In article , Opus--Mark H. Bowen
wrote:



Jim,
I highly recommend the Renzetti Traveler
http://www.ezflyfish.com/rentravcamvi.html, the flyshop ain't so bad either.

Op


I also use the Renzetti Traveller. Things like this should last a
lifetime (like saucepans), and buying something good is money well
spent. You can leave it to your grandchildren in your will.

that said, I don't use it all that often any more. Many, probably most
of my trout flies are tied using a really rubbish tiny little hand-held
vice, or without a vise at all, just using my fingers.

I strongly advise you to try, from time to time, tying with just your
fingers. Even if (like me) you have cruddy arthritis, it's still very
liberating to know that you can spot a natural fly on the riverbank,
pick a hook out of your dubbing bag, and make a decent imitation with
your bare hands.

It may look rough to you, but in my experience the fish tend to find
'oddity' an attractive quality - perhaps looking like a misformed or
mishatched - and therefore vulnerable - natural.

Even though my fingers are quite crippled, I tie down to size 18.

Lazasru