DarrellP 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 Do you use Glue under your body wrap, over shell backs on nymphs, over your initial knot? I seem to only use it on the heads or for dumbell and bead chain eyes or poppers. I don't use it at all on bluegill nymphs, since the Wilson's say big bream are sensitive to the smell. I just double whip finish those. I would like to hear your thoughts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 Glue or Head Cement? Superglue: I'll use this on initial thread wraps, if I think I'll need to torque down on later wraps. I'll also use it on more complex flies, about halfway through the pattern, to "lock in" everything previously tie on. Head Cement: I use fingernail polish as Head Cement. I use it on every fly I tie. Started out doing that, when I was less sure of my whip finishing skills. Never got out of the habit. All I fish for are Sunfish species 95% of the time, and I've never noticed them avoiding flies because of any scents. OTOH, I've never notice MORE interest because of added scents. Large Mouth Bass, also, don't seem to be affected by the use of fingernail polish on flies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wr1nkles 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 I've just used head cement on the finishing wraps, but I'm not tying anything too complicated either. I've heard Phil Rowley talk about this in a podcast recently and he said the smell is really only there as it dries, kind of like when you paint a wall. You're house doesn't smell like paint for years afterwards. I thought that made sense and cleared it up for me so I thought I'd share. On the other hand, I am one of those guys who likes to rub my flies in the dirt and weeds of the pond or beach before I start. It's become more of a ritual than anything else. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poopdeck 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 I will use Sally Hanson on the thread wraps and shell backs to finish a fly. I've rarely glued the body wraps. When I tie large saltwater bucktails I like to coat each bunch of bucktails in SH at the tie in point just to add durability. For little flies for little fish I generally do not bother with glue at all. I do not know who the wilsons are but a lot of time I get aggravated with the sunnies attacking my flies before Having a chance to get down to the SMB. Glue smell is overthinking it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rockworm 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 Almost never use cement on the head. A double-whip is stronger and neater. Sometimes I use it under the body- especially if lead(-free) wire is used. But I always use head cement when tying with slippery hair like woodchuck, skunk, fox,... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
utyer 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 I use dollar store nail polish, and I use quite a bit. I have some bait fish patterns that the whole body is coated with glitter nail polish. I also glue my bead chain eyes in place and coat the under side of the body of all my Clouser minnows. Not much need for any cement on my fresh water flies. Two whip finishes and the fly lasts long enough to lose it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryon Anderson 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 I use Loctite super glue quite a bit when tying floating deer hair poppers and sliders for bass. I don't like the deer hair bodies to spin around the hook shank, so I liberally coat the undersides (where the hair is trimmed flat and as close as possible to the hook shank) with brush-on Loctite. It is quite thin and I find that it soaks through the hair and is absorbed by the thread wraps underneath. This--along with a couple of half-hitches after tying in each bunch of hair-- keeps the bodies from wanting to spin for quite a while, even hooking many fish. I also use the brush-on Loctite to secure dumbbell eyes on streamers. I use Loctite gel superglue for attaching stick-on eyes to poppers, sliders, and streamers. With the superglue underneath and UV resin (Solarez) over the top, I don't lose nearly as many eyes. I also use Liquid Fusion to coat my cork and foam bass popper heads. It gives them a very nice sheen and makes them a lot more durable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 i always tell myself to use a glue when tying tinsel bodies but find that i rarely do i rarely use sally hansens but i will use it to coat cured tacky uv resin heads etc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 Sometimes lots then not at all and haven't noticed any real difference in durability. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xvigauge 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 I never use glue; even when tying the Copper John nymph as the pattern calls for epoxy glue to finish the head and thorax. I just use a big glob of head cement. Joe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flicted 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 Agree with the slippery hair comment. I usually use it on bucktail streamers. I also use it on flies I tie for show or if requested. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
j8000 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 I usually use polish on the heads in the winter time, but during season, "need it now" tying, I usually skip the polish. I don't ever really recall a head coming unraveled, but my flies generally don't have a long lifespan as sooner or later a high tree or a deep lake snag will eat them up permanently. Jeff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted October 24, 2018 I guess I use a lot... -shhn or hard as hull (blue) for thread heads -uv thick and thin for many things (and sometimes flow for thread heads) - superglue for biot and quill bodies, and sometimes on the thread before whip finishing and on a parachute post. This said, I've never been convinced that head cement does anything much beyond making the head shiny, I don't think thick uv coats make a fly more fishable (though I do think it makes them sink faster), and I don't think superglue makes thread wraps stick to each other (it just makes them crusty) -- but I use them anyway. I have some flexible fabric mender I'm gonna try out once I get my house sold and get my tying stuff out of boxes... It's now seeming that will take forever. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abel M. 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2018 On heads n some when using squirrel tail. Sally Hansen it is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DarrellP 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2018 Thanks for the replies. The Wilson's wrote a book about fly fishing for Bluegill and think glue repels bigger BG. However, all of my poppers are glued on foam or cork. So.... I haven't tried UV acrylics, but love liquid fushion, superglue and Griffin's head cement. Most of the salt tyers I have met use SuperGlue or epoxy at nearly every step. I have not been around saltwater tyers since the UV stuff got so popular. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites