The Heart of the Community: Your Fly Tying Benches

Fly-tying is an art, a craft, and for many of us, a meditative practice. And it all starts at the bench—a place where ideas transform into intricate flies, ready for the next fishing adventure. The "Show Us Your Bench" event was inspired by our curiosity about the workspaces that fuel your creativity. Whether it’s a high-end setup with custom storage or a simple, well-loved nook in the corner of a room, each tying station tells a story.

The submissions we received revealed the diversity and individuality of our community. From organized setups with walls of feathers and rows of spools to minimalist benches with just the essentials, each shared space felt like a window into your unique tying journey.

One of the most inspiring parts of this event was seeing the inventive ways you’ve organized your tools, materials, and patterns. Bench setups evolve over time, growing alongside your fly-tying skills.

Some benches included custom tool racks, DIY material storage solutions, and even clever lighting setups to help tackle those intricate flies. These creative touches not only reflect your personalities but also inspire others in the community who may be looking to refine their own workspaces.

Every entry we received had its own unique charm, and many stood out for their creativity or organization. We saw submissions from seasoned tyers with decades of experience and newcomers who just started their fly-tying journey. Here are a few of the highlights:

• Windows to the World: Several of you shared fly tying benches in close proximity to a window! It's no surprise, since many of us get into fly fishing because we love spending time outdoors. Of course, if we can't be outdoors on the water, sitting at our bench with a fly in our vise and a nice view is the next best thing.
• Space-Saving Setups: For those with limited space, the ingenuity was impressive. One participant turned a small closet into a fully functional tying station, maximizing every inch with wall-mounted storage and clever lighting. Another showed us a portable tying kit that allows them to tie on the go—a reminder that you don’t need a big space to create quality flies.

As part of the event, many of you shared benches that showed a ton of thought went into how your fly tying materials and tools are organized. Some benches even showed tips on organizing materials, essential tools, and favorite tying techniques. Here are some insights we gathered:

• Lighting is Key: Good lighting was a recurring theme. Many tyers rely on magnifying lamps to reduce eye strain and see fine details more clearly. For those working late into the night, this has become an essential part of the setup.

• Organization Matters: How you choose to store and organize your material is a decision that breeds a lot of diversity in fly tying benches. Many tyers use the almost-ubiqitous translucent plastic bin (should we be carrying Sterilite?). Some have more traditional, elegant wooden desks with drawers. But many of you also opt for a more at-the-ready peg solution, where all your colors of threads, dubbing, hackle, and other material can be at your fingertips, making it easier to grab the materials you need without breaking their creative flow. We also saw innovative ways to keep tools handy—many of you use magnetic strips or pegboards to keep scissors, bobbins, and pliers right at arm’s reach.

The "Show Us Your Bench" event underscored the strength of the J. Stockard community. It’s clear that our shared love of fly-tying goes beyond making effective flies; it’s about the joy of creating, sharing knowledge, and finding camaraderie with like-minded enthusiasts. We were inspired by the warmth and willingness to share that was evident in each post. Check out more of our community's submission on the Show Us Your Bench showcase page.

Events like this one remind us how important it is to celebrate the spaces that allow our community to grow. Each bench, whether big or small, elaborate or simple, reflects the dedication you bring to fly-tying. We’re thrilled to know that J. Stockard Fly Fishing plays a role in supporting your passion and providing the materials and tools that bring your flies to life.

With such an enthusiastic response, we’re already brainstorming future community events and challenges. We hope to create more opportunities to bring everyone together, share inspiration, and celebrate the incredible work you all do.

Keep an eye on our social media pages and our newsletter for announcements about upcoming events. And, of course, we’d love to hear your ideas! If you have suggestions for community challenges or topics you’d like to explore, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you again to everyone who shared their workspace, their creativity, and their passion with us. We look forward to many more events like this one, and we can’t wait to see what you create next!

Happy tying, and tight lines and tight wraps! Want to upgrade your bench? Check out some of our most popular tools and vises!