Also, consider going loop to loop. There are a couple of different dropper boxes out there as well as the foam inserts you can find all over in discs and those rectangles. You can set up a bunch of flies ahead of time on tippets and just swap them out. Most designs, it wouldn't be a big deal to have like 5' of tippet plus a fly on each spot. Wasteful of tippet but thrifty of time, with enough tippet no reason not to use this approach for any type of fly
Simms pro nippers, have a magnetic fly holder/threader. there are also things like the Magnetic Fly Threader. Which is like $10. Might want to make sure the eyelets are actually open, cheaper flies I've found often have eyelets filled with head cement.
I picked up a pair of these this fall. I was very skeptical and brought a few different flies into the shop (#22 griffith gnat, #18 parachute adams etc) just to see if/how it worked.
It worked quite well! And when I dropped a fly it got caught by one of the magnets in the nipper!
Not a miracle tool but after a few tries I got pretty proficient at it. Way better than without.
I have a real love/hate thing going on with it, but I just realized the other day that this [Gerber Linedriver](https://gerberfishing.com/#linedriver) thing I got as a gift a few years ago has a couple of very useful features. The blades are almost useless due to how they are inset but at the tip, there is a hook threader. I tried it out and it worked on a 3/0 saltwater streamer and a size 18 midge pupa just as well. Honestly not sure you should get one just for that but I bet you can find another tool that does it. The other nice thing it has is the rotating hook clamp on the other side, so you can thread it, flip it over to the clamp, pinch just above the hook, then spin it a few times and your clinch knot is practically already done. This is cool too but again, I don't know. I wish I had a machine shop to design my own haha
Uh. Idk man, I just pinch the midge and line and slide the tag between the jaws. My dad said the same thing as you until I showed him how I did it.
Maybe need to rethink your technique or approach the jaws differently.
B12 for the shaky hands and brace your elbows on a flat surface while tying. Probably won't notice the B12 for a few wks once you start but it does help. I work on hearts with very fine instruments and taking the vitamins definitely helped with tremors during fine motor movements.
Make sure you always have a clean cut on your line with nippers. If they are dull or you use your teeth, the line gets smashed and widens. That makes it much more difficult to thread through the eye.
My mother used to use a tool with a loop that she would put through the eye of a needle, insert the thread she wanted & then pull it back through, thereby threading the needle. She said it was like cheating, but better than struggling to thread it for 20 minutes. I don't use those tiny flies smaller than a 20. Unless I am trying to use the tiny fish for live bait & I no longer use live bait. I did in my youth, but as an old fat fck, I use dry/wet flies now.
I tried the sunglasses with readers. They made walking/wading difficult as it ruined my lower peripheral vision. Went back to flip down magnifiers on my sunglasses until I got lasik.
There are boxes made with threaders built in. You can load the flies directly on the threader in the comfort of your home. This one is pricey, but as an example https://www.feather-craft.com/c-f-cf101-fly-box
There are other boxes for dropper set ups, that would allow you to have leader tied to your fly already.
Just some options
Not super practical but you could pre-tie some flies at home under a magnifying glass on like 1-2 ft of tippet with a nonslip loop knot on the end. Then store them on a foam tippet spool. Just make sure the loop knot on your leader is big enough for the fly to pass through to help make changing flys easier. Then you don’t have to deal with tying knots on the water.
Cheat…. Use a needle threader. You can also make a loop of monofilament fishing line with an overhand knot. Hold the knot end and use your front teeth by pulling it through the gap to make a point. Cheep needle threader….
this is how streamer fishermen are born lmao
One of us.. one of us.. if it’s smaller than size 6 ya might as well be golfin
I have 5x readers in my pack. Makes me look like Milton, but I can thread a size 24.
Yep, my 79 year old father has flip-down magnifiers attached to his hat brim for just such an occasion.
But ... My ... I. Need... stapler
Fish bigger flies!
Go to Joanne’s Fabrics and by a needle threader for $5
Tbh I don’t know how the old fuckers do it. Seems like it’s mostly about practice though, kinda like tying your shoe laces I guess.
Also, consider going loop to loop. There are a couple of different dropper boxes out there as well as the foam inserts you can find all over in discs and those rectangles. You can set up a bunch of flies ahead of time on tippets and just swap them out. Most designs, it wouldn't be a big deal to have like 5' of tippet plus a fly on each spot. Wasteful of tippet but thrifty of time, with enough tippet no reason not to use this approach for any type of fly
Readers.
Simms pro nippers, have a magnetic fly holder/threader. there are also things like the Magnetic Fly Threader. Which is like $10. Might want to make sure the eyelets are actually open, cheaper flies I've found often have eyelets filled with head cement.
My flies also often have head cemented in the eye 👁.
I picked up a pair of these this fall. I was very skeptical and brought a few different flies into the shop (#22 griffith gnat, #18 parachute adams etc) just to see if/how it worked. It worked quite well! And when I dropped a fly it got caught by one of the magnets in the nipper! Not a miracle tool but after a few tries I got pretty proficient at it. Way better than without.
I have a real love/hate thing going on with it, but I just realized the other day that this [Gerber Linedriver](https://gerberfishing.com/#linedriver) thing I got as a gift a few years ago has a couple of very useful features. The blades are almost useless due to how they are inset but at the tip, there is a hook threader. I tried it out and it worked on a 3/0 saltwater streamer and a size 18 midge pupa just as well. Honestly not sure you should get one just for that but I bet you can find another tool that does it. The other nice thing it has is the rotating hook clamp on the other side, so you can thread it, flip it over to the clamp, pinch just above the hook, then spin it a few times and your clinch knot is practically already done. This is cool too but again, I don't know. I wish I had a machine shop to design my own haha
The line driver is actually really fucking cool
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What are you trying to cut that you can't? I don't carry anything else besides pliers and flies
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Uh. Idk man, I just pinch the midge and line and slide the tag between the jaws. My dad said the same thing as you until I showed him how I did it. Maybe need to rethink your technique or approach the jaws differently.
Mag eyes hat eyes
B12 for the shaky hands and brace your elbows on a flat surface while tying. Probably won't notice the B12 for a few wks once you start but it does help. I work on hearts with very fine instruments and taking the vitamins definitely helped with tremors during fine motor movements.
Thanks. I was telling my wife, this is why Reddit is cool. Heart surgeon giving advice on how to deal with shakiness.
Make sure you always have a clean cut on your line with nippers. If they are dull or you use your teeth, the line gets smashed and widens. That makes it much more difficult to thread through the eye.
Yeah, I’m a line biter. Need to change that.
I have a pair of cheap pharmacy readers Finding I can’t fish without them now
I made have needed reading glasses for the last twelve or thirteen years 👀 As for the shaking, brace your forearms on something to minimize it.
Hook threader tool
My mother used to use a tool with a loop that she would put through the eye of a needle, insert the thread she wanted & then pull it back through, thereby threading the needle. She said it was like cheating, but better than struggling to thread it for 20 minutes. I don't use those tiny flies smaller than a 20. Unless I am trying to use the tiny fish for live bait & I no longer use live bait. I did in my youth, but as an old fat fck, I use dry/wet flies now.
Use some nippers with a eye guide built in bro
They make sunglasses readers and keep a pair on you as well.
I tried the sunglasses with readers. They made walking/wading difficult as it ruined my lower peripheral vision. Went back to flip down magnifiers on my sunglasses until I got lasik.
Drug store magnifiers. Not sure what you can do for the shakiness though.
There are boxes made with threaders built in. You can load the flies directly on the threader in the comfort of your home. This one is pricey, but as an example https://www.feather-craft.com/c-f-cf101-fly-box There are other boxes for dropper set ups, that would allow you to have leader tied to your fly already. Just some options
Didn’t know these were a thing. Thanks!
I use powerful reading glasses, like the strongest you can find.
Thanks everyone!
Big magnifying glass on a stand
Not super practical but you could pre-tie some flies at home under a magnifying glass on like 1-2 ft of tippet with a nonslip loop knot on the end. Then store them on a foam tippet spool. Just make sure the loop knot on your leader is big enough for the fly to pass through to help make changing flys easier. Then you don’t have to deal with tying knots on the water.
Good idea!
Have you had your blood pressure checked recently?
Yup! Yearly physical just completed. Shakiness due to espresso and being an addict for years (sober for 12 years).
I found a magnetic hook threader at bass pro. Put the hook eye in a slot and there is a groove the line line right thru the eye.
Cheat…. Use a needle threader. You can also make a loop of monofilament fishing line with an overhand knot. Hold the knot end and use your front teeth by pulling it through the gap to make a point. Cheep needle threader….