Forget your fly tying vice?

What can you do on an extended fishing trip when you forget your fly tying vice? If you’re lucky you might be able to borrow one from a fellow camper or locate a nearby fly fishing shop to buy a new one. However, there is a third option. You can still tie a fly by using only your hands and fingers. Keep in mind that tension must be kept on the material and hook with each application of materials.

Tie a fly without a Vice

First, lay all of the materials out in order that you’re going to use: tail, body, ribbing, hackle and wing. Then, grasp the hook bend tightly and tie in the tail and body material and tie them off.




Next, again holding everything tightly, tie in the body material and spiral it forward and tie it off 3/16 inch from the hook eye.






Then attach the hackle and spin it forward 3 to 4 times and tie it off.






Last, tie in the wing and complete the head.

Hand-Held Vice

Another option is to purchase a Hand Vice that will hold a hook tightly as you tie your fly.