Rotary vises are a big help in tying most flies, because they allow the fly to be turned so that any side of the fly is visible to the tier. This makes it easier to maintain proportions and insure that materials are evenly spaced around the hook shank.

"Untrue" rotary barrel
(Click for larger image)

The rotary feature also makes it easier to wind materials such as chenille and hackle around the hook shank. Instead of wrapping the material around a stationary shank, the rotary feature is used to turn the hook, and the tier simply has to feed the material on to the shank.

The next improvement was Andy Renzetti's creation of the “true rotary” vise, which featured offset jaws. The offset allows the hook’s shank to be lined up with the axis of rotation of the vise, so that the hook shank remains in the same position when spun (not moving up-and-down like a crankshaft; see the blue lines in the picture to the right).

Vises with offset jaws seem to have taken over the market, and we agree that for traditional smaller flies, they work very well. But BTBFF doesn’t deal very much with traditional smaller flies. The vast majority of our flies are long, with material on both the top and bottom of the hook shank. Or, in the case of Clouser Minnows, almost ALL of the material is on the “bottom” of the hook (the side facing the hook gap).

Here's an example of when offset jaws
hinder, rather than help
(Click for larger image)

We would argue that for these types of flies, an offset jaw vise does not make a lot of sense. Why? If the hook is mounted in the normal fashion in an offset-jaw vise, the jaws and barrel of the vise interfere with adding material to the bottom of the hook. Many people with an offset jaw vise pop the fly out and invert it before tying in the wing of a Clouser Minnow.

Remember, you don’t need offset jaws in order to have a rotary feature. Many of the vises with in-line jaws made today have a rotary feature. Admittedly, in-line jaw vises cannot be “true rotary”, but they’re pretty close.

For most BTB flies, the main use of the rotary function is to allow you to work easily on all sides of a fly without having to remove the hook from the vise.

Keep in mind that an in-line jaw vise only works this way if you keep the jaws horizontal and the hook shank parallel to the axis of rotation of the barrel when the hook is mounted. Otherwise, it doesn’t offer anything more than an offset-jaw vise.

Here’s a partial list of manufacturers that make in-line jaw rotary vises:

So…we’re not saying you should sell your offset jaw vise, but if you’re starting out tying, are looking for a vise, and are going to be tying predominantly BTB type flies, you should give a in-line jaws vise serious consideration. You may find that you prefer them. I know I do.