Best Fly Threader And Knot Tying Tool For Visually Impaired?

[nehrkesm]

I'm not at all impressed with the quality of the Fly Roost device; it's very rough poorly printed plastic and the magnet tends to fall out.

While this (and many other devices designed to facilitate threading tippet THROUGH the eye of the flyhook) do indeed accomplish that part of knotting on a fly none of them actually help threading the tippet through the small space between the tippet winds and the outside FRONT of hook eye....which is every bit as challenging as the original problem solved by these threaders.

I am not visually impaired nor dealing with any sort of tremors (yet anyway) but I have acquaintances who have such problems and have tried out several of these aids in an attempt to help them keep fishing, but so far haven't found anything that eases their frustration.

At some point the frustration (including frustration of having to rely upon fishing buddies who are quite happy to assist in those tasks) begins to far outweigh everything else.

It's sad to watch somebody lose access to an activity that once provided so much personal pleasure. Unfortunately visual acuity and steadiness are key requirements for both flyfishing and flytying.

If you find one that gets it through the eye consider changing knots. Something like the uni can be tied with a big loop and a long tag. Will cost you a lil more in tippet......but I think the ease is worth it!

I'm 53 and keep on of those orvis flip down magnifiers in my bag. My buddies pick on me when I use it......then they ask to borrow it!

 

[krusty]

I personally have no problem threading the tippet through the eye or the space in front of the eye when tying an improved clinch knot...and after 70 years of using that particular knot this old dog sees no reason to change. I also have no problem tying clinch knots on 2mm tippet rings.

My investigation regarding knotting tools wasn't for myself, but rather attempting to help fishing buddies with failing eyesight due to macular degeneration or detached retina disorders. Magnification doesn't much help because they've completely lost large portions of their field of vision.. I've found that the various fly threading tools all require the ability to clearly see some sort of small groove or conical aperture that people with significant vision problems still find very challenging and a source of extreme aggravation.

People in that situation often find themselves having to rely upon others...the loss of capability is inherently humiliating. I suspect were I in such a position I'd eventually give up flyfishing.

And yes.....I know the purported advantages of free fly movement with various loop knots (uni-knot Duncan variant) but having tried them as well as fishing alongside strident loop knot advocates I don't see differences in hookup rates.

But your suggestion is spot-on and sincerely appreciated!

 

[Brian Miller]

...that part of knotting on a fly none of them actually help threading the tippet through the small space between the tippet winds and the outside FRONT of hook eye....which is every bit as challenging as the original problem solved by these threaders.

Foreceps knots help a lot

Post in thread 'Loss of Dexterity Sucks!'

Jun 9, 2026

I stopped tying flies size 18 and smaller. Easier to just buy them.

I stopped tying anything smaller than 16s a few years ago. I get more than I need through club raffles. If I'm having success with a pattern and a friend (or youth student) is getting blanked I'll give them 3 or 4.

My issue is with knots. Controlling the loop(s) and tag while making wraps and routing the tag through loop(s) has been difficult for me without wasting a lot of tippet, or a lot of practice to acquire the muscle memory for the exact way to hold and manipulate the tippet while tying.

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• Brian Miller

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