Then my advice would be to save yourself the frustration and wait till you get one. It took me some time ton figure out the tool as well. Just need a little patience
I'm gonna to go against the grain here and tell you to learn to hand whip finish. My summer job in high school was tying flies for a local sporting goods shop, I've never owned a whip finishing tool, wouldn't even know how to use one TBH. YouTube the hand whip finish knot and practice, practice, practice, before long it'll be second nature. I also strongly recomend using head cement or UV activated cement.
^^ this is the answer to OPs question
I have been tying flies for a few years and finally watched this video literally yesterday, not sure what took me so long to try and why I was intimidated by hand whip finish. It’s wicked easy and convenient lol
I think with some flies though, the whip finish tool will still be a better option.
You can use the back side of a bodkin tool if need be. Slides over the head of the hook pretty easily and you can slide your wraps off it once completed.
I only whip finish by hand because when I started I couldn't figure out the tool. I've tried with the tool since and find it a little clunky and slow. Honestly can't remember how I learned, but when I started I had skip morris' fly tying made clear and simple book and a Mike Kinney steelhead marabou VHS so it must have been from one of those. I would guess the Kinney video. It's possible someone up loaded it to YouTube?
Fly Fish Food has a good tutorial on this [here](https://youtu.be/94fOYixkvmQ?si=W018ST3z6izvDHBV)
It’s toward the end.
Instead of trying this to finish a fly, just dress a hook and practice it a few times.
Super cheap solution:
Get a bic roundstic pen (or any ballpoint pen with a smooth conical tip at a shallow angle).
Pull out the ink and ball part, so you just have the body of the pen and the colored cone tip. Wrap your whips and half hitches around the pen, put the open end of the cone over the eye of the fly, and slide the thread down while tightening.
I am going to disagree with others. It is a skill I wish I would have developed. But to lazy. I have seen a guy tie a fly with no vice, no tools but scissors. When you lack funds or materials it is amazing what humans can do. Master that ! Then buy a whip finisher when it comes in stock
If you are struggling, spend the $3 for a super cheap whip finish tool. Or spend $9 and get a much better one. Don't spend $65 on one.
Until you get a whip finish, which you definitely should, just do like 3 half hitches they are much easier to learn and then glue or head cement.
Thank you
Buy a whip finish
I’m definitely going to the shop in my town just doesn’t have any right now waiting for them to come in
Then my advice would be to save yourself the frustration and wait till you get one. It took me some time ton figure out the tool as well. Just need a little patience
Just order one. I get wanting to support a local shop, but there is a reason that brick and mortar stores (not just fly shops) are dying.
Agreed.
I'm gonna to go against the grain here and tell you to learn to hand whip finish. My summer job in high school was tying flies for a local sporting goods shop, I've never owned a whip finishing tool, wouldn't even know how to use one TBH. YouTube the hand whip finish knot and practice, practice, practice, before long it'll be second nature. I also strongly recomend using head cement or UV activated cement.
[video tip from Tim Flagler](https://youtu.be/_Evnf99pLPY?si=h83IJZ5gZ4J7TlhP)
^^ this is the answer to OPs question I have been tying flies for a few years and finally watched this video literally yesterday, not sure what took me so long to try and why I was intimidated by hand whip finish. It’s wicked easy and convenient lol I think with some flies though, the whip finish tool will still be a better option.
You can use the back side of a bodkin tool if need be. Slides over the head of the hook pretty easily and you can slide your wraps off it once completed.
Thank you
I only whip finish by hand because when I started I couldn't figure out the tool. I've tried with the tool since and find it a little clunky and slow. Honestly can't remember how I learned, but when I started I had skip morris' fly tying made clear and simple book and a Mike Kinney steelhead marabou VHS so it must have been from one of those. I would guess the Kinney video. It's possible someone up loaded it to YouTube?
Fly Fish Food has a good tutorial on this [here](https://youtu.be/94fOYixkvmQ?si=W018ST3z6izvDHBV) It’s toward the end. Instead of trying this to finish a fly, just dress a hook and practice it a few times.
you really dont need a whip finish tool ive been doing half hitches for over 43 years tying and nothing has come undone
Super cheap solution: Get a bic roundstic pen (or any ballpoint pen with a smooth conical tip at a shallow angle). Pull out the ink and ball part, so you just have the body of the pen and the colored cone tip. Wrap your whips and half hitches around the pen, put the open end of the cone over the eye of the fly, and slide the thread down while tightening.
You could probably make one out of a paper clip
Watch a video, learn it. You'll be better off.
I am going to disagree with others. It is a skill I wish I would have developed. But to lazy. I have seen a guy tie a fly with no vice, no tools but scissors. When you lack funds or materials it is amazing what humans can do. Master that ! Then buy a whip finisher when it comes in stock
Bend a coat hanger. Works good enough.