Tying flies to leader: Hands of Stone

[turkeykirk]

Went fishing for a few days in North Georgia on a small stream this past week. Been a long time since I went fly fishing. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Couldn’t hard see the eye of the hook to thread the leader and then couldn’t hardly tie the knot because of hand problems ( 30 years using air and hand wrench’s as a heavy equipment mechanic). Heck getting old.
Was wondering how you older guy tie your knots, etc.?

 

[almoore]

I tie them poorly as I've gotten older, particularly in cold weather. Can't see and can't feel light tippet. The first thing I do is take off my sun glasses and face away from the sun. Magnified reading glasses can help. The easiest knot to tie is probably the clinch knot. I prefer the Davy Knot for most circumstances and for bigger flies a no-slip mono loop. To avoid dropping and losing flies I'll clip them at the hook bend in hemostats before tieing. I find I break off more fish (or foliage) up the tippet at a surgeon's knot than at the fly and so I use tippet rings where I can.

 

[Meriwether Mike]

Good bifocals and a davy knot.

 

[turkeykirk]

Thanks fellas. Really like the Davy Knot.

 

[Meriwether Mike]

If the eye on your fly is really big you will need to use the improved clinch as the Davy will slip on big eyes. Always test the davy and if the end sticks out 90 degrees you are good.

 

[Concrete Pete]

Anglers Image and Topnotch Innovations both make magnetic fly threaders.

These should help you with threading leader through the eye of the fly hook a lot.

Basically these devices hold and align the fly in a way that makes threading the fly really easy. Almost like you could do it blind folded.

For the tying issue you mentioned, that’s going to be tough. Sorry to hear it’s a problem. You might want to look at getting a Knot Needle. I have one, but haven’t used it yet. Check out the youtube videos. I think it’ll help.

Fly fishing has a gadget for everything.

 

[brutally honest]

Maybe tie knots with your hemostats? Lots of YouTube videos showing how to do that. Especially good when weather is cold and so are your fingers.

 

[brutally honest]

Example:

There are loads of these on YT.

 

[DOUG 281]

Take someone younger with you fishing to do the hard work. i would tie my DADS hooks on for him now that i am older i need glasses or my son with me to tie my hooks on

 

[Permitchaser]

I always use a non slip loop knot. It's pretty easy to tie

 

[jrickman]

I shamelessly hold it up about 4 inches from my left eye and go to work like nobody can see me. My boys have their fun with me over it, but I remind them that in a few years I'll be like the 6 year old version of them, having them tie everything for me.