I'm pretty much with Cane Pole on this except I do whip finish and then put a drop of Sally's Hard as Nails on the threads with the bodkin. It does sometimes leave a hard spot just behind the head and often touching the chenille. That hasn't proven to be a deterrent for the fish. My ties hold up very well, so longevity isn't an issue either. Heck I even know some guys who use nothing at all on their threads and say they have no issues. I think some of this comes from the fly tiers and the spider web threads they used.