Thread snap

[wcglass]

I snap the thread or cut it. For me it's a question of whether or not I've waxed my thread, if I have it's easy to snap. Whip finishing is generally a 3 whip finish on Trout flies, more whips on larger stuff. I use no head cement on drys and emergers, just wax and a 3 whip finish. The flies have held up very well over the years. I do head cement on all my wet flies, Salmon, Steelhead and saltwater stuff.
wcglass

[waskeyc]

I second johnstoeckel.

I don't yank the thread either at the beginning or the end of a fly for fear of bad things happening, like a bent hook, causing a break under the whip-finish wraps so the whip-finish is no good, etc.

I also tie my whip finish by hand, but I learned quickly from the Bass Pro Shop video on fly-tying with Lefty Kreh. It took me about 10 minutes to figure it out, and it's super easy. I usually do a double whip-finish in case 1) one of the two is no good or 2) one of the two gets torn apart by many hungry fish. This makes me feel much better about omitting head cement, which can turn fish off due to the smell. Really small flies may only get a single whip-finish to prevent too much thread build-up. In that case, I take my chances.

[whatfly]

Scott,

Guess I'm one of those outliers you mentioned. I snap the thread when possible (would not recommend trying it when using Kevlar or GSP threads) because it is fast and efficient. And unless you are a commercial tier, the idea of "wasting" thread is quite absurd. Hook fatigue is not really an issue because you use lighter thread on lighter hooks anyway (although those 2XF dry hooks can be touchy), and if you are worried about the hook popping out of the vise, might be time to buy a real vise.

Most ties are finished with 2 3-turn whip finishes without cement, but it really depends on the pattern, where the fly is finished (i.e. where the knot is going to be), and my mood at the time. Had problems with a single 5 turn whip finish, hence the change. Less of an issue with double whips.

There are many ways to build a mousetrap...

[BBBruce77]

I don't like head cement so have double whipped for over fifty years, as it's much faster than whip and cement. If you are going to use the flies you are tying within the next day or so you definitely do not want head cement on that fly. It stinks!

[ScottP]

If you are going to use the flies you are tying within the next day or so you definitely do not want head cement on that fly. It stinks!

Bruce,

I've heard this, and I'll often rub subsurface flies in the mud, although that's more to wet them so they can get down where I want to fish. But, I've caught plenty of fish on dries I've tied (using cement) an hour before I got on the water and haven't noticed them being any less effective than ones that have been sitting in the box for a while. jmo.

Regards,
Scott

[James Smith]

I may be wrong, but I think some people got the wrong idea about this question. I think ScottP was referring to when you first wrap the thread on the hook shank, if you leave about 3 inches of tag, you can grab it a snap it back towards the eye of the hook to break the tag off. That said, like many others, I have used this method with mixed success. I tie with different threads in including GSP and very thin mono which clearly do not lends themselves to this method. I actually picked up a couple of those pinky rings with the hooked razor that are used by seamstresses. After a couple of minutes, I don't even feel it on my little finger and it's always there to cut most of the materials I use for tying. Of course I don't try to cut wire, but for most other materials it work fine. I can post a photo of one if anyone does not know what I am referring to.

Jim Smith

[lastchance]

I have tried it.....I think alt has to do with thread selection.

Only time I use more than 3-4 wraps is if I feel a few more wraps will finish a head, lime with a streamer. Then again, I really don't count either way. I will at times use a 1-2 wrap in between stages.

It depends on the thread. I do it once in awhile when I get lazy, but I like to neat with my tying, too.

[oldster]

This is for Jim Smith, Please post that picture and tell me where to get one of those rings. I'ev thought about something like that and would like to try it! Thanks, Oldster

[James Smith]

Oldster,


I've added a photo of the thread cutter ring I mentioned in my post. If you PM me your shipping address, I'll drop one in the mail to you. I bought a couple of extras when I found them on sale at Michael's.



Jim

[Byron haugh]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe both Davie McPhail and other master tiers always snap their tag end thread instead of reaching for a pair of scissors. They seem to lead the pack in tying so I think it shouldn't be feared when tying trout flies with #6 and finer threads.