Does it really matter what method you use? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both options?
When I first started flytying I could do neither therefore my first flies fell apart and were rendered useless as I finished them off with a spot of varnish and glue which was a completely useless exercise!
Back then I tried to learn the whip finish tool technique by following diagrams and pictures from books. I didnt have the great resource of YT videos and explanations that are widely available these days.
I got so frustrated that I almost gave up flytying until one day I decided I would head over to the P&D tackle shop in Cumbernauld village which would later expand and become the GAC, to purchase a new whip finish tool as I thought the one I had might be faulty or the wrong design.
When I enquired about which tool to buy, Gary who was behind the counter looked at me and said "why do you wanna buy a whip finish tool?. It's much easier to do by hand" then proceeded to show and instruct me how to whip finish by hand and encouraged me to try it there and then in the shop. After a few attempts and much to my amazement I was able to finish off my flies. I will be for ever thankful to Gary who I believe stil works in GAC for that unexpected and much appreciated lesson as it improved my flytying no end!
That was well over 25 years ago and I have hand finished all my flies ever since.
However over the last couple of months I've been intrigued why some of the top online Flytyers in the country such as Davie McPhail and Martin Whyte use the whip finish tool. So I put the question out there about the pros and cons of finishing by tool and hand to Davie on a recent webinar flytying demo and to Martin on his YT channel.
Martin reckoned the tool gives you more precise placement of wraps when placing the final turns on your finished fly and gives a more secure knot.
Davie commented that whip finishing by hand is an excellent method to instruct a beginner in how to understand the knot as some tools are over complicated and difficult to use.
Davie also remarked that the Knot was tighter with a hand finish but that it lacked the control and precision of the tool but noted that in some situations a hand whip finish was necessary.
Taking all these points on board I thought I would try the matarelli rotary style whip finishing tool once again to see if I had a better understanding of how to use it.
So after watching a few videos online and after several hours practicing until I ironed out all my faults I eventually worked out how to use the tool. I must say the whip finisher I have is not the best quality and I really should get a superior make however I dont think I could justify the price of a genuine matarelli.
After considering the advise and the findings of my trials and errors of using the tool I believe I'm more competent whip finishing by hand and to be honest once I varnish the head on the fly I dont think it will matter to me which method I used just as long as the whip finished knot is tight and secure.
In conclusion I'm pleased I can now utilise both methods however it's really just down to a matter of personal choice and what suits the individual. As Davie says, "There is no right or wrong in flytying"
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