The first fly I ever tied was composed of some fur and feathers I cut off a Mepps spinner, some too-heavy thread I stole from my mom’s sewing kit, and was precariously held in the chipped corner of my father’s tool vise as I haphazardly wrapped something resembling Cousin Itt on a bait hook (that’s being diplomatic–I’m probably subconsciously blocking out what it actually looked). Early on, I learned that the right tools and materials make a big difference in fly tying and since then have come to have a deep appreciation of well designed fly tying tools.
When I worked in a fly shop in Western New York, the shop vise was a Regal Medallion. I spent a lot of time at that vise tying trout, steelhead, and saltwater flies for the shop and always loved how I could switch from a size #18 emerger to a #1/0 Clouser without adjusting anything. Just squeeze the handle, drop in the hook, and let go. When you tie a variety of fly sizes, this is a big plus.
But aside from the convenience of automatically adjusting to hook size, the vise is just built like a tank. The bronze pedestal base is heavy and never tips over when tying (unlike my Dyna-King Squire vise).
The jaws are extremely strong and feature a small notch the securely locks in larger hooks. And I’ve always liked that spring material clip right behind them that acts like a third had to hold ribbing material until it’s ready to be wrapped.
Every part of the Regal Medallion is about five times more robust than it needs to be, yet is crafted with the attention to detail of a watch maker. It’s no wonder these things last forever and are considered by many to be the best vises in the world. And aesthetically, the vise is gorgeous. It looks like something you might see in a museum. Few things today are made with such quality and I consider owning one a true privilege.
My First Fly on my new Regal Medallion
Hook: Owner Gosen Torrents Ace eyeless ayu hook #7.5
Loop Eye: #2 Silk bead cord, brown
Thread: Uni 8/0 Camel Brown
Hackle: Partridge
Body: Outfield burnt orange dubbing
I’ve wanted a Regal Medallion ever since I first tied on one in the fly shop 15 years ago. And now I finally have one. It will become a family heirloom for sure and one day, I hope to pass it on to my daughter, Emma (but not after I’ve had a chance to tie a few thousand flies on it). Sorry honey, you’ll just have to wait a little while…
I too can remember my first flies. I tied them in 7th grade in a breakout class that my Jr High school offered. That was 1975. I still have them! I tied them on a Thompson vise. I still have it too!
I too have a Regal vise. I tied commercially with it for years. It is the basic Inex vise and it served me well. However, I have now switched to a rotary vise ,a Renzetti, for my fly tying. I don’t think that it is any better than my Inex, just faster — 30 second flies.
-Tom
Congrats! The right tools make a world of a difference in some tasks, and I’m sure your daughter will enjoy it too someday. My nine-year-old girl is just getting that itch to tie herself, and it’s great to watch her go at it. Next step is getting her to fish more than play in waders in the water.
Goodluck my freind! My sister is 20 and she still finds that part beyond amazing. By the time she is actually ready to fish I’ve caught 4-5 fish.
Jason this vise is gorgeous! I’ve been looking at these for awhile now since I have a vise that came with a fly tying kit I never should have bought. I heard that they don’t hold the hooks in place so great though, especially compared to vises with a lever to lock the hooks firmly in place?
do you have any trouble getting enough of the air bubbles out of the body to sink that fly successfully to allow for movement?
No. Because with all of my sinking flies, the first thing I do is submerge them and rub them into the stream bottom. This not only saturates the fly to remove air bubbles and help it sink better but also gives the fly a scent that matches the local stream (or at least helps mask human scent).
it must be in the air, I just replace the 12 dollar clamp style vice I have been using since I was 10! last weekend. Im amazed I got by all these years without a rotary head function! haha that just tells you the quality of flies I have been making 🙂 I stick to the easy stuff
What do you think of the Regal Revolution!
Hi Curtis, I don’t like rotary vises so I’m afraid I can’t be of much help. Does anyone else have experience with this vise?
Thats a great vise Jason. They have a timeless look to them. I’ve always heard they hold like a pit bull. I have tied on a bunch of vises (mongoose, HMH, etc) but like many I love my Renzetti.
Hi Lance, yep, to each their own. I’ve tried rotary vises but just never really saw the advantage. I guess it depends on the types of flies you tie or maybe your style. But I like the old-fashioned vises like this. Might be a sign that I’m turning into an old curmudgeon. Which I will not argue against (ironically).
Jason…after getting turned on by your posts on using wool yarn (just started tying a few but need more practice…might send a few more questions to you under that post), I started diving into your other posts and found this one from 2012…
OMG, you have lit another flame in me about “getting” a new vice…have been doing a deep dive in comparing the rotaries to the Regal… somehow the rotary seems like a “foreign” concept…have tied on a $30 vise now for almost 30 years–although was hit and miss on its use until I got into Tenkara about a year ago… simplicity at its best… and the joy of using only a few variations for my flies… the Regal looks and appears elegant in it use… but a “real” investment!! … base vs. clamp? which nozzle do you use? now after a few years, assume you still wholehearted embrace your Regal…any down sides to it? has it held up? again, enjoy spinning thread and hackle and etc. myself rather than using the rotary concept to assist…
love any feedback on your Regal after several years of use… thanks…
Hi Brad, “vice” or “vise”. Maybe both, lol. After many years, my Regal Medallion is still the only vise I will ever tie on and looks like it just came out of the box. I’d recommend the standard jaws as they’re the most versatile. I tie everything from minuscule midges to huge saltwater flies with them and there’s never any adjustment necessary. And the size of most tenkara flies is right in the “Goldilocks” zone. Considering you’ll have this vise for the rest of your life I think the upfront investment is well worth it. Let me know if you get one. I think you’ll be pretty impressed.
Also, I forgot to answer your question about base vs. clamp. I would definitely recommend base. It’s more ergonomic and you’re not reliant on a table that has a suitable edge. Some will argue that a clamp is more secure and won’t wobble while tying. This is true, but like I said, it’s limiting and the Regal bases are very heavy and stable. I’ve never had a problem with it.
Jason…thanks for the quick feedback…yeah–“vice” or “vise”… but hey what else am I going to spend my retirement money on… best–on that what I love … after 20 years, it is probably time to step up…appreciate your words … will keep you in the loop if/when? I take the leap…probably sooner than later… take care…
Jason et al… I took the “dive” and bought the Regal Medallion several weeks ago(mentioned in another recent post)… did a lot reading and thinking about this Regal vs. a rotary… but have to say I too am old school and enjoy my hands doing the spinning–part of enjoyment of building each fly–especially for the smaller trout flies that I tie…
have tied dozens of flies now on it… it is all and more of what has been said…solid, holds hooks like concrete, just all around wonderful tool to work with…once the hook is in place, I don’t even realize the vise is there–no distraction of loose hooks, clamp coming loose, or the base sliding or spinning…didn’t realize how much of an asset this vise becomes until you crank out a few flies…yes, definitely a lifetime investment…appreciate your advice and others above who sent me in this direction…
Brad, Thanks for your affirmation. Often, with gear and tools, people balk at the price until they get them in their hands and then finally see the light. If you compare the price of the Medallion to some other vises like Rennzetti, I think it’s a much better ROI and much more enjoyable to tie on.