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Description of a hook

Correct placement of the hook in the vice

The hook placement below is for a right handed fly tier. If you are left handed please remember to mirror reverse the instructions.

Correct placement of the hook in the vice definitely has an effect on the quality of the fly you tie.

It doesn't natter weather its a dry fly hook, stainless hook for a larger saltwater fly , a 3 X long shank hook for a streamer fly or any other hook for that matter the hook should be placed in the vice so that:

1. It's horizontal. If the hook is not horizontal in the vice there is a greater tendency to dress the fly unevenly in some cases and particularly when the hook is inserted point down for the thread to slip over the eye of the hook.
2. The barb of the hook should be inside the jaws of your vice.
3. It's not too low in the vice. If its too low in the vice the gape of the hook is crowded and it makes it difficult to tie the fly.
4. It's not too high in the vice. If its too high in the vice the hook may be dislodged from the vice during the tying of the fly or to much metal fatigue may be imparted to the fine point of the hook during the tying process.
5. The point of the hook should be exposed and you should tilt your thread away from the point when working at the bend end of the hook.

A	Dry fly hook

B	Stainless steel hook

C	3 X long shank hook

D	Scud / grub / caddis hook

Wrong placement of hook in vice

E	This hook placement is wrong. The barb is not inside the jaws of the vice and the hook is not horizontal.

F	The problem with this hook placement is that the hook is not horizontal.

G	Whilst this hook is horizontal it is too low into the vice. This crowds the gape of the hook and make it harder to tie the fly.

H	If the hook is placed too finely into the vice the action of tying the fly may be enough to fatigue the point of the hook or the hook may just pop out of the vice as the fly is tied.

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