Regal Vises have earned their reputation around one thing above all else: hook-holding power. The famous Regal “Bulldog Bite” allows the tier to open the jaws, insert the hook, release the handle, and get straight to tying without repeatedly adjusting jaw tension. Regal builds its vises in the USA and offers a modular system where the jaw, vise series, base or clamp, and accessories can be selected to match the way you tie.

The most important decision is the jaw. A Regal can be an outstanding vise for everything from size 32 midges to giant saltwater patterns, but no single jaw is ideal for every application. Choosing the right jaw for the flies you actually tie will make a much bigger difference than choosing a particular color or accessory.

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The Regal Jaw Lineup

Regal currently offers eight basic head/jaw styles:

• Regular

• Stainless Steel

• Midge

• Big Game

• Monster

• Shank

• Hook

• Tube Fly

Regal describes the Regular, Stainless Steel, Midge, Big Game, Monster, Shank, Hook, and Tube Fly as distinct tools for different tying applications.

Quick Jaw Comparison

Jaw	Approx. Hook Range	Best For	Biggest Advantage	Biggest Limitation
Regular	22–2/0 1 Hook Groove	All-around tying	Best combination of range, strength and versatility	Not optimized for extreme small or extreme large hooks
Stainless Steel	32–2	Trout, small flies, finesse	Extremely slim profile	Less suited to very large hooks
Midge	32–6	Small trout flies	Excellent access and control on tiny flies	Gives up large-hook capability
Big Game	22–5/0 2 Hook Grooves	Saltwater, bass, pike, musky, salmon	Exceptional large-hook security while retaining small-hook capability	Larger jaw profile can be unnecessary for delicate tying
Monster	1/0–8/0 2 Hook Grooves	Very large flies and giant hooks	Widest-opening Regal jaw	Poor choice for small flies
Shank	16–1/0 1 Hook Groove 1 Shank Groove	Articulated flies, shanks, tubes, Game Changers	Purpose-built shank and pin holding surfaces	Specialized rather than general-purpose
Hook	Small/medium specialty use	Euro nymphs, perdigons, emergers, curved hooks	Extraordinary access around the hook bend	Not the first choice for large or general-purpose tying
Tube Fly	Tube/shank applications	Tube flies and mandrels	Chuck-style tube holding system	Specialty head rather than an all-purpose hook jaw

The hook ranges above are based on Regal's specifications and current dealer information; individual hook designs can affect the practical range.

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Regular Jaw — The All-Around Easy Pick

Hook range: approximately 22–2/0

The Regular jaw is the workhorse of the Regal lineup and one of the jaws we would recommend to the majority of fly tiers who want one vise to do almost everything. This jaw also has a machined hook groove to provide secure positioning with larger hooks.

It is one of Regal’s most versatile and popular jaws, comfortably tying sizes 22 through 2/0. 

Strengths

Extremely broad range. The Regular jaw can comfortably cover the overwhelming majority of trout, bass, steelhead, salmon and many saltwater patterns.

Excellent hook security. This is where the traditional Regal design really shines. The jaw grips the hook quickly and securely without requiring the tier to constantly adjust tension.

Simple operation. There is very little to learn. Open, insert, release and tie.

Excellent general-purpose profile. The jaw isn't excessively specialized, so it works well for dry flies, nymphs, streamers, terrestrials and many larger patterns.

Ideal first Regal. If someone doesn't know exactly which specialty jaw they need, the Regular is the safest recommendation.

Weaknesses

The Regular jaw is a compromise by design.

It can hold very small hooks, but a dedicated Midge or Stainless Steel jaw gives the tier a more refined working profile around tiny flies.

It can also hold large hooks, but a Big Game or Monster jaw is better when the tying involves large saltwater hooks, heavy wire, or very large patterns.

Best for

• Trout

• Bass

• Steelhead

• Salmon

• General streamer tying

• Dry flies

• Nymphs

• General-purpose fly tying

• The tier who wants one vise to do almost everything

Bottom line

If you're buying your first Regal and don't have a very specific specialty, the Regular is an easy pick.

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Stainless Steel Jaw — The Finesse Specialist

Hook range: approximately 32–2

The Stainless Steel jaw is the smallest-profile jaw in the Regal lineup. It is made from heat-treated stainless steel, allowing Regal to machine a much slimmer jaw while maintaining the durability expected from the brand.

This is a particularly compelling choice for trout tiers who spend a lot of time tying small flies.

Strengths

Very slim profile. The reduced jaw size puts less metal around the hook, making it easier to see and work around small flies.

