Well, I am officially old!
I have given in and made an appointment with the eye Dr. because I can no longer thread size 18 and smaller flies. When did this happen? A couple of months ago, didn’t even notice a problem. Last week I was looking for a magnifying glass. Trifocals here I come.
Ed
Gee, don’t feel TOO bad, there Rev! A LOT of members, of this fine “sight”, (sorry, bad pun!), I’m sure use “cheaters” to see what they’re doing, on anything smaller say, than tying a 5X tippet to a box car coupler!!
It’s just “one of 'dem things”, that seem to happen, once the number of candles on your birthday cake, suddenly obliterates the words; “Happy Birthday Ed”!?!
I began, by using the very popular “Flip Focals” clipped to the brim of my fishing hat. Then, a few more birthdays came along and the “Progressive lenses” (“Bi-focals” are so “old school”, don’t cha’ know, now!),along WITH the Flip Focals came into play.
Following my last birthday, after the cake set off the smoke alarms… at the house next door, I gave in and now have a lovely pair of 8 x 40 Zeiss binoculars duct taped to the underside of my hat brim. I’ve also found it necessary, (as well as helpful), to have a local welding shop tack weld 1" diameter metal rings onto all the hooks I tie flies with.
Please, don’t be or, get, discouraged!! With a few 2,000,000, candle power lights, mounted to shine on wherever you hold your hands in front of you to tie on a fly and that pair of Zeiss binocs, on your fish’in hat…you’ll be able to continue on like nothing’s changed!
Oh, don’t forget the modified hook eyes, too!
But, really, Ed it’s NOT all that bad. A little “extra aide” and that’s all! Plus you also get "5% extra off at Wal-Mart, I think it is, every Thursday!
[QUOTE=flybinder;198591]
Please, don’t be or, get, discouraged!! With a few 2,000,000, candle power lights, mounted to shine on wherever you hold your hands in front of you to tie on a fly
Well, went from regular glass to trifocals about five years ago, AND I STILL CAN’T SEE size 18 or SMALLER!!!
Ed it happens to the best of us. A friend of mine owns a cattle ranch and I was helping him feed one day and asked him if he would sell me a couple of his hay hooks . I thought they were just the right size for me to tie on to with out having to squint my eyes to much.
Rocky
It aint old. It is a gain in WISDOM AND MATURITY.
Don’t ake my hope away.
Eye Dr. Zieger
ED,
Trust me on this…get the “blended” or “graduated” lenses…they beat the heck out of bi & trifocals with the line & also the “no-line”.
Mike
Terror Tuber, (as MUCH as it galls me to admit this about him!), is right on the money,(GADS, that HURT to type!), with the “blended/graduated lenses”, Ed.
I think my optometrist called mine… “Progressive Lenses”, but whatever, they’re called… they sure beat the bajeebies out of staring across those “mountain ranges” that conventional bi-tri-focals have!
And, while I’m spending your money and not my own… If you don’t already wear regular glasses, or do, but haven’t tried them… go for the “Transitional Lenses” at the same time! Those are the lenses that darken immediately when entering sunlight/bright lighted areas, then return to normal, once in regular lighting again.
I have presrcip.polarized, glasses for fishing because my Transitional Lenses aren’t polarized. But, for all other uses, that type lens is really worth it!! (my, opinion, anyhooo).
The need for glasses is a pain in the you know what…
Clip on the hat brim ones…not for me …you have to get the focal point too exact…
Too cheap to buy prescription polarized sunglasses…
Those stick on bifocal things didn’t work for me…
And several other ways I can’t think of now…
Currently I’ve resorted to dollar store 3.50 power reading glasses hung from a keeper…the strong power so I can get those little bitty flies right up to my nose:D
Paul,
I stand corrected…I think mine are also “progressive”. BTW, I bought glasses that have a polarized sun glass with a simple magnet attachment to the frame…really convenient & work well for me. Undoubtedly not “high end” polarized lenses, but not bad either.
Mike
I have had my Transition, Auto Tint Bifocals, (Titanium Frames) for 3 yrs and they work great! The only problem is they cost too much!
Doug
I had the “progressive” lenses for four years…they made me nauseous
I had to go back to regular bifocals.
Progressives aren’t for everyone
The magnetized sunglasses didn’t work for me either. They kept popping off.
Last week my son tried out a pair too… those wouldn’t even stay on when he bent over
…and if you put the glasses down on your tying bench… watch out…they attract hooks
I often wear my “cheaters” right over the bifocals for close work.
… I must be quite a sight
:rolleyes:
Tuber Terror;
I must have the SAME “magnetic frames” as you have, then!?! (Or, close to it).
Mine can be seen in my post on “The Saga of the Hat Has Begun”. (Just don’t eat, before looking at my photo).
So far, (about a month), I love them! Mine, supposedly, have “rare earth magnets”, which are quite strong. I have to PULL, to get my sunglasses off,when I want to. I just hope the strength of the magnets remain the same, as time goes on!?!
Paul,
I think you’re right…I’ve had mine for 4 years with never a problem of them falling off.
Mike
Good glasses are essential if you need them of course. Having said that I have to add that a huge improvement in me being able to see the smaller flies came about when I got an Ott lite ( Faol sponsor ) . The full spectrum light makes the tiny hooks stand out. One of the fellows at the Idaho
fish-in (roadhog I think ) had a full spectrum light with a large magnifier on it and a full spectrum light. I swear you could tie size 32 hooks with that rig.
Gnu;
I agree, with the Ott lite and had even considered getting one, but I then I started to think about; "dragging all those extension cords behind me, while trying to wade, plus making up the waterproof connectors, that would allow me more distance by connecting more cords… I have enough, trouble, just controlling my fly line!?!
I have worn glasses for 37 of my 44 years of life. My eyes havn’t been too bad, infact until 2 years ago the lens over my right eye has been plain glass because my vision in that eye has been better than 20/20. But a good case of “lazy eye” and what my eye Dr.s have told me is a “unique” astigmatism in my left eye, have made me 4eyed most of my life.
As of my last visit (2years ago) Lazer surgery is still not an option, and I have never been able to tolerate contacts.
But also until recently, with effort - with or with out glasses -I could force my eyes to focus - especially up close. They seem now to have lost their elasticity, or to have become literally weak.
So, I have a size 20 midge, and a length of 5x tippet that I intend to take with me to the Dr’s office.
Thanks for the encouragement. It is nice to know that I’m not alone in my appreaciation of the the surprises of aging. Big gut, weak eyes, bad disposistion. 
I am sure that you are all waiting with baited 
breath to hear the results of my appointment.
Ed
You’re a BRAVE MAN, Pastor Ed!
I prefer to “wait in silence”, (although, I’ve heard that Terror Tuber has breath like old bait),for your appointment outcome.
Unless the eye doctor just hands you two Coke bottles and tells you to “go home and knock the bottoms out of these, then come back and get frames to fit…” you should do fine.
As for “bad disposition”, heck… I couldn’t WAIT to become old enough to be a “Legalized, card carrying and licensed, professional Curmudgeon”! People leave you alone, to fish in peace and at “home” the spouse lets you do anything… using the excuse of “Oh, let him be, he’s just an old Curmudgeon! He’s harmless!”
Ed,
Of course we expect a report! As for my breath, it is indeed “baited”! Thanks for reminding me Paul.
Mike
Pastor Ed,
Quote; Thanks for the encouragement. It is nice to know that I’m not alone in my appreaciation of the the surprises of aging. Big gut, weak eyes, bad disposistion.
Jack!,
Are you going to take that lying down???
Doug