Finishing Knots

[SilverCreek 0]

I use a 4 turn whip finish and no head cement. It is a lot quicker than using on head cement.

[DrLogik 0]

Whip finish and head cement on all flies.

[mikechell 0]

I do two turns with a little Superglue on them, then I do four half hitches with superglue on the last hitch, then I do three whip finishes of 6 turns each. Coat that with a few layers of fingernail polish. Then I do a couple of full windsor knots and a bowtie knot just to make it look pretty. Coat all of that with a thick layer of UV resin and set it.

 

Them there flies don't never fall apart. Don't catch no fish, neither ... but they sure don't fall apart !!!

 

 

[cphubert 0]

Mike, I'm assuming black thread only for the bowtie and Windsor knots... formal flies

[mikechell 0]

[xterrabill 0]

the thread is now formal?

[j8000 0]

For me it depends on many factors. 1. weather or not I've lost my whipping tool, then several half hitches 2. weather or not I cement. If I cement, then I use less whipping turns if I don't, then I usually like other use 2 whip knots with 4-6 turns. 3. if it's a snelled on a blind hook, then I rarely do more than a 4 turn whip or use half hitches then almost always put at least on coat of cement on it. 4. If I want a shinny head, a small or large head ect. Either way I most always apply a generous amount of wax before making the finishing knot.

[JSzymczyk 0]

it makes a big difference depending on what type of fly you are finishing. A Catskill dry fly with one hackle stem being held down by the final wraps? Probably one half hitch with waxed thread will hold well enough. A heavily dressed bucktail? Try a half hitch and get back to me. I take pride in my flies. A whip finish is easy, very secure, and instills confidence. At the finishing head of a fly, I have yet to run into a situation where a whip finish is NOT better than a half hitch. I first learned to do a whip finish by hand when I was maybe 12? I had been tying for a couple years up that point, learning from books checked out of the library. A couple of school friends also were tying flies, and I remember being fairly proud that I had figured it out... I stuck with doing a hand whip finish for many many years. Now I use a tool most of the time. Perhaps due to rougher skin on my fingers, and up-close vision not being what it was when I was 30, I feel a whip tool gives me better control.

[fishinguy 0]

I almost always just whip by hand. I honestly don't even know how to half hitch a fly. The number of turns, whips and wether or not I use cement depends on the size of the fly. Small quick flies and carp flies go without cement. Most streamers, and more involved flies get shhan after a couple 4 turn whips.