How to Build Your Own Fly Tying Bench

For any angler that decides to take up fly fishing, there will come a time when tying you own flies will become as much a hobby as the fly fishing itself. With all the tools, materials and hooks needed to tie many different flies, it becomes a necessity to keep all these tackle organized in one place. Building a fly tying bench keeps everything in one place, so read on for information about this useful addition to your fly fishing collection.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Building the Bench

Things You’ll Need:

Pre-fabricated wood desk
Fly tying vise
Plastic storage containers
Desk top lamp
Tool caddy
Spool riser

Step 1

Assemble the wooden desk according the instructions in the package. While there are a number of pre-fabricated fly tying desks on the market, they tend to be expensive and a simple wooden desk can become a custom fly tying bench in a few simple steps.

Step 2

Attach the fly tying vise to the top of the bench. Before securing the vise to the bench top, sit at the bench and make sure the vise is in a comfortable position.

Step 3

Place the desk top lamp next to the fly tying vise and position the lamp so the light is shining on the vise and not in your eyes. This will be a huge aid when tying small, intricate trout flies.

Step 4

Put like materials, such as marabou feathers, in the plastic containers and label the outside of the container. This will keep sensitive materials such as hackle or dubbing from mixing and contaminating the natural color of the material.

Step 5

Place the tools like scissors and hackle pliers in the tool caddy; this will keep the tools you use the most organized and readily available. Keep the tool caddy to side of the vise so it is withing arms reach.

Step 6

Put the spools of fly tying thread in the spool riser; this will keep them neat and organized. Please the riser on the bench so it is also within reach. With your bench complete, you can sit down and start tying that hit fly for the next fly fishing adventure!

Tips & Warnings

Use a waterproof plastic tackle box to store your hooks. A flat-sided box with multiple compartments is ideal for storing hooks so they do not rust prematurely.

Do not place soft plastic items, such as egg imitations, in the same container as feathers. The soft plastic will "bleed" its color onto the feather, making them useless.

Resources

Cabelas Fly Fishing

Article Written By Brian M. Kelly

Brian M. Kelly has been freelance writing since 2003. His work has been published in respected outdoor magazines such as Outdoor Life, Great Lakes Angler and Salmon Trout Steelheader. He holds an associate's degree in automated machine design from Macomb College.

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