Best Knot Tying Tools for Fly Fishing: Nail Knot Tools and Fly Threaders
HOOK-EZE Fishing Nail Knot Tying Tool Combo|Includes Waterproof Pocket Guide, Nail Knot Tying Tool with Hook Cleaner, Zinger Retractor|Fly Fishing Accessories Fishing Gifts & Stocking Stuffers for Men
A nail knot tool with a built-in hook eye cleaner, a retractable zinger and waterproof knot cards. A good starting kit if you have never tied a nail knot.
SAMSFX Fly Fishing Knot Tying Tools Quick Knot Tool for Fishing Hooks, Lures, Flies, Trout Line Backing, Come with Zinger Retractors
A two-set combo of a 4-in-1 nipper with a nail knot tool, hook hone and hook eye cleaner, plus two zinger retractors. Covers nipper and knot tool in one body.
Two knots cause most of the fumbling on the water: the nail knot that joins a leader butt to a fly line, and the tippet-to-fly connection through a small hook eye. A tool does not replace knowing the knot, but it removes the part that is hard with cold hands, fading light or aging eyes. Nail knot tools hold the line and leader in a fixed position so the wraps seat cleanly. Fly threaders hold the fly still and guide the tippet through the eye. This guide compares both kinds, from inexpensive stainless tools to a machined Japanese threader, and says which job each one suits so you do not buy a threader when you need a nail knot tool, or the reverse.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.0 to 8.2 out of 10.
- Best overall:HOOK-EZE Fishing Nail Knot Tying Tool Combo|Includes Waterproof Pocket Guide, Nail Knot Tying Tool with Hook Cleaner, Zinger Retractor|Fly Fishing Accessories Fishing Gifts & Stocking Stuffers for Men. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.2/10.
- Also great value:Deekin 3 Pcs Fishing Nail Knot Tying Tool Quick Tie Line Fly Tyer, Black | Fly Fishing Anglers, with Hooks Lures Line, Portable Angling Accessories, Durable Metal for Hooks Lures Lines Men Outdoor. Value score of 9/10, overall 7.5/10.
- Solid build:Lake Products THREE-in-One Knot Tying Tool Fly Fishing. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 7.6/10.
- Feature-rich:SAMSFX Fly Fishing Knot Tying Tools Quick Knot Tool for Fishing Hooks, Lures, Flies, Trout Line Backing, Come with Zinger Retractors. Features score of 9/10, overall 7.7/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.HOOK-EZE Fishing Nail Knot Tying Tool Combo|Includes Waterproof Pocket Guide, Nail Knot Tying Tool with Hook Cleaner, Zinger Retractor|Fly Fishing Accessories Fishing Gifts & Stocking Stuffers for Men8.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.SAMSFX Fly Fishing Knot Tying Tools Quick Knot Tool for Fishing Hooks, Lures, Flies, Trout Line Backing, Come with Zinger Retractors7.7/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Lake Products THREE-in-One Knot Tying Tool Fly Fishing7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Deekin 3 Pcs Fishing Nail Knot Tying Tool Quick Tie Line Fly Tyer, Black | Fly Fishing Anglers, with Hooks Lures Line, Portable Angling Accessories, Durable Metal for Hooks Lures Lines Men Outdoor7.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Orvis Eye Tie Fly Threader7.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Tippet Threader for #6-#20 Flies, NINJA Fly Fishing - Bull's Eye, 2x-7x Tippet, Stainless Steel Needle, Magnetic Fly Catcher, Aluminum, 1-Piece7.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Fly Fishing Tying Tool - Magnetic Fly Threader Bright Yellow, 4-Slot Precision Threading Tool for Fly and Ice Fishing, Lightweight Plastic Hook Threader with Keychain for Wading Low Light Cold Hands7.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1A nail knot tool with a built-in hook eye cleaner, a retractable zinger and waterproof knot cards. A good starting kit if you have never tied a nail knot.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Includes waterproof cards with step-by-step drawings for the nail knot, blood knot, snell knot and easy snell knot.
- + The listing describes the tool as suited to anglers with arthritis or limited dexterity.
- + Built-in hook eyelet cleaner and a zinger retractor add useful extras in one package.
- - Costs more than a bare tool, and you pay for the zinger and cards whether you want them or not.
- - The knot cards cover four knots only, with no improved clinch or perfection loop.
#2A two-set combo of a 4-in-1 nipper with a nail knot tool, hook hone and hook eye cleaner, plus two zinger retractors. Covers nipper and knot tool in one body.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Each nipper combines line clipping, a hook hone, a hook eye cleaner and a nail knot tool, so one pocket tool replaces several.
- + Made from 420 stainless steel with a rubber grip, according to the listing.
