"Padishar Creel" wrote

I am having too much difficulty tying tippets, leaders
and flies when on the water; especially in the cold. My vision, never the
best, along with my less-than-desirable small motor skills has me finally
to
the point of no knots on the water program.


At least look into and try tippet rings a few times. My major reason for
trying them is similar to your 'no knot' reasons and the fact that I lost
some really nice fish to poorly tied surgeons knots where the tippet
started.

If you can see well enough to thread the hook and you practice the Pitzen
knot

http://teosinte2.agron.missouri.edu/...ng/pitzen.html

you may find like I have that you can tie it even with light gloves on (
maybe wasting a bit of tippet, but that isn't going to be THE reason I end
up in the poor house ) at both the ring and the fly, and it is very strong
..... put the ring on at home using hemostats ( I use wire puller style
hackle pliers) or some such to hold it, they are tiny and I won't even
consider taking them to the water, take an extra ring prepared leader in
case the ring is lost to a tree.