Kush has a good method, tape like a splint - first along the blank, then spiral over.
I just spiral over for quick sorties, but use his 2-step method for full days, weekends, etc. The key is to prevent the female ferrule from slipping off to the point where the shock of a cast shears the tubular structure of the rod.
Andre showed me an excellent idea and has got re-wrapping the tape around the blank at the starting point after fishing. This way you re-use the tape for a few trips. That way the tape is just sitting there when you set up, and if you don't use it, well it's my own fault. Works like a charm!
I'll admit if it's just a pre-work hour I might not tape but they're always waxed and I check the ferrules frequently. Regardless of the ferrule style, model or brand mine come loose when spey casting. Fishing hard while untaped is like unsafe sex, Russian roulette. A rep from a major brand once told me the majority of spey rod breakages come from untaped loosened ferrules, I believe it - that and testing of new winter steelhead rods on chum
Taping is good. IMHO if you feel a ferrule get loose and tighten it, you just dodged a bullet. Spey casting inherently loosens ferrules, snake rolling, snap-t, double spey, etc. My guess is after one explosion that spey caster will tape for life!
