FS Digest

There are a few flies in my box that I can’t even use because I can not send the tippet through. I know my nippers have a little sharp point designed for this purpose, but even when I use this, it still does not work. Is there a trick to this, or a special tool?

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by FredFries_

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Buy smart hook flies. (LOL). Nope, I hold them up to the sky and hope that I shake in the right direction. It will eventually happen.

Fishin'Slug Loc: Rockaway Beach, MO

I have the magnifying glass clip-ons & I clip them on the bill of my cap. Flip it down when needed, otherwise out of the way.

Fish4fun Loc: Clinton, NJ & Venice, FL

They make threaders, similar to what folks use for putting tread through a needle, especially sized for small hook eyes. They are a great solution. I always have a fine one attached to my vest. Most fly shops have them.

ReelT Loc: Montana

It sounds like you may have some “head cement” that has dried in the eye of the hook. You might try taking a sharp pin through it, or the point of another hook so the the eye is free if obstruction.

Fish Dancer Loc: Guntersville, Alabama

Now that’s a funny visual. 😂

Fish Dancer Loc: Guntersville, Alabama

Great idea. I’m going to look for those.

MtFlyTyer74 Loc: NW Montana

Just a suggestion...in case you're not doing it already. Ensure that when you cut
tippet...you cut it at a 45 degree angle instead of directly across. That makes a
finer point to thread through the hook eye. Hope it works for you.

Howfisher Loc: Citrus Springs Fl. 34434

Maybe your tippet needs to be smaller diameter.

Retired george Loc: California San Juaquin Valley

Use the point from another fly hook to clean out the hole.

Hapycamper21 Loc: Las Vegas, Nv

New fly fisherman in Southern Nevada (Las Vegas). Great suggestion and will be using doing just that in the future.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

While I have bobbins and threaders for alot of my #16 & #18 flies, which allows me to easily get either tippet or leader threaded through the eye, absolutely nothing is easier than the "20/20 Magnetic Tippet Threader" by Tight Line Enterprises out of Tulsa ($12-$15 at Sportsman's Warehouse, Dick's, etc.) An odd little 1 1/2" black plastic item with a neodymium (Rare Earth) magnet and a slanted groove.
A #22 ant fly...no prob. Just set the eye in the end of the slot, slide the leader end or tippet down the groove and voila'....fly is threaded.
Check it out if you have trouble seeing or manipulating those tiny components of fly fishing.

I also am a big fan of using either "Fas-Snaps" or "Kwik Klips", those tiny little "quick-change" wire hooks that impart the same action-ability of a loop, but waaaay easier to attach a tiny fly, and super fast change-out.
The tiny version can be used even with #20 & #22 dries.The larger Kwik Klips are also stellar for big beadhead leeches, stone flies, etc.
Any size will up your game, especially if you are working an area and aren't quite sure yet what size or color will work, and don't want to stand there, the thigh-deep current swaying you back and forth, as you try to put 2lb tippet through that #22's eye and proceed to tie a loop knot !
Try 'em, you'll like 'em.

DryFlySam Loc: Key Biscayne

This may be too obvious, but here we go... The smaller the fly, i.e., size 14-20, the smaller the eye on the hook. So, you'll have to match your tippet to the hook size. Also, some of the very cheap sewing kits you find in motels (for free) have a thin wire for threading the eye of the needle(s). If you can find one, push the V end of the wire through the eye of the hook, stick the tippet through the V, and then pull the wire and the tippet back through the eye of the hook. It's a great little tool. Next time you are in a hotel or motel, ask for a sewing kit, and they'll give you one.