There are a number of videos and even a few books that demonstrate tying the whip finish without using a whip finish tool. I highly recommend this as it means one less tool and I feel that the turns can be placed by hand with greater accuracy. It's the way I learned many years ago and I have never felt the necessity of using a tool. If you can't find any other source of information e-mail me and I'll try to write up a description of the process or perhaps I can scan the illustration from Roy Patrick's Tie Your Own Flies.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

Hi, I have just started tying flies. I am having a little trouble tying the thread off, and I just came across whip finish. Can some one please explain how to do this? Thanks in advance.