Here, April Vokey helps out a fellow tyer at a fly-tying symposium. April Vokey is a modern-day superstar of fly tying. She has made waves throughout the steelhead world as a fly fisher and has made many contributions to tying tube flies.
Knots Play a Significant Role in Fly Tying
Bodkin with half-hitch tool.
By Henry Clement
When attending fly fishing shows, you will notice that tying flies captures much attention. Remarkably, those passionate about fly tying tend to be quite outgoing, which contrasts with the self-absorbed nature of their hobby—a combination I did not expect.
Some fly tyers are not fly fishers
I was surprised to discover that many people I’ve introduced myself to are not fishers. Some are jewelers, others claim to be artists, and an older gentleman enjoys the process and its outcome, finding it a satisfying pastime. He even enjoys giving away the flies he ties.
Another surprise was that a few professional fly tiers did not know how to perform a hand whip finish. While they claimed they could do it, they considered it inferior or more challenging to execute correctly than using a whip finishing tool, which led them to avoid mastering the hand whip finish.
Ruben Martin, reconocido atador de moscas a nivel mundial, instructor de casteo y conservacionista con el guía Facundo Pomponio, sosteniendo una hermosa trucha marron capturada usando una mosca tubo atada esa misma mañana. Foto de Martin.
There are alternatives to a whip finish
Some of my tying group members never needed to use the hand whip finish. Others acknowledged it as a good backup and quicker option, while some admitted they had never tried or intended to learn it.
MATARELLI Style Rotating Whip Finisher, Fly Tying Tool.
So, what are the methods for securing your thread and finishing your flies?
The half hitch—whether done by hand, using a tool, or with a whip finish—can all effectively secure your work.
Let’s explore the various ways to anchor your thread while tying flies, along with short, easy-to-follow instructions.
The ways to finish a fly
Note: The following Tightlinevideos series, produced by Tim Flagler, is one of the modern-day icons of fly tying. These well-received videos were created in collaboration with Tom Rosenbauer and Phil Monahan as part of Orvis’ One Minute Fly Tying Videos from their Learning Center. Videos assembled with Tom Rosenbauer and Phil Monahan’s One Minute Fly Tying Videos from Orvis’ Learning Center.
Click here to watch half a hitch by hand.
Click here to watch a Half Hitch by Tool.
Click here to watch a whip finish by hand.
Click here to watch a whip finish by tool.
Click here to watch tube fly tying.
English: Frontpiece showing Frederic M. Halford tying flies from The Dry Fly Fisherman’s Entomology -Mosley, 1921. Credit Mike Cline.
A few oddities to notice:
Make sure you have a bodkin with a hole at the end of it to be used to make half-hitches:
Wrap two thread turns around the bodkin’s hand part, place it against the hook eye, and slide it off and tighten. For best results, repeat once more by reversing the direction of the wrap turns. Many use this method as their final security. A little dab of Hard as Nails or a UV application for those needing complete security.
NOTE 2: Most tyers will temporarily suspend their work using half hitches, which can be done by hand as noted above.
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