How to Use a Whip Finishing Tool

Many fly anglers enjoy tying their own flies for fly-fishing. They tie dry, wet, streamer and nymph flies to imitate natural insects. After a fly tyer assembles various materials, such as hairs and feathers, on the hook, they must finish the fly to hold the components in place. Whip finishing a fly is common method fly tyers use to tie off the fly-tying thread. A whip finishing tool helps them tie the knot.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly-tying vise
  • Fly hook
  • Fly-tying thread
  • Fly-tying materials
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold the whip finish tool by the handle. Position the tool with the hook end pointing toward the thread extending from the fly. Hold the thread with your other hand so it extends out from the fly.

    • 2

      Place the hook on the front of the tool under and around the thread. Move the hook so it is 1 inch up the thread from the fly.

    • 3

      Tip the whip finisher back and loop the thread around the U-shaped base of the whip finisher tool. Raise the tool with the hook end slightly up. Hold the fly thread attached to the bobbin horizontal. Form a number-four figure with the thread.

    • 4

      Rotate the whip finish tool toward you to wrap the thread around the hook shank three times. Continue to hold the thread attached to the bobbin out to the side horizontally.

    • 5

      Tip the whip finisher back to release the thread from the U-shaped base. Keep tension on the fly thread.

    • 6

      Move the thread that is attached to the bobbin from a horizontal to a vertical position below the fly. Pull down on the thread and move the hook of the tool down toward the fly to tighten the whip finish knot.

    • 7

      Remove the whip finishing tool from the knot and pull the thread tight to finish the knot. Cut the thread free from the spool with sharp scissors.