Rather chuffed with myself

[mark b]

Decided to have a go at fly tying. Vice & tools arrived yesterday, bought a few materials while at Grafham on Monday and tied my first two pheasant tail nymphs this morning after getting home from work, going to enjoy this side of fly fishing

A lot more straight forward than I thought it would be though i'm sure they won't all be this easy.

Any tips for the final whip finish? Used the (Thompson?) tool, which I would like to be able to use, but found it a bit awkward so used the double half hitch as shown on the David Cammiss website (highly recommended )

Can't wait try out the new flies!

Tight lines

Mark

[Mrtrout]

You'll be even more chuffed when you catch your first fish on a self tied fly.
Well done, and keep at it, helps to get us through these winter months.
S.

[dabhoy]

Originally Posted by mark b

Decided to have a go at fly tying. Vice & tools arrived yesterday, bought a few materials while at Grafham on Monday and tied my first two pheasant tail nymphs this morning after getting home from work, going to enjoy this side of fly fishing

A lot more straight forward than I thought it would be though i'm sure they won't all be this easy.

Any tips for the final whip finish? Used the (Thompson?) tool, which I would like to be able to use, but found it a bit awkward so used the double half hitch as shown on the David Cammiss website (highly recommended )

Can't wait try out the new flies!

Tight lines

Mark

When I first started out I would just do half hitches using the case of a pen but then went on to a whip finish tool which took a bit of practice.
I can do it by hand but found I could do it better with the tool.
When learning the one thing that stood me in good stead was creating a figure 4 but reversed.

[krazzed_maggot]

Mark you will enjoy fly tying especially in the cold nights gives you something to do and gets you looking forward until the next season

heres a video for a hand whip finish until you get comfy with whip finisher

NEW FLIES - HAND WHIP FINISHING - NEW FLY TYING VIDEOS - YouTube

NEW FLIES - HAND WHIP FINISHING - NEW FLY TYING VIDEOS - YouTube

also check Davie McPhails channel on youtube great flies for beginners and anyone can follow along with easy directions

DavieMcPhail's Channel - YouTube

You will also learn lots of tips and tricks on materials from him


PS I just read that back and it sounds like some Jedi mind trick lol

Kendo

[fishfinger]

When I first got my whip finish tool I could not suss it out at all . I watched a few clips on you tube and practised on a huge sea hook firmly gripped in my vice I got there in the end now it's just like riding a bike

[lvlacleod]

I started off doing a whip finish with my hand but then moved onto a tool and took to using it really well. I can't for the love of me use any other tool though, all slightly different designs from my tool but it makes a huge difference.

[mark b]

Thanks for all your replies and the video clips

All the best

Mark

[peterdubh]

I had to buy a second tool because I could not get the one I had to work. Its a piece of cake one you get it correct a couple times.

Best of luck and have fun. Its a great little time waster

[richardw]

Originally Posted by krazzed_maggot

Mark you will enjoy fly tying especially in the cold nights gives you something to do and gets you looking forward until the next season

heres a video for a hand whip finish until you get comfy with whip finisher

NEW FLIES - HAND WHIP FINISHING - NEW FLY TYING VIDEOS - YouTube

...

Not quite right! He should have worked the wraps towards the eye not towards the hook bend. Then he would have achieved a neater finish with no overlying length of 'thread' (mono in his example). Apart from that, the manipulation of the fingers was fine.

richard

[Eddie O'Neill]

Originally Posted by mark b

Decided to have a go at fly tying. Vice & tools arrived yesterday, bought a few materials while at Grafham on Monday and tied my first two pheasant tail nymphs this morning after getting home from work, going to enjoy this side of fly fishing

A lot more straight forward than I thought it would be though i'm sure they won't all be this easy.

Any tips for the final whip finish? Used the (Thompson?) tool, which I would like to be able to use, but found it a bit awkward so used the double half hitch as shown on the David Cammiss website (highly recommended )

Can't wait try out the new flies!

Tight lines

Mark

Good on you Mark, I started tying last year and did struggle a bit with the Whip finish. I have found the best tool by far is the Mattarelli.