I did some web searching, hoping to find the coolest whip finishing video, and came up a bit short. I found a few, but I have to say, all of them seemed a bit convoluted to me. Not that I'm an expert, but I seem to have learned a more elegant way of using the tool.

If anyone knows of a good video, let me know and I'll post it!

This is a good non-video description from Dick Talleur. He shows a couple of hand versions, and the use of the tool.

Realizing that I never had any real instruction with this, it got me to thinking. I recalled that I had a spare tool in stock (just in case they go out of business) so I dug out the instruction sheet. Sure enough, the way I do it isn't that profound - I was just following the instructions from the guy who made the tool! I suggest you do the same thing.

Matarelli Whip Finisher Instructions

Just for the fun of it, here are some instructions for the venerable ty-master, an Indian Thompson knock-off.

ty-master Whip Finisher Instructions Front

ty-Master Whip Finisher Instructions Back

I did find a good video on flyfisherman.com. This page also has hand whip finishing instructions.

http://www.flyfisherman.com/ftb/jbwhip/

The Thompson Tool

(The above pictures are just so you get the idea, they're not real Thompsons. The one on the left is a short version, made by Ty-Master, while the right hand one is the standard 1970's bargain finisher. Both were made in India. I am pretty sure I have a couple of Thompsons; I just can't put my hand on them.)

I grew up with the Thompson Whip finisher. Having used them both, I can say that there's no reason for me to go back to the Thompson. Some people claim that it lets them finish heads on teeny flies without winding down hackle. (I just pull the hackle out of the way with my left fingers while holding the Matarelli with the right.) I say the Matarelli lets you have more precise placement, and certainly more tension, than the Thompson. I also whip by hand, and I think the Matarelli does a better job than your fingers, by a slight margin.

(Just to reiterate, when I do it at least, the Matarelli lets me put on a whip finish with as much tension as I want. In contrast, the Thompson always makes me feel like I'm sneaking up on the knot, and increasing the tension at all usually results in disaster.)

Of course, this is all mighty subjective, and hours have been spent debating this topic. Do whatever works the best for you! [Just to show I'm not really that biased, I have included the following link. It has some good static instructions, as well as a video.]

http://hipwader.com/2003/thompson-whip-finisher