Best way to tie off flies tied with wire?

[roll cast]

I was given a spool of very fine copper wire by the guy who showed me to tie flies after I asked him about some flies he was showing me in his box tied using the same stuwire. He says he bought it somewhere and it was sold for tying flies using the spooled copper wire like thread. Its very fine but when you go to tie off it breaks if you try to whip finish it and it doesn't take half hitches well either.

Any suggestions

Thanks
AL

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by roll cast

I was given a spool of very fine copper wire by the guy who showed me to tie flies after I asked him about some flies he was showing me in his box tied using the same stuwire. He says he bought it somewhere and it was sold for tying flies using the spooled copper wire like thread. Its very fine but when you go to tie off it breaks if you try to whip finish it and it doesn't take half hitches well either.

Any suggestions

Thanks
AL

simple mate.. bring the wire to a tye off point like you would a rib then swap to thread and tye off
if the wires breaking that easy it really isnt worthy for flies.

[ACW]

All my killer bugs are done with copper wire from my fathers first 1960s electric shaver ,which closly matches Sawyers get finiched with a couple of half hitches and a lick of varnish .
#Sounds like you wire is not man enough!

[wobbly face]

You could be creating twist in the wire as you wind it on thus causing it to snap easily when you put in the half hitch. Had same problem myself until I sussed what was happening.

[roll cast]

Got it worked out when I was putting on the half hitch with the tool it was causing the wire to twist and break, tried putting on some using my finger and the worked ok

Thanks
AL

[spidersplus]

Simple - finish the fly with a few turns of wire, then anoint the next half inch of wire with superglue and wrap on 3/4 more turns, then snap off the remainder.

The glue will hold those last few turns as if you had whip finished the pattern.

Kind regards

[dwiltshire]

Even with very thin wire, you should be able to whip finish it. Try using your fingers and apply pressure very gently as you draw the wire through the loops.
Practise, practise and pract...