Vision problems while fishing

[Flatsix]

I'm 50 and my eyes have seen better days.

What are you guys with vision problems using on the water to help you see small stuff up close.

I went fishing with some kids from the elementary school this afternoon and as the light dropped off in the canyon, I couldn't see a thing up close. I snagged a line and couldn't see the fly, I tried over and over to thread a fly and finally had to have a kid help me out.

I've got those flip down magnifiers but my kids say that they make me look like an old man.....I am getting closer apparently. I've got the Guide series sunglasses with the 2.0 bifocal but they don't work in low light.

I was thinking about using threaders and pre threading flies before I go out but that only fixes the tying issue and not the seeing problem.

What are you doing to solve the problem?

[fflutterffly]

Drop the vanity and enjoy the fly fishing. I use clip on 3.5 mags, more than I need, but I can thread any size fly and I'm 60!

Here a few sites where clip-on flip-down mags can be purchased:

http://www.ecrater.com/p/8169304/clip-o ... reading-30 $8.95

Clip on lamp for glasses
http://www.telesightmagnifiers.com/catalog/i253.html $9.95

[lucfish]

I don't have a problem seeing close, but am quickly losing sight past three feet. I don't know what you mean by fold down magnified except alot of guides I know use fold down on there baseball caps and seem to do ok. The older you get the younger everyone else looks!!!!

[Pete]

Real glasses from a real doctor. As in Tri-focals with Cacoon clip on polarized sun glasses. Time to quit living in denial . I went from no glasses straight to bi-focals and now tri-focals. Fishing is now fun again.

Pete

[Wildman]

What they said.....My trifocals help to some degree but I find myself stabbing at the eye of the hook more often then not.

There are some fly boxes that come with threaders inside. Pre-thread your little flies and then just slip the threader through the eye of the hook.

FlyAddict got me hooked on the little spring loaded hook holders that really help with threading and with tying the fly on the tippet. There are also magnetic holders that hold the hook and you just slide the tippet through the built in groove and into the eye.

You can buy oversize eyes on some brand of hooks. They help.

Fish with younger guys (at 63 that's pretty easy) or fish with someone who can see well enough to help you out in a pinch.

Something I have thought of is a clip on light for my hat. Many times, old eyes seem to do better with a bit of light directly on the subject.

Fish a lot. That makes up for any eye deficiencies and is fun!

Jim

[planettrout]

I can see clearly now...

http://www.flyfishusa.com/apparel/glass ... .html#10FF

My kids always thought of me as a DINO...but after these are clipped on my prescription glasses, I can thread a size # 28...easily...

PT/TB

[Sierra Fred]

Low light is the biggest trouble for me. A magnifier and head lamp helps solve most of it. Going to the eye doctor and finding out my eyes have gotten slightly better and I need a new prescription really helps the ego.

Tight Lines ... Fred

[Bernard]

This is a great thread (pun?).

I may look into some of these suggestions quite seriously as 2011 kicks in. The last year or two have found me squinting/struggling/adjusting more and more with the small and close stuff. Long distances, on the other hand, with my prescription polarized glasses remains fine. I even have a lighter pair for dusk's low light.

On a related note: I think those C&F boxes with threaders are great and intend to start using these more. The upside is that not only do they spare your eyes the "fun" but also speed things up. For example, you can have your box loaded with the key 6 flies or so for a local stream (on threaders). While the bite is hot you can "reload" more quickly if you break off a fish or a tree.

B

[WanderingBlues]

I feel your pain Bernard and I have to put vanity aside, too. Thanks for some of the suggestions as well.

[briansII]

Like others, I use the hat, clip on, magnifiers. More magnification, the better. If I think i'll be fishing in low light or dark, I take a headlamp with me. Light can be a huge help. I also use the C&F threader boxes for my #18-24 flies. Now if I can find something to make my fingers work like they did 20 years ago............

I've stood in the middle of rising fish, trying to thread a fly on my tippet. It's just past sundown, and getting that fly tied on before it goes black, seems impossible. Sucks getting old.

briansII

[NorcalBob]

"Sucks getting old"
I echo that sentiment!
I hate bifocals astream (can't see where I put my feet while walking). So when I need to fish dinky flies, I fish with Chris!!! However, the dinky definition is changing daily and right now it seems to be going up to 2/0 hooks!

[Flatsix]

Lots of great suggestions....Thanks!

I've seen the C&F boxes with the threaders, I'll give that a shot.
I've seen the hat mounted magnifiers, I'll pick one of those up.

Reading the responses made me ralize that it's been 3 years since my last eye appt, I need to make a call.

[BradW]

I've tried the clip on's and really got tired of them. I finally settled on Smith's readers sunglasses. I went with the brown tint because of low light conditions. They're exceptional polarized glasses and give the magnification you need. I still need to put the clip-on's on at dusk. So far, I find it the best option.
Brad

[KRoberts1]

Just hire a guide, like David, to take care of all that terminal hassle. I'm sure he would gladly assist an old man.

I had to eventually go the bifocal route the last couple of year, too. I stilll have problems occassionally. I tend to crowd the eyes of the flies I tie or fill them with head cement. I try & weed those out though and give them to my older friends to really irritate them.

keith

[lucfish]

"However, the dinky definition is changing daily and right now it seems to be going up to 2/0 hooks!"


Ain't that the truth!!!