Many of us have limited space for a fly-tying bench. If you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated spot or are ready to set up a tying area, you should keep a few things in mind. First, don’t set your bench up in front of a vent or window. An unexpected burst of air can turn your painstakingly matched hackles into Cat Fun Fest 2004. Also, keeping your desk away from a window and natural light will protect the colors on your materials against fading. You want as much light as you can get, but your best option is a desk lamp with a natural spectrum bulb, such as those from Giraffe, Ott Lite or Daylight, that lets you control the amount of light. And you’ll need access to an electrical outlet for drying machines, lights, etc. Depending on how serious you are, you may also want a magnifying glass, an adjustable backdrop, hackle and hook gauges, and any number of vise accessories. Just remember to allow space for them around your station.
While there are several companies that make dedicated tying desks, like Made 2 Fly, others, like Oasis and Bee Creek, make semiportable to portable tying stations. These are ideal for limited space because they have a variety of holes, rods and other features for storing materials, spools, eyes and tools, and often include space for vises. Perhaps the most important feature of any tying station is a comfortable chair.
