Behind the Vise Featured Tyer: Lance Renoux of Chucking Feathers - Blending Biology, Durability, and Design at the Vise

The Fly Box LLC
Oct 24, 2025
5 min read

This interview was conducted as part of Behind the Vise and featured in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing newsletter by The Fly Box.

Behind the Vise celebrates the makers, storytellers, and innovators keeping American fly tying alive, while Casts That Care brings you real stories, big ideas, and the heart of the fly fishing world, all while donating 50% of subscriber fees to a different fly fishing charity each month Join Us Here!

Subscribe today and use promo code: ChuckingFeathers15 at checkout for 15% off your first month, and we’ll donate 25% more to our charity of the month

Behind the Vise x Casts That Care

Throughout this article are photographs of Lance’s original flies, each one reflecting his precision, craftsmanship, and dedication to building patterns that balance strength, realism, and motion in the water.

***Chucking Feathers Fly Tying - Lockport, Louisiana***

In Lockport, Louisiana, Lance Renoux ties under the name Chucking Feathers, creating durable, lifelike saltwater and predator flies built to withstand the toughest fish. What began as a practical way to save money turned into an obsession with design, detail, and craftsmanship.

From Necessity to Passion

“I started tying flies when I was in grad school in Arkansas,” Lance said. “Being a broke grad student, I was floored at the cost of the flies I was losing left and right."

"So I figured I’d start tying to save money, that was the biggest lie I found out later.”

What began as a necessity quickly became something deeper. “a whole other hobby that I was able to do when not on the water.”

That shift from function to passion is what defines Chucking Feathers today. For Lance, the vise became more than a tool, it became a creative outlet that connects biology, craftsmanship, and the constant challenge of improving each pattern.

Building for the Battle

“I enjoy tying saltwater and predator flies because you have to make them so bulletproof so they can last more than one fish,” Lance said. “It’s also interesting to me from my background in biology and ensuring my flies are meant to mimic the natural forage of those big predators.”

His approach is as much science as art. Each pattern is a study in structure and function, made to hold up against hard strikes and harsh conditions. His attention to durability runs through every step of the process. “I utilize strong thread, solid pressure, and solid mono bases,” he said. “This last technique, mono base, I learned from the trio — Allen Rupp, Jeff Rowley and Joe Jackson — who learned from the great Dave Whitlock. I also utilize super glue and UV resin to help lock in material and make it more durable.”

His method shows how small details separate a good fly from a great one. Every wrap of thread and layer of resin serves a purpose, turning durability into an art form of its own.

Flies That Tell a Story

Lance’s patterns balance realism with resilience. “I’ve developed a few crab patterns that have taken off and sold across the US,” he said. “I also have developed some small baitfish flies that are a close mimic to commonly found prey items.”

Each fly begins as a problem to solve — a design that must match the strength and behavior of its target species. It’s this creative problem-solving that keeps him at the bench. Whether it’s building a crab that swims like the real thing or crafting a baitfish fly that perfectly flashes under the Louisiana sun, Lance ties with intention.

Connection and Collaboration

“In Louisiana it’s sparsely populated with tiers, especially in my area,” he said. “I collaborate with some guys I’ve met on Instagram and some local shows.” Louisiana’s fly tying community may be small, but it’s strong.

That exchange of ideas, whether online or in person, keeps Lance connected to the broader fly tying world. He continues to learn from other experienced tiers and from those who tied before him, drawing influence from mentors, both at the vise, and when it comes to community connection too. "I would like to help contribute to the development of the sport by helping advocate for stronger built flies and developing solid patterns with natural and synthetic materials.”

Goals and Growth

Lance’s goals reflect his drive to push his craft further. With personal goals of growing and being recognized by big names in fly tying like, Umpqua Feather Merchants. “It would mean a level of validation but it’s more of being able to get my patterns out to a larger audience.”

That milestone would not only recognize his work but also share his designs with anglers who value strong, functional patterns that last. His commitment to detail and durability is shaping a style that stands out in a field that rewards innovation.

Advice from the Bench

When asked what advice he’d give to new tiers, Lance keeps it simple. “Take your time,” stressing that, like the overall sport of fly fishing, fly tying is supposed to be challenging, and take a lot of hard work, and persistence the achieve. As for his best advice on tying quality “Source good thread and hooks as a base.” Emphasizing once again, that if you're going to do it, you've got to do it right!

It’s the same mindset that has guided his own growth, one built on patience, quality, and continual learning. For Lance, every fly is a chance to test himself, to refine a technique, or to explore a new material.

The Mindset of a Maker

Lance’s approach offers a lesson for anyone who steps up to the vise. His process is a reminder that fly tying is more than repetition, it is a study in intention. Every material he selects and each knot he tightens reflects purpose. His balance between art and utility shows how a thoughtful mindset can turn even small adjustments into lasting improvements.

For those learning the craft, his example teaches patience and observation. Whether experimenting with blends of synthetic and natural fibers or testing a new adhesive, Lance approaches each fly like an evolving idea rather than a finished product. It’s a process that reminds us to slow down, to refine, and to build with awareness. Each fly becomes a chance to learn something new about how motion, balance, and structure come together, and these are lessons that extend far beyond the bench.

Looking Ahead

Lance continues to tie and sell his patterns through direct orders, “It allows me to customize and create small batch orders.” he says.

He remains focused on designing flies that perform in the harshest conditions while staying true to the craft. His blend of biological understanding and mechanical precision has made Chucking Feathers a name synonymous with durability and design.

Through his work, Lance Renoux shows that the vise is more than a place to tie — it’s where innovation and creativity meet the deep respect every fly tyer has for the fish they pursue.

Where to Find Lance

You can follow Lance Renoux and see more of his work at @chuckingfeathers and on YouTube.

Lance takes direct orders for custom flies, building patterns designed for strength, realism, and performance in the toughest saltwater and predator environments.