If you are ever in need of something compact like those old metal wheatley boxes but brought into the modern age then these are the boxes from you.
Gone are the old style tacky boxes as the company has been sold to Fishpond USA a major player in the fly fishing industry , known for its robustness and quality.
The old style daypack was thinner plastic and of course had the clear lid which was of course a serious scratch and fingerprint magnet and was only single sided, the new boxes are of a thicker plastic double sided with a pleasing spearmint green silicone instead of the pale blue from the first generation.
SPECS
Heres some specs on these little pocketable beauties
SILENT SWITCH
The catches are as silent as they are magnetic so it wont spook a trout when you are stalking and need to change fly , strong enough to keep closed and latchless but easy enough to open with gloves on to seek out that deadly nymph pattern for Grayling on a freezing winters day.
MORE ETHICAL
In addition to being made from 20 percent recylced polycarbonate the packaging is printed on 100 percent recycled paper.
PRICE
Priced at £24.99 and these boxes can be shipped with world wide same day shipping.
SUMMARY
i would now say that whilst Tacky was a global success story in reinventing the fly box these new generation boxes under the Fishpond Flag are a great improvement over those originals whether you are the minimalist fisher just wanting to take one box full of your favourites , a travelling fly fisher who always wants to keep a box in car, or if you just want to squeeze another box in with those ones you might just need, these boxes are twice as nice.
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Variety is the spice of the fly tying desk
All of these resins are clear much like the other brands, but they have four different options :-
Find the range here :- Gulff Tying Resins
I need so much help, i need an ABULANCE
With the new coloured resins , you can build up and improve a salmon shrimp pattern, complete a nymph pattern by just building up that exact shade in super quick time with no waste, or enhance that fly that doesnt match the hatch.
With the wide availability of colours and taking a suitable curing light with you in a pocket or pouch you can do it by the waterside.
All of these tying glues except for the flex dries rock hard with zero tack, so no messy issues in the fly box, yet no risk of the resin drying before your finished tying.
Like Honey ??
Yes this is very honey like in its consitency which is the most ideal consistency i have found being pliable , especially as this series of resins is designed for adding that hot spot to a fly , give a fly some serious pop , or to give a flash of colour on a fry pattern.
Is It Tough ?? one word answer = VERY
Whilst the Ambulance series is not clear which makes it ideal for hotspots, eyes, or adding colors underneath a clear coat. The Realistic Color Series is slightly transparent which gives flies a killer look (This is my personal favourite) . The green and brown look especially good over flash. I havent yet been able to try the Color Resin Series but I have no doubts these will be absoloutely superb. and of course it will also be incredibly durable. I cured some of the Fatman then apllied some Ambulance on a bare hook and whacked it with a 16oz Estwing hammer, batter off an old tree stump from clearing a dead tree over winter, there was no cracking or fracturing of the resin whatsoever. After a few good blows it didn’t even show so much as a scratch, You can’t ask for any better than that.
Any drawbacks ??
The only slight drawback is unlike some of the other products there is a slight oudor on this one , not enough to be a massive issue or be offputting but it is a form of glue in the end.
MORE MORE MORE !!!
We will be adding very soon, the Gulff light which outputs 3 Watts for curing which is some serious curing power.
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Time for a little conversation about Ultra realistic fly tying.
Using Jsons incredible materials from legs to bodies, to wings to tails its all there and gives you literally infinite combinations to match that fly pattern you keep seeing and more importantly keeps getting eaten by the trout your trying to catch, yet you can never quite match in your fly box, this is where Json steps in.
Not sure where to go or whats needed to tie the whole fly?.
Then
Fly tying packs are for you, that way everything want to give it a go is included.
Alternatively you can adapt and more than likely improve an existing pattern with a set of realistic legs or wings.
Improving the performance of any flies, as this really will improve the silouette of the fly.
What I have found as a professional guide is that these flies, when tied well not only hook up more fish but are more robust than your standard quality fly due to the materials used by Json it is a thoroughly well thought out and effective tying machine that simply works, and in my opinion allows you to have just as much fun tying as you do fishing which is all i can ask for.
Json not only supply the materials but importantly the hooks to match also , the hooks are also available here at https://www.flytyingden.com/collections/j-son-hooks
Don’t forget that once you have your flies to remember to buy the Json swivels which will keep your presentation up as the number one issue with realistic patterns is how they actually cast, with some practice and using the swivels that eliminates the issue.
Want to know how ?
We have a whole series of videos, with more being added all the time, showing just how easy it is to tie these incredible patterns.
https://www.flytyingden.com/pages/fly-tying-recipes
Summary
With the weather turning colder and for those of you not battling Salmon, Grayling and Steelhead over the winter, and looking for a project why not give it a go , Flytyingden has everything you need to get involved and see just what all you can create ready for those spring hatches, or for the dedicated tie up a new nymph pattern and get out there onto the river searching for fish.
When flies look this good on the surface what more could you ask for ?.
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In terms of a superb value for money vise for getting serious about your fly tying its hard pushed to find a vise to beat this and it really makes it stand out from the rest. given the most unique feature of the Transformer Vise are the interchangeable heads. Included in the purchase of this product you receive 3 heads which is great for the Multi species tyer. The first head is a true in-line rotary head, a streamer fly head, and versatile tube fly head. All of these vise heads are easily swapped in and out using a coupling, much like changing the tools on a compressor hose. They are precision machined and glide in with ease. Your getting 3 different vises for one price.
LARGE HEAD
The Large head is a straight forward beefy set of jaws. Its a Salmon or Saltwater tyers dream. Again, these jaws operate using a cam-over system which tucks up to lay flush with the arm. Ingenious! This gives the tyer a fully accessible tying platform free of mechanisms catching materials. Its streamline construction fits so comfortably in your hand. This particular set of jaws will also accept the spring material clip. Tying up saltwater flies up to size 4/0 the hooks hold in nice and tight.
This far and away is the vise and jaw configuration I use on a daily basis as I tye and use Saltwater flies more than others.
TUBE FLY HEAD
For myself, this transforming tube fly head is the best on the market. Included with this head are 3 different tips. 2 different sized straight pin tips and 1 tapered pin tip with 3 different sized tapered pins. This allows you to tie with any type of tube system available. No longer do you need to purchase a specific manufactures tube fly attachment system. The straight pin tips screw out towards the tube locking it in place eliminating the tube spinning. I know too well the frustration of trying to lock down materials and that tube giving out on the pin, lets face it no one wants a side of pain with their vise. For those of you who prefer the simple tapered pin for the common plastic tubes available, a quick tip change and your off to the races. The 3 sized pin given with the system will fit all your tubes. There is a more an additional set of pin available which we can supply for you as an optional extra, these can give you a true custom fit on your tubes. The tube fly head is also able to receive the spring material clip as well as the thread holder.
ROTARY SYSTEM
The rotary mechanics are sealed in a sleek designed mount. It operates smoothly without any friction. The tension is easily controlled with the tension knob. The rotating arm is the perfect size and comes complete with arm extension which most vises sell separately. This Transformer Vise is a truly quality well built piece of kit
BASE PEDESTAL & ACCESSORIES
This pedestal is larger than most out there giving you lots of stability. It also has some tyer’s comforts built in. There are 2 wells for holding materials such as hooks and beads, however I use a Tywheel Which takes things to the next level (more on this at the end of this review) anyway back to the stock vise, The integrated tool bar along the backside of the pedestal offers a great place to put your frequently used items. As with most vises on the market today, there are your standard vise accessories available. A bobbin/post clip comes with your vise and its easy to change between the applications using the set screws and a quick adjustment to your liking.
PRICE
The vise retails at £359.99 and qualifies for free shipping. For a vise of this quality and given that rather than just one vise, it is 3 means that if you are tying a wide variety of patterns for multi species then this is the vise for you which will not only save owning multiple vises but save space, letting you fill that space with more materials rather than more tools.
ACCESSORIES I WOULD RECOMMEND
Vise Accessory
FLY TYING BASE WHEEL If you really want to upgrade this vise and keep everything to hand at all times this is the tool for you , combine the two and you have a fly tiers dream.
We will be giving this a proper review in an up and coming Blog, so stay tuned if you are on the fence on just how good this piece is.
Tools
For serious tying check out the range of C & F Tools
For those with large hands Loon Outdoors tools
SUMMARY
Stonfo tools are certainly very popular here at The Fly Tying Den, we have a wide range in stock for next day delivery and can easily ship worldwide. The range of tools they offer and the accessories listed here could easily give you a dream setup whether new to tying or upgrading/replacing your existing kit. They certainly produce a high quality product and would easily hold up to years of constant use.
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Placing a realistic fly pattern in the best possible place in front of a fish increases your chances of hooking up, with all of the various materials and tools being available, even the smallest detail is covered, why not check out the range here
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After much planning, decorating, sourcing, packaging, pricing, and more, it was time to launch. Celebrating with a small party for friends, family, and everyone in between, we finally shared our brand and products with the world. There’s no one way to start a business, so it was great to see everyone that helped us find our own way here in one room with us.
Our launch was the perfect time to showcase our new collections and share some of our stories.
Each collection and product is created using the finest materials, and designed exclusively for you, we focus purely on quality.
Our signature collection will soon grow into seasonal collections, and we’re hoping to offer more and more unique products as we get bigger and better.
We just want to say thanks to everyone who has supported us on our journey, and we can’t wait to share our new products and ideas with you very soon. Stay updated on our upcoming news and events here, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook. See you soon!
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