We are starting a new regular post here on The MAngler. Our in house tying genius Ron Beck will be writing tying posts on a regular basis. I know Ron will tell me he is not a genius once he reads this, but it’s the truth. Ron is not only a mastermind at the vice, but he has a head absolutely stuffed full of Montana Fishing knowledge. He is the type of guy that when he talks fishing, you should at least be listening if not taking notes. I can tell you that there have been more than a few days when I am at the shop if the morning with no idea where I should fish that day and Ron sends me to a blue line on a map and I have a day for the books.
So enjoy the new posts and let us know if there is anything you want Ron to write about. You can even get a few secrets out of him if you bring him a case of Budweiser.
I am an old dog, not real good with new tricks. I still use the whip finisher and hair stacker that
came with my first fly tying kit almost 40 years ago. I tie on a vise that is older than some of the
employees here at the shop. I usually don’t get too fired up about new fly tying tools. When the
Rite Bobbin arrived in the shop it caught my attention.
I picked up a Rite’s Mag Bobbin to use in a class last winter and immediately fell in love with
it. The obvious difference from standard bobbins is the tension control. The brass tension wheel
is indexed much like the drag on a fly reel. This allows you to apply little or no tension for tying
#22 trikes with 12/0 Benecchi or cranking it tight to set lead eyes on big steamers. I liked the heft
of the bobbin and how the single arm design fit in my hand. I also found the Rite easier to thread
than standard bobbins.
This year, Rite added a half hitch bobbin with a tapered barrel. It looks much like the regular
bobbin, but the tapered end allows you to half hitch or whip finish without picking up another
tool. With a little practice, both knots became second nature to me. The new model also sports
rubber O-rings to hold the thread in place when not in use.
Rite is a Montana company that offers bobbins with long or short tubes. Ceramic models are also
available. It takes a little longer to change spools with the Rite bobbin and they are a bit pricey
($22 to $32), but the extra time and price are well worth it. A bobbin is in your hand more than
any other tying tool, yet the general design has changed very little. The changes Rite has made to
this basic tool are very practical and make tying easier. Stop by and test-drive one at the shop.
-The MAngler
…Because You Fish