Kilgore Trout

All great info! Thanks! I'm not at a level to warrant using real hairs, or I guess, investing in real fur, but Steve is right. The bug will eventually mutate and I'll be right with all the rest in regards to using the natural fibers.

Ok, I need some help after reading these posts. Being moderately new to tying, what difference does it make as to the dubbing you use? I mean, for wet flies, what's wrong with getting some non-fancy cream colored stuff for it? I go down to my shop and grab some Hareline packaged stuff of any color I want. Why go to all the trouble looking for European fitch or badger or otter? Is this for competition? Or are you trying to be as close to using non-dyed, unprocessed furs as you can? Please help me understand the reasoning for the need to use such specific furs?

Maybe before naming it, you should see if it catches anything. If it doesn't, then I would name it "S!@#". I have a whole lot of experiments named this all in a box of the same name.

Thanks for all the advice! I got a lot of info to make my decision and purchased a Traveler today. What really sealed the deal was being on the river last night, seeing tons of fish rising to size 18/20 sulphers. Since I can only go down to 14 (16 if I put up with hooks slipping from time to time) I had to get a new vise ASAP. So many fish passed my monster 14s that it was pretty unproductive. Luckily, a nice brown sucked up a nymph earlier in the fish. With my new vise, they will be doomed!

But, is the Traveler going to last me a long time? Or will I want to upgrade in the near future? My fly tying is always improving and I like to be challenged, so will the Traveler grow with me, or should I get a bigger set up just to make sure? That is what I am debating, spending money on a better or more versatile vise or getting by on a smaller one.

I'm in need of a new vice. I currently have a Danvise from a Cabela's starter kit I got 5 years ago. The tips of the jaw bent out, so doing anything smaller than 12s is a trial to keep the hook locked down. Anyways, looking over this forum topic Poll Whats your vise I can see that there are a ton of opinions. But since the vise you use depends on what type of flies you tie, I was wondering if people would post their vise as well as what they mostly tie on it? I typically tie general trout flies (hooks 12 to 18), streamers (up to size 2), and some bass bugs. I'm looking for a vise to handle these needs, but not a fortune. I will say, the Nor Vise vids really impressed me, but not sure if I need the features. My fly shop is trying to sell me a Renzetti Traveler, but is that a bulky enough vise to spin deer hair on bass bugs?