Do you all use several half hitches or a whip finish to finish off your flies??? i used to use a whipfinisher that i made out of a paperclip, but now that i learned the half hitch, i do 3 half hitches to finish my fly.
Hi,
I could never get the hang of the whip finisher tool and so learned to whip finish by hand. Although I now can use the tool, I find it’s faster and I have more control to continue doing it by hand. I never use half hitches. In the end, however, if you add glue, it doesn’t matter. Just what works for you.
- Jeff
I tie off with a technique that Oliver Edwards calls the “Two fingered Whip finish” (I think) in his DVDs.
Sorta similar to a half hitch but the thread is wrapped a couple of times over the head of the fly before pulling the loop tight. I’m not sure how else to explain it.
If you are tying for yourself then it really dosen’t matter that much unless you are picky. But I have always told the classes I have taught to use a 6 wrap whip finish. The fly’s head will never come undone. Half Hitch’s will work but I have seen them come undone to many times to to like doing it that way. Even if you only have one of them come undone you have thread hanging of the eye of the hook and it looks bad. I can do a 6 wrap whip finish as fast as most can do two half hitch’s Just takes a little pratice. I do it by hand when tying with most threads but use a whip tool when tying with the 10/0 thread as it fray’s to bad doing it by hand. Just my opinion. Ron
I whip finish, usually 5 or 6 wraps, and so far, knock on wood, have never had a fly come apart on me.
my thread kept on comming off the “R bend” in the matarellie style finisher tool. this is prolly cuz i made it myself and it sucked. but im just fine w/ the 3half hitches i do. thats what the video that came in da kit i got sed to do.
Actually, a small mini-droplet of well placed super glue does nicely instead of a whip or hitch. Reduces bulk, saves thread and is fast!
Rich
flymaker2- I tried it the way you explain but I still do not trust it. IF you miss a spot it can still come undone. Dave showed me how he does it. While the thread is hanging he hits it with the super glue for about an half inch below the hook while the bobbin is just hanging. Then wraps the thread on the head and wait’s a few seconds and then trim’s it off.
There are lot’s of things a guy can do but I do not want my fly heads comming apart on flies that a person paid good money for. So I just do the old tried and true whip-finish. Can’t go wrong with it. ; ) Ron
Ron-Agreed. better be safe on commercial ties. I have also used the drops on a string method; especially when it would be impossible to get a clean application of a drop on the fly head due to fluff. heck I now use CA as a head cement all throughout the tying process.
If done thoroughly-the glue works. It is easy to mess-up using it. I have developed some special tools and accessories and techniques that allow me to use CA adhesives with dependable results. Therefore, I can use that glue routinely with confidence.
I don’t tye commercially, nor in volume, so that is one big difference. Lastly-I love using string and glue any chance I get 
Thanks for the comments to my comments…
Rich
i use crazy-glue for my head cement. mainly because it holds like a mf’er…lol :roll: but also because it dries like immediatley. i tied a pretty nice fly and used head cement, and let it dry overnite, but when i took it fishin the next day, i must not have waited long enuff, and the head cement dissolved in da water!!! but then i lost the fly on a false cast cuz my line cracked, causing the kno to come undone. :evil:
A prettygood and famous fly tier…Randall Kaufman says two half hitches and a drop of head cement. One half hitch is not enough, and three is too many. Three will not cinch up tightly. After two, pull the thread around the hook (over the top from the back side) and you will feel the two half hitches cinch up.
I think a whip finish is just a whole bunch of half hitches anyway. Haven’t put my head to it really to prove it.
I know how to whip finish by hand, but doesn’t work for me. Well it works, but my dry skin keeps catching the thread and it is just not a smooth fast technique for me. You can do a half hitch right off the tip of your finger and slide it right off our fingernail onto the hook. Two of those and a cememt of choice.
Anywhoooo…the book…“Tying Dry Flies” by Randall Kaufmann…pg 42.
Gemrod
I tie for my own use and I always use a whip finisher because, as stated, my hands are just to dry to do a whip finish by hand. The hand whip finish looks cool and does work, but, not for me. I usually do 3 whips and then 3 more whips on top of the first three and coat with Sally Hanson and have never had the whip finish to fail.
That is just my way and you need to develop your own way that works for you.
Hi dsaavedra,
I’ve been tying all my own flies for years and have always found that a couple of half hitches and a dab of fly-head cement held my flies together through a lot of fish. I’ve never had the courage to fore go the knots altogether and just put a little Zap-A-Gap on the thread when you wrap the final couple of turns. 8T
I’ve found 2 half hitches right behind the eye and a drop of cement - done
Behind the eye and using a razor blade nearly hides the mess - but as I only tie for myself … I’m not too fussy.
I’ve tried understandinng and using the whip tool - I just can’t get it. So … it helps me fat fingers guide the thread to where I want it.
darrell,
I hate to use head cement, but actually enjoy using the Matarelli whip finisher. I guess it appeals to my basic love for gadgets.
I use a whip finisher, not the Matarelli but the other one. I originally learned to whip finish by hand but when I bought the tool from Veniards I was determined to learn how to use it, what? after all that money, I wasn’t going to use it?. lol
I use a thin clear head cement from Veniards called Cellire which I make sure is thinned down regularly. That is on smaller flies like softhackles, dries and nymphs etc.
On larger flies I use Sally Hansen or Black Cellire which gives a nice black head. I don’t think there is one way for all flies.
i still like the half hitches. cuz i can get it done nice and easy…w/out fumbling around w/ that tool. how much do the matarelli’s cost anyways? i always just make one from a paperclip :roll: :oops: 
Depends no the manufacturer. Either around $7 or around $16.
Yu’ll find a good video of instructions here.
http://flyfisherman.com/ftb/jbwhip/
In addition to being quick and giving a sturdy result, it really gives great control on where you lay down the thread.
jeepers :shock: thas alot of money for a lil tool!
Try wishing for one for Christmas. If you spread the cost over the years it is cheap. I have had mine for about 15 years so in truth it is a cheap and well made tool. Ron