Talking about fly tying vises in the fly tying world can be polarizing as well…almost anything else in the fly fishing world. Everyone has a favorite, and no one will convince them otherwise, and we’re not going to do that today. Today, we’re going to go over the features and benefits of a vise we really like; the Regal Vise.
Regal has been making fly tying vises for a long time and has a reputation for simplicity, durability, and beyond functional. Generations of wisdom, knowledge, and good ole’ fashion ingenuity have gone into designing and manufacturing these hand-crafted fly tying vises. All vises are handcrafted in the United States by those who use them. Regardless of what head you get, the Regal Vise allows you to tie a vast range of flies. So here goes a breakdown of Regal Vises.
Types of Regal Vises
Currently, there are two series of Regal Vise options- the Medallion and the Revolution. The Medallion is the flagship. All Medallions can rotate and change angles up or down. It is not a full rotary vise but does rotate for you to add material or check out the profile of the fly you’re tying. The Revolution is just that; it revolves and is considered a true rotary vise. You want to decide which series you want because the heads are built to accommodate either the Medallion or the Revolution. Vise heads made for the Revolution have a counterbalance integrated for a smooth rotation.
Once you’ve decided, whether rotary or standard, you need to decide which head to use, this is relatively easy because it will be based on the types of flies you fish the most. Regal offers a selection of Heads Jaws dependent on the type of flies you will tie the most. All Regal Vises are clamp-based, which means there are no adjustments necessary to fit different size hooks. You open, and the strong jaws will clamp down on the hook. Simple as that. This is the best feature on a Regal Vise. Below is a brief breakdown of the different heads you can get from Regal Vise. You can get any of these heads with either the Medallion or Revolution series.
| Head | Hook Size | Great for… |
| Regular | 22 – 1/0 | For the new or seasoned professional. A great overall vise. |
| Big Game | 22 – 5/0 | The most versatile for the largest range in size in flies. |
| Stainless Steel | 32 – 2 | Small profile for smaller flies. |
| Midge* | 32 – 6 | Small trout flies. |
| Monster | 1/0 – 8/0 | Uber large baitfish flies. |
| Shank | 16 – 1/0 | Intruders, tube flies. |
Stems
Regal Vise offers a variety of stems with or without a swivel. We like having a swivel, but it doesn’t make you a slouch if you don’t have one. Different stems accommodate different situations—home tying bench, travel, etc.
All About that, Base
There are several base options too. C-clamp Base, the traditional Bronze Base, is a weighty and stable base with a raised lip around the perimeter to keep beads, hooks, and other loose material in place. The Pocket Bronze Base is currently the most popular. They feature traps in the base to separate selected materials like bead heads, small hooks, etc. The Aluminum Pocket Base is a lighter base with the same pocket features as the Bronze version. The Aluminum Pocket Base features a full cork bottom for additional stability and helps keep it in place. It is a very stable base but lighter than the heftier brother. The Travel Base is an even smaller version of the Aluminum Pocket Base. Made for travel, You can even remove its pedestal mount for easier packing, best paired with a short travel stem.
Accessories and Then Some
Any good vise has options, and Regal Vise has the fundamentals. Bobbin holders, material clip, toolbar, and even a spike that you can drive into a log to hold your head so you can tie flies. There are a variety of tools to satisfy a variety of situations. You can also get custom colors for the heads and toolbars; Orange Ember, Hot Rod Red, Ultra Violet, Royal Blue, Cool Lime, Rustic Pine, and Black.
Like a lot of things fly fishing, a tying vise is an investment. If you purchase the right one, it will give beyond a lifetime of tying. The Regal Vise Series is a great vise for all tiers. Starting or the seasoned professional, the Regal Vises Series offers various options, and you can switch out heads. Yeah, you heard me right. If you have the same series (Revolution or Medallion) head, you can switch them out. Simplicity, durability, and genius make the Regal Vise the choice vise for those who have or want a fly tying vice.
We like the Regal Vise. Whether your tying flies for Alaska watersheds to the cays of Andros South island, The Regal Vise is. Durable, stable, and very utilitarian vise. It’s highly recommended for the new fly tier to the most seasoned. Most local fly shops will carry the full range of Regal Vises. Contact them for more information and availability. For more information about Regal Vises, visit www.regalvise.com.
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