Fly Fishing Knot Tying Tools: 8 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Our Top Picks

A knot tying tool for fly fishing is a small gadget sold to make one job easier: wrapping a nail knot, threading a tiny hook eye, or holding the line while you tie. The eight tools here do not all do the same job, and each maker words its claims differently, so this guide groups them by what the maker says the tool is for: dedicated nail knot tools, nippers with a knot tool attached, and pipe, needle or threader tools that cover other jobs. Each tool is linked to one Amazon listing, and every knot credited to a tool below is one the maker, or a shop’s product text, lists for that tool. More rods, lines and fishing accessories are in our fishing gear section.

Related guide: Best Freshwater Fishing Reel for 2026: One Reel for Each Job

Price tier: $ = entry level, $$ = mid-range, relative to the tools in this guide, going by the prices makers and shops listed when we researched it. Live Amazon prices are in the comparison table.

Compare the picks

Compare the Knot Tying Tools

Every row is the Amazon listing we link. Knots are those the maker lists, or a shop’s product text where the maker’s page could not be read; “not published” means no figure on any page we could read. The “Best for” cells go by the job each maker describes, not by a test.

How These Eight Tools Were Chosen

What each tool had to clear

• Marketed by its maker or the maker’s stockists for tying knots, not only for cutting line or removing hooks.
• Material, knots and size copied from the maker’s page; where only a shop’s product text could be read, the cell says so; where nothing is published, it says “not published”.
• A named source for how the tool performs, graded by who wrote it. A tool is never credited with a knot its maker does not list.

Where the evidence comes from

Where the evidence comes from

One tool has an independent review: a 2014 column in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle on the Dr. Slick nipper. Two have owner reports from r/flyfishing, one favourable to a point and one critical. The other five rest on maker pages or a shop’s product text. Loon, Umpqua, Hook-Eze and TYEPRO sell their own tools on their own sites, so those pages are the makers’ claims, not independent findings. The posters’ views on whether such tools are worth carrying are in the FAQ below; the Tie-Fast, Dr. Slick and TYEPRO reviews quote the comments about those tools.

Detailed Reviews of the 8 Tools

Tie-Fast Knot Tyer, One-Piece Steel

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/flyfishing poster: variant not stated.

Tie-Fast’s own store page returned “Restricted Access” to us, so the text here is from Mad River Outfitters, a shop that sells it: “Made of one piece stainless steel, this tool enables anglers to tie secure knots in a matter of seconds.” and “It can be used to tie a number of different varieties of the “nail” knot.” The shop also lists an “O-ring attachment”. AvidMax, another shop, lists “4” and 6 1/2″ Sizes” and “Made in the USA”. The Amazon title names a silver finish and no length, so we cannot say which size this unit is. The listing we link is sold by Grab A Find, a third-party seller, not by Tie-Fast.

In the 2013 r/flyfishing thread “Opinions on the Tie-Fast tool?”, a poster wrote: “I use it solely for tying line to leader nail knots.” Others in the thread were less sure: “It can work well but you cant trust it like a knot you hand tied yourself at least in my opinion,” while another answered that “The tool has nothing to do with how strong a knot is going to be when cinched, its only for making it easier to tie.” Against the Loon Ergo (pick 2), also a nail knot tool, Tie-Fast’s shop text names the material; Loon’s page does not.

Specs (linked: silver)

• Type: nail knot tool (shop text)
• Material: one-piece stainless steel (Mad River Outfitters; AvidMax)
• Knots listed: “a variety of knots and splices”; “a number of different varieties of the “nail” knot” (Mad River Outfitters)
• Length: 4 in and 6 1/2 in sizes listed by AvidMax; the linked unit’s length is not stated
• Weight: not published
• Made in: USA (AvidMax)
• Attachment: O-ring for a zinger (Mad River Outfitters)

Loon Outdoors Ergo Knot Tool, Nail Knot Tool Only

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Loon Outdoors product page (the maker’s own store).

Loon Outdoors describes it as “A simple knot tool.” and says: “The Ergo Knot Tool makes nail knots easy and comes with clear instructions on how they are to be tied.” Its bullets read “Ergonomic design”, “Quickly ties nail knots” and “Instructions included”. Loon sells it in yellow or black in one size; the Amazon title names black. Material, length and weight are not published on the page. The listing we link is sold by The Kingfisher, a fly shop.

We found no independent test or owner report for this tool. Everything above is Loon’s own wording on the page where Loon sells it, so “ergonomic” is Loon’s description, not a finding. Against the Tie-Fast (pick 1), Loon lists nail knots only and gives no material or size, so the trade-off is how much the page tells you.

Specs (linked: black)

• Type: nail knot tool (maker)
• Knots listed: nail knots (maker)
• Material: not published
• Size and weight: not published
• Colours: yellow or black, one size (maker)

Dr. Slick Nipper with Pin, File and Knot Tyer, Nipper With Hook File

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Ben Pierce (Chronicle Outdoors Editor), June 4, 2014: Knot-Tying Nipper, as reviewed in 2014.

Dr. Slick’s instructions page calls it the “Knot-Tying Nipper” and gives the steps: “Insert butt end of mono into tube and wedge line inside nipper base.” and “Use the pusher slide to push knot off end of tube while pulling on loose end of mono.” Trouthunt, a shop that sells it, writes that Dr. Slick’s nippers are for “snipping tippet tag ends, clipping off flies, cutting leader material, cleaning hook eyes, sharpening hooks, or tying nail knots”, and that “Knot-tying models have an easy-to-use nail knot tube attached.” It lists the nippers as 2 in with a hook eye cleaning pin and a built-in hook file. The Amazon title adds “High Grade Japanese Stainless Steel” and “Black”. The listing is sold by Rogue Fly Shop, a fly shop.

The review is a 2014 column by Ben Pierce, Chronicle Outdoors Editor, in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. He wrote that he “picked mine up about a year ago” and that “I’d go so far as to say that it actually makes tying the nail knot a bit of fun” and “The Knot-Tying Nipper has a couple moving parts, but it seem very unlikely it will ever come apart.” His caveat, on the pin and file: “I find these features largely useless as I tend to lose flies long before they are dull enough to sharpen, and I make sure my hook eyes are clean as I tie, but I can see the appeal for some anglers.” The column does not name a finish. Against the Loon Rogue (pick 4) and Umpqua (pick 5), Dr. Slick is the one whose nail knot tube has a published step list and an independent review, though a dated one.

Specs (linked: black, 2 in)

• Type: nipper with nail knot tube, hook-eye pin and hook file (Trouthunt)
• Knots listed: nail knots (Trouthunt; Dr. Slick instructions)
• Material: High Grade Japanese Stainless Steel (Amazon title)
• Length: 2 in nipper (Trouthunt)
• Weight: not published

Loon Outdoors Rogue Nipper with Knot Tool, Nipper with Knot Tool

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Loon Outdoors product page (the maker’s own store).