- + Two tools and two zingers come in the package, so one can go in the vest and one in a pack.
- - A multi-tool nail knot feature is less comfortable to use than a dedicated tool for repeated knots.
- - Two-piece sets are more than one angler needs if a single tool is enough.
#3A three-in-one spring-action knot tool from Lake Products with a Delrin body and stainless steel shaft and loop. A sturdier build than most pocket tools.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 6/10
- + Stainless steel shaft, head and loop are listed as rust and corrosion resistant.
- + Spring-action design and precision-machined contact points are described as gripping line without damaging it.
- + Includes an attachment loop to clip onto a vest or shirt so it stays within reach.
- - Roughly three times the price of the budget nail knot tools.
- - The listing is short and does not say which knots the three functions cover, so check the maker's instructions.
#4A three-pack of 10 cm stainless steel nail knot tools. A cheap way to keep one in the vest, one in the car and one in the bag.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Sold as a set of three, so a spare is always in reach and the cost per tool stays very low.
- + Stainless steel construction is listed as rust resistant, which suits a tool that gets wet on every trip.
- + About 10 cm (3.94 inches) long, compact enough for a vest pocket or lanyard.
- - Plain tool with no hook cleaner, cutter or zinger, so it does one job only.
- - Little brand information in the listing, so long-term quality is unknown.
#5The Orvis Eye Tie is a magnetic fly threader with three funnels that hold the fly aligned so tippet can be threaded into the hook eye. Made for small flies.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 6/10
- + Three magnetic funnels accommodate hook sizes 3 to 24, a wide range for trout flies.
- + Magnets hold the fly in place and aligned in the slot, which frees both hands to thread the tippet.
- + Established fly fishing brand with a clear, specific description.
- - Only helps with threading the eye, not with joining leader to line or tippet sections.
- - Priced well above basic threaders, and a magnet cannot hold a non-ferrous or very small fly in every case.
#6A one-piece anodized aluminum tippet threader made in Japan, with a stainless needle and a magnetic fly catcher. Meant for small flies on fine tippet.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 5/10
- + Listing says it works with flies from #4 to #20 and tippet from 2X to 7X, which covers most trout rigging.
- + Stainless steel needle and A5052 anodized aluminum body are listed, a more durable build than plastic threaders.
- + The magnetic fly catcher holds other flies, so the tool doubles as a place to park them.
- - The highest price in this guide, for a tool that does one job.
- - Needle-style threading takes practice, and it cannot join leader to line.
#7A lightweight plastic magnetic fly threader with four alignment slots and a keychain loop, in bright yellow so it is easy to spot on the bank.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Four slots give more fit options across different fly profiles and hook-eye positions.
- + Bright body is easy to find if dropped on the bank, in the boat or on snow.
- + Keychain loop clips to a vest or pack, and the price is among the lowest for a threader.
- - Plastic body will not take the abuse a machined metal threader does.
- - Unfamiliar brand with limited detail on which hook sizes the slots fit.
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Costs more than a bare tool, and you pay for the zinger and cards whether you want them or not. (HOOK-EZE Fishing Nail Knot Tying Tool...)
- A multi-tool nail knot feature is less comfortable to use than a dedicated tool for repeated knots. (SAMSFX Fly Fishing Knot Tying Tools Quick...)
- Roughly three times the price of the budget nail knot tools. (Lake Products THREE-in-One Knot Tying Tool...)
- Plain tool with no hook cleaner, cutter or zinger, so it does one job only. (Deekin 3 Pcs Fishing Nail Knot Tying Tool...)
- Only helps with threading the eye, not with joining leader to line or tippet sections. (Orvis Eye Tie Fly Threader)
- The highest price in this guide, for a tool that does one job. (Tippet Threader for #6-#20 Flies, NINJA Fly...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among knot tying tools for fly fishing: nail knot tools and fly threaders?
HOOK-EZE Fishing Nail Knot Tying Tool Combo|Includes Waterproof Pocket Guide, Nail Knot Tying Tool with Hook Cleaner, Zinger Retractor|Fly Fishing Accessories Fishing Gifts & Stocking Stuffers for Men is our top overall pick. A nail knot tool with a built-in hook eye cleaner, a retractable zinger and waterproof knot cards. A good starting kit if you have never tied a nail knot. It earns our score of 8.2/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
SAMSFX Fly Fishing Knot Tying Tools Quick Knot Tool for Fishing Hooks, Lures, Flies, Trout Line Backing, Come with Zinger Retractors is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. A two-set combo of a 4-in-1 nipper with a nail knot tool, hook hone and hook eye cleaner, plus two zinger retractors. Covers nipper and knot tool in one body.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Fly Fish Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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