Whip Finish?

[Hoppy]

I have watched several video clips on the net on how to whip finish a fly but still have a hard time with it...

I am wondering if it would be better for me to buy a whip finish tool or keep trying to do it by hand? (I am not tying anything smaller than a size 2) I saw one for $6.99 at Bass Pro

[Ray]

Skip the whip finish all together. Just go with a few half hitches and some head cement.

[Doug Jowett]

Hoppy' Make your own with a standard sized paper clip. Step 1 - open one end of the paper clip so you have a straight end. Step 2 - put the paper clip curved end into your fly tying vise. Step 3 - make a loop of 6 or 8 lb. mono and then tie it to the top of the straight piece of he paper clip. (I use red thread so I can see the darn thing easier). Step 4 - tie several wraps of thread over the standing straight piece of paper clip. Step - 5 - 1/2 hitch the thread because you don't know how to do a whip finish. Step 6 - Heas cement the entire wrapping heavily and let dry. Now you have a mono loop which you can tie into head of your fly - cut the thread with plenty of length. Put the standing end of the fly tying thread of the fly throught the mono loop - pull the "whip finishing tool" through the wraps - tighten and coat your head. While you are at it, make several whip finishers of different strengths of mono so you can cover all you bases while tying. A few extras are also nice as you will lose one now and then. Happy Whip Fishishing!!! :)

[Smcdermott]

Buy the tool would be my advice. While I am sure you will get the hang of doing it by hand soon enough, when I am going for a really clean head on a nice pattern I still reach for the tool. If the pattern does not require a clean head like a bushy crab pattern or the like, just wrap the thread around your pointer finger a few times, place you finger against the hook eye and draw your thread over it. Quick and easy but not a substitute for the tool IMHO.

Sean

[loon]

I like the Marterelli whip finishing tool best, especially for smaller flys. If you are tying only large flies, just half-hitches and head cement will do fine.

[catspaw]

Buy the tool, some guys can get a tight finish with their hands, not me, I've been tying for years and still use a tool, maybe I'm just a spaz. I also believe you'll get a tighter and more secure finish with a tool rather than half hitches.

[Pauper Piscator]

I like the old fashioned tool rather than Matarelli.

Like riding a bike.

To make life easier - DO throw in a half hitch or two before starting the whip. Keeps things from unravelling.

Make a "figure 4" with the thread.

The important thing to work on is keeping the handle of the whip tool parallel to the hook shank when spinning.

Flip the "loop" off the spring arm with your finger. Keep tension on the loop with the "hook". Snug up.

[Punchshot]

I'm with ray , afew half hitches, cement and done.

[JohnDe]

There are at least four videos of whip finish on YouTube. I just peeked at the first one. While it is a good demonstration of how to use the Materelli type tool it is a bad advertisement for that vise since the hook slips about 20 degrees. Whether you are tying off a size 20 parachute adams, a rangely streamer, a 4/0 deciever or a bass hair bug it is worth learning how to use a finishing tool. Of course, one of the fastest and better tyers I have known (Jack Cooper) never used a thread bobbin nor did some of the great Catskill tyers.

[tommat]

No Tools. Do it by hand.....Doesn't have to be perfect. Hit the knot with a drop of crazy glue and where is it going to go?

[southernflyfish]

Whip finishing by hand is easiest for me, but as you can see by the wide variety of responses, it's up to the individual - no matter what you choose (with the exception of a couple of half hitches) it will take some practice, and since you will be tying long after you are in a walker in the home and have forgotten what water looks like, it's a worthwhile investment -

Mark

[Hoppy]

Thanks for all the replies...

I ended up going to Bass Pro last night and they have a free tying class on wed nights... sat in on that and learned to tie a redfish toad (i think it was called) and got alot of help on the whip finish by hand. I'll find out tonight when I try and tie a fly with no assistance but i think i got it now