A short while ago I was asked for some measurements of various vice stems so that a compatible vice head could be manufactured. As a thank you for my help I was sent one of the vices and a selection of tubes to play with, so I thought it only fair to share my thoughts on it and do a step by step to whet your appetites. The vice is the Needle Tube Fly Vice as sold by Grays of Kilsyth
The vice is supplied with its own stem which you insert into the “C” clamp or pedestal base of your existing vice, then you simply attach the adaptor to the stem and vice into the adaptor.
The design is simple, but functional and perfectly suited to the Needle Tubes for which it was designed and at only £16.00 I think good value.
I do like the look of the flies dressed on the needle tubes, and although my seatrout/salmon forays are few and far between, when I do get a chance I will fish them with confidence and I’m sure they will become an important part of my armoury, along with snake flies, wake lures, etc.
The adaptor fitted to the stem.

The pin vice fitted to the adaptor.

The fly I’m going to show you is a variation of the Black Brahan. I chose this one because, a - it’s a favourite of mine, b - I’ve incorporated a short slim body which I think compliments the tube; and c - I’ve never seen one dressed with a body and thought it a little different.
Instructions assume right-handed tyers.
TUBE – Needle Tube
THREAD – Fluorescent Cerise UTC70
BODY – Red Crystal Flash
UNDERWING – 2 Strands of Red Crystal Flash
OVERWING – Dyed Black Goat Hair
HACKLE – Black Cock
STEP 1
Attach the thread.

Tie in a single strand of Crystal Hair.

STEP 2
Wrap the Crystal Hair towards the tail (to the left) and back up over itself and tie off.

Trim the waste, whipfinish and detach the thread.

Then give the body a coat of varnish for durability and allow to dry.
STEP 3
Once dry reattach the thread and tie in the Crystal Hair. I do this by looping it round the thread and lifting it to the top.

Then allow the weight of the bobbin to pull it down onto the tube.

Then continue tying it in as normal.

This simple process guarantees that the Crystal Hair won’t pull out.
STEP 4
Tie in the overwing, keep it fairly sparse.

When you trim the waste, add a spot of varnish to the roots for added security.

STEP 5
Tie in the hackle.

Double it, then wrap. Try not to over-hackle.

STEP 6
Whipfinish and varnish.

For a glossier head give the fly a second coat of varnish; after the first one has dried.
A useful feature of the vice is that if you undo the screw in the adaptor you can rotate the vice, handy for trimming wing fibres or varnishing.





The finished fly.

Stoats Tail.

Silver Doctor.

Bruiser (Tied with dyed blue bassarisk)

Willie Gunn (Tied with dyed yellow bassarisk)

Another Stoats Tail

Teal Blue and Silver (Tied using two grizzle hackles back-to-back)

Finally and on a whim, a Rutland Sparkler!