Excellent small-hook access. This becomes especially valuable when tying tiny dries, small nymphs and small emergers.

Huge small-fly range. Being rated down to size 32 makes this one of Regal's premier choices for serious small-fly tying.

Heat-treated stainless construction. The jaw can be machined very thin without sacrificing the durability associated with Regal.

Weaknesses

The slim profile that makes the Stainless Steel jaw excellent for small flies is also what makes it less attractive for someone who spends most of their time tying large flies.

The jaw is rated to size 2, so this isn't the choice for someone regularly tying 2/0, 3/0 or 5/0 saltwater patterns.

Best for

• Tiny trout flies

• Midges

• Small dries

• Small nymphs

• Technical trout patterns

• Tiers who want excellent visibility around the hook

Stainless Steel vs. Midge

These two jaws overlap heavily at the small end, but they aren't identical.

The Stainless Steel jaw is the better choice when minimum profile and maximum hook-size range are the priorities.

The Midge jaw is more specifically shaped around the mechanics of tying small flies.

Bottom line

Choose Stainless Steel if small flies are a major part of your tying and you want one small-fly jaw that still retains useful versatility.

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Midge Jaw — The Small-Fly Specialist

Hook range: approximately 32–6

The Midge jaw was specifically designed around small flies. It can handle approximately size 32 through size 6.  Regal describes its geometric tip as providing additional room and control for tying small patterns.

Strengths

Excellent tiny-hook control.

Purpose-built geometry. The tip is shaped to give the tier a comfortable working area despite the small size of the fly.

Excellent for trout applications. If the majority of your tying is size 6 and smaller, the Midge jaw makes a lot of sense.

More comfortable for sustained small-fly tying. The geometry is designed around working on small patterns rather than simply making a conventional jaw smaller.

Weaknesses

The obvious trade-off is versatility.

A Midge jaw is not the jaw to choose if you routinely jump from size 20 midges to 2/0 streamers.

Its size 6 upper limit makes it much more specialized than the Regular or Stainless Steel jaw.

Best for

• Midges

• Small dries

• Small nymphs

• Emergers

• Small trout patterns

• Technical freshwater tying

Midge vs. Stainless Steel

This is one of the most important decisions for the small-fly tier.

Choose Midge if your tying is heavily concentrated on small trout flies and you want the geometry specifically optimized for them.

Choose Stainless Steel if you want a similarly slim profile but need more versatility toward larger hooks.

Bottom line

The Midge is the specialist's choice for tiers who live in the size 6–32 range.

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Big Game Jaw — The Saltwater Workhorse

Hook range: approximately 22–5/0

The Big Game jaw is arguably the most versatile specialty jaw in the Regal lineup.

It was designed for large freshwater and saltwater flies and is rated from approximately size 22 through 5/0. It uses multiple machined hook grooves to provide secure positioning across a very broad range of hook sizes.

Strengths

Huge hook-size range.

This is the jaw that makes the most sense for the tier who might tie a size 18 streamer one day and a 4/0 tarpon fly the next.

Excellent large-hook security.

The deeper jaw and machined grooves give large hooks a very secure home.

Excellent saltwater choice.

Tarpon, permit, pike, musky, bass, salmon and large streamer applications are all right in its wheelhouse.

More versatile than its name suggests.

Although called “Big Game,” it is not limited to big flies. Regal rates it all the way down to size 22.

Weaknesses

The Big Game jaw is physically larger and more substantial than the small-fly-oriented jaws.

For someone who spends almost all of their time tying size 18–28 trout flies, there is little reason to choose it over the Midge or Stainless Steel.

Best for

• Tarpon

• Pike

• Musky

• Large bass flies

• Salmon

• Large streamers

• Saltwater

• Large freshwater patterns

• Tiers who need enormous hook-size versatility

Bottom line

For a saltwater or big-streamer tier who still wants the ability to tie smaller flies, the Big Game jaw is arguably the best single-jaw solution in the Regal lineup.

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Monster Jaw — The Giant-Fly Specialist

Regal identifies the Monster as its widest-opening jaw and specifically cautions that it is not suitable for tying small flies.  It uses multiple machined hook grooves to provide secure positioning across a broad range of large hook sizes.

Historically, the Monster has been intended for extremely large hooks and flies, with dealer specifications putting its practical range around approximately 1/0 through 8/0.

Strengths

Maximum jaw opening.

This is the jaw to consider when conventional large jaws simply aren't enough.

Excellent for giant baitfish patterns.

Large musky flies, oversized pike flies and very large saltwater patterns are where the Monster makes sense.

Designed around very large hooks.

Weaknesses

This is the least versatile Regal jaw.

The Monster is intentionally optimized for giant flies, and Regal specifically notes that it is not suitable for small flies.

If your tying ranges from size 12 trout flies to 4/0 tarpon flies, a Big Game jaw is a substantially better choice.

Best for

• Giant musky flies

• Giant pike flies

• Oversized baitfish

• Large saltwater streamers

• Extremely large hooks

Bottom line

Only buy the Monster if you regularly tie flies large enough to justify it.

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Shank Jaw — The Articulated-Fly Specialist

Hook range: approximately 16–1/0

The Shank jaw is one of Regal's most specialized and useful designs.

Instead of simply being a conventional hook jaw, it has different holding surfaces on the two sides. One side provides a hook groove while the other incorporates a horizontal pin/shank groove. The jaw is also intentionally blunted to hold shanks securely.

Strengths

Excellent for articulated flies.

Excellent for tube-related tying.

Excellent for Game Changer-style flies.

Holds shanks and pins directly.

This eliminates many of the awkward workarounds that tiers use with conventional hook jaws.

Weaknesses

The Shank jaw is not the best choice as a general-purpose jaw.

If 90% of your tying is conventional trout flies, you are paying for features you may rarely use.

Best for

• Articulated streamers

• Intruders

• Game Changers

• Shank-based flies

• Tube-related tying

• Large streamer construction

Bottom line

If you tie articulated flies regularly, the Shank jaw can transform your tying workflow.

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Hook Jaw — Designed Around Access

The Hook Jaw is one of Regal's newest specialty designs and is aimed at a very specific problem: getting better access to the hook bend on small, curved and intricate patterns.

Strengths

Outstanding hook-bend access.

The cutout in the jaw allows the tier to work farther down the hook shank and toward the bend.

Less hook repositioning.

This is particularly useful when tying patterns where you need to work deep into the bend.

Designed to keep the hook point from interfering with thread and materials.

Regal specifically designed additional material at the tip so the hook point can remain in the jaw rather than constantly getting in the way.

Best for

• Perdigons

• Euro nymphs

• Emergers

• Chronomids

• Curved hooks

• Small intricate patterns

Weaknesses

The Hook Jaw is a specialty tool. If your tying consists primarily of conventional dry flies, streamers and bass bugs, the Regular jaw is considerably more versatile.

Bottom line

If you regularly tie small curved-hook patterns and find yourself constantly repositioning the hook, the Hook Jaw deserves serious consideration.

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Tube Fly Jaw — A Completely Different Tool

The Tube Fly head is different from the conventional hook jaws because it uses a chuck-style system designed specifically for tubes and mandrels.

This jaw is compatible with both the Medallion and Revolution systems—the Tube Fly head is the exception to Regal's normal series-specific head compatibility.

The Bear’s Den version includes three progressive Regal mandrels, allowing the tier to get started with several tube-fly sizes and styles.

Strengths

• Purpose-built for tube flies

• Chuck-style tube holding

• Accepts mandrels

• Works with both Medallion and Revolution

• Excellent for salmon, steelhead and saltwater tube patterns

Weaknesses

It is a specialty system.

If you don't tie tube flies, there is no reason to choose it over a conventional Regal jaw.

Bottom line

For serious tube-fly tying, this is the Regal head to own.

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Medallion vs. Revolution

This is an important distinction because the jaw itself isn't what makes a Regal a Medallion or Revolution.

The same general jaw families are available across the two systems, but the bodies and rotary mechanisms are different.

Medallion

The Medallion is Regal's classic, original-style system.

This is Regal’s signature workhorse with 360-degree rotation and tilt functionality.

Advantages

• Lower entry price

• Simple, proven design

• Excellent hook-holding strength

• 360-degree rotation

• Easy to use

• Excellent choice for the majority of tiers

• Less mechanical complexity

Disadvantages

The Medallion does not have the Revolution's full rotary mechanism.

For tiers who frequently rotate the fly while wrapping materials, the Revolution provides a much more sophisticated rotary experience.

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Revolution

The Revolution is Regal's premium rotary system.

It adds steel bearings and an adjustable thumbscrew that controls rotation speed in either direction, making it substantially better suited to tiers who use rotary tying as a major part of their process.

Advantages

• True full rotary functionality

• Steel bearing system

• Adjustable rotary tension

• Smooth rotation

• Excellent for commercial and production tying

• Excellent for wrapping materials around the hook

• Excellent for precision rotary techniques

Disadvantages

• Significantly more expensive

• More mechanically complicated

• Not necessary if you primarily use a vise as a stationary hook holder

• Requires the correct Revolution head/body components

Important compatibility note

Regal specifically recommends keeping Medallion heads with Medallion systems and Revolution heads with Revolution systems. A Medallion head should not simply be placed onto a Revolution body because the balance will be incorrect. Likewise, a Medallion cannot simply be converted into a Revolution by adding one component; the Revolution body, roller and stem are required.

The simplest way to decide

Buy Medallion if hook holding is your only priority.

Buy Revolution if speed and ultra smooth rotary tying are an important part of how you tie.

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Bases and Clamps

Once the jaw and series have been chosen, the next major decision is how the vise attaches to the tying bench.

Regal currently has five basic base/clamp options.

Bronze Traditional Base

The classic heavy pedestal base.

Advantages

• Heavy and extremely stable

• Excellent for stationary bench tying

• Traditional Regal design with beautiful fish engraving

• Raised perimeter helps contain beads, hooks and other small materials

• Excellent choice for tiers who don't need to move the vise

Disadvantages

• Heavy

• Not the best travel option

• Takes up more bench space than a clamp

Best for

Dedicated home tying stations.

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Bronze Pocket Base

This is one of the most popular Regal pedestal bases.

Its major advantage over the Traditional base is the integrated pockets/trays, which can be used for beads, hooks and other small tying materials.

Advantages

• Heavy and stable

• Excellent for home tying

• Integrated material pockets

• Keeps commonly used small materials immediately around the vise

• Excellent combination of stability and organization

Disadvantages

• Heavy

• More expensive than lightweight aluminum options

• Less convenient for travel

Best for

The serious home tier who wants the most stable pedestal setup and appreciates built-in material storage.

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Aluminum Pocket Base

The lightweight version of the pocket-base concept.

Advantages

• Much lighter than bronze

• Still provides integrated pockets

• Excellent for tiers who move their vise occasionally

• Easier to travel with

• Less expensive than the bronze versions

Disadvantages

• Less overall mass than bronze

• Not quite as immovable under aggressive tying

• A little less luxurious/heavy-duty feeling

Best for

The tier who wants pedestal stability without carrying a heavy bronze base.

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Travel Base

The Travel Base is essentially the compact, portable version of the aluminum pedestal concept.

It is designed to minimize packing size and weight and is especially effective when paired with a short travel stem. Dealer information describes it as smaller than the Aluminum Pocket Base and intended specifically for travel.

Advantages

• Excellent portability

• Small footprint

• Lightweight

• Easy to pack

• Great for tying away from home

Disadvantages

• Less stable than the heavy bronze bases

• Less bench-oriented

• Not the best choice for someone who never travels with their vise

Best for

Traveling tiers, guides, destination tiers and anyone who wants a compact Regal setup.

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C-Clamp

The C-Clamp attaches the vise directly to the edge of the tying table.

Advantages

• Very small packing footprint

• No pedestal base occupying bench space

• Excellent stability when properly clamped

• Excellent for permanent or semi-permanent tying benches

• Usually the least expensive way to build a complete Regal

Disadvantages

• Requires a suitable table edge

• Cannot be used on every tying surface

• Less convenient if the vise is frequently moved around the bench

• The bench must be compatible with the clamp

Best for

Dedicated benches and tiers who want maximum bench space.

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Material Clips

We currently offer three versions:

• Classic

• Infinity

• Magnetic

All are designed to keep tying materials away from the hook while you work.

Classic

The traditional version.

The Classic Clip is only compatible with the Regular Jaw Medallion head.

Infinity

The most versatile clip.

It slips over the vise head and is compatible with all Regal head models.

Magnetic

Attaches magnetically to the top or bottom of the jaws.

Best for: tiers who want easy attachment and removal without committing to a permanent-style clip.

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Tool Bar

The Tool Bar creates an organized location for fly-tying tools around the vise.

It is especially useful for tiers who like to have scissors, whip finishers, hackle pliers and other tools immediately accessible without spreading them across the bench.

Best for

Dedicated tying benches and production tiers.

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The Bottom Line

The biggest mistake when buying a Regal is to focus on Medallion vs. Revolution first.

The better order is:

1. Choose your jaw

What hooks do you actually tie?

2. Choose your series

Do you need full rotary functionality?

3. Choose your base or clamp

Is the vise staying on a dedicated bench or traveling?

4. Add accessories

Make the vise more efficient rather than buying accessories simply because they exist.

Shop the full  Regal Vise collection at Bear’s Den