Jumped in to tying

Just getting started. I bought a fly tying kit and practiced some of the flies on the video that came with the kit. I will mostly be tying smaller jigs as I fish for bluegill, but may start getting into some crappie fishing. I have a quick question. The video that came with my kit mentions that you should use a whip finisher to tie final knots... however before watching the entire video I learned to whip finish by hand from an online video. Is the whip finisher necessary to tie good knots? I find hand tying them rather easy. Here are a few jigs I have tied so far, comments and constructive criticism welcome:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...r182010004.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...r192010003.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...r192010004.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...r192010002.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alumacraftjoe

Just getting started. I bought a fly tying kit and practiced some of the flies on the video that came with the kit. I will mostly be tying smaller jigs as I fish for bluegill, but may start getting into some crappie fishing. I have a quick question. The video that came with my kit mentions that you should use a whip finisher to tie final knots... however before watching the entire video I learned to whip finish by hand from an online video. Is the whip finisher necessary to tie good knots? I find hand tying them rather easy. Here are a few jigs I have tied so far, comments and constructive criticism welcome:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...r182010004.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...r192010003.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...r192010004.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...r192010002.jpg

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It is not necessary some people prefer to tie the finishing know by hand, i first started tying the whip finish by hand as well bought a whip finishing tool took some practice to get used to it but i now use that when finishing up my jigs. It really is a preference to the tier how they apply the whip finish knot.

I also make allot of the smaller jigs using 1/100th oz jigs on a #12 hook for Gill fishing as well, my favorite jig right now is the cap spider, i am finishing up my assortment of color patterns and will be posting some pics on here shortly

Good lookin ties ACJ.

My preference is using the Matarelli whip finisher.

Boy YOU done started a bad Habit! it don't matter as long as it holds up.



P.S. nice lookin jig's!

I just recently learned to whip finish by hand.Before I just tyed a few half hitches then added some hard as nails finger nail polish.
They are nice looking jigs.
mikeb

looks like another guy got hooked :)

Nice job

JJ

Nice looking jigs!!!! They should work fine. If you're used to whip finishing by hand stick with it.

Fatman

Like they said as long as you make a good finish it will not matter what you use, but me personally I seem to always have bad spots on my hands and the thread will catch on that and not a good thing then. So I always use a Whip finish tool.

Skip

Nice ties,my favorite is the first one which should smoke the gills and would catch trout as well. I'd go with whatever is comfortable for you and gets the job done..