Dave Whitlock Glue Connection Kit
Whitlock Glue Connection Kit - $45 posted to you
I first heard about Dave Whitlock when I asked the famous New Zealand guide Scott Murray who the most clever fisherman he had ever guided was.
Scott replied without hesitation that it was Dave Whitlock. I was fortunate to be able to meet Dave last year when I attended the FFF Conclave in Loveland Colorado.
It was a delightful and insightful meeting. I knew that I was chatting with an iconic fly fishing figure. Dave was wise and worldly - the sort of guy you would love to grow up with as a grandfather.
We spent an hour talking glues and other fly fishing things. It was terrific and I will cherish that time with him and his beautiful wife Emily.
I was already sold on his glue system for joining leaders to flyline but Dave went on to explain a further half dozen uses.
One that may surprise you - it did me, was to use his 'Zap a Gap' glue to wet an inch of fly tying thread when you want to finish off the head of a fly. Simply wrap this last inch tightly and glue the fly head shut. No whip finishes, no half hitches, no varnishing the head, no varnish in the eye to clean out later.
I have used this method of finishing flies for this entire season and it is sensational. Give it a go.
On the subject of leader joins. I glued David Featherstone's leader into his line on a recent guiding job. When he and his mate Ross tested the join they actually broke the fly line about 5 inches above the glue connection. David was lucky in this instance not to have stuffed up his fly line by breaking part of the front taper off !
The kit, housed in a cigarette packet sized plastic box contains a detailed instruction booklet, vice, needles, threader, grit papers and glue.
There are instructions and diagrams showing how to do half a dozen differing connections from your fly line. You should keep it in your vest for a host of other uses too.