No Shame: Tools to Hold & See Flies

If there is no shame in using strike indicators, mop flies, and GPS-enabled cell phones in the pursuit of fish, there is absolutely no shame in using a small device to help you tie your fly on. Furthermore, when has a fly fisher ever been in a place where they can look down on using a gadget without incurring the accusation of hypocrisy?

The most common reasons individuals use helps are eyesight impairments and dexterity issues. Beginners also gravitate towards products that can make their learning curve a little less steep. If you fall into one of those categories, you should confidently and joyfully use whatever you need to use to get fishing. However, those are certainly not the only reasons that a tool can or should be employed.

Cold weather and wind can make handling flies of any size a challenge. If those flies are tiny? A simple piece of gear may very well be preferable to the frustration of frozen fingers dropping bugs or watching the wind send a bunch of midges into  the void.

That is why you might want to consider adding magnification, knot tying, and threading tools to your pack or vest without any shame.

While protecting your flies and actually getting them on the important end of your line is vital, there are other uses for helpful tools. A little magnifying lens can be invaluable in getting started when assessing an ugly knot that needs to be untangled. If there is more than too much head cement clogging up your hook eye, a knot tool will give you the grip to torque the epoxy out. Threaders are handy for threading, but they are also about the safest way to simply store and organize tiny midges.