Hi Everybody, As I mentioned in a different thread my wife & daughter bought me a renzetti traveler (cam lever) for my birthday. I'm very excited as I've worn out my Bass Pro starter kit vise (two of them; one left). I've been looking into various vises and I wanted to get some opinions. I tie primarily saltwater & large freshwater. Typical sizes range from 8 to 1/0. Haven't tied anything bigger yet (but I haven't started tarpon & offshore yet). I do tie smaller flies for swaps & fun (so far nothing below a 14). I also tie a lot of clouser style flies. Reading the instructions the traveler says it can handle 28 to 4/0. I've tied on the saltwater traveler before (that's what Bass Pro uses for lessons) and I like it (but clousers were trickier); I'm assuming the standard traveler is comparable. I've read Hans & Bruce's excellent article and I think I'm okay but I just want to get some more "real world" input since I have limited experience. If you'd be so kind as to provide some opinions here are my questions.
1 - Should I consider the saltwater traveler & the clouser arm? My concern there is the website said it only supports 4 to 8/0, so no good for the smaller ones (and I'm starting to tie 6's for picky snook & bonefish) 2 - Is the clouser arm (at $105) for the regular traveler worth it? 3 - I got the C clamp model. Anybody know of a good pedestal base that's not $50? 4 - Should I save some $ and look at the knock off (I almost bid on one) or a peak, feather-craft, or danvise? 5 - Any other thoughts I'm missing? I'm very excited and I really, really, really appreciate my wife for doing this! I just want to make sure I get a good "all around" vise since I don't think I'll be having multiple vises in the near future! Eventually I will though... Thanks in advance! VFB Rocks! Ken (Florida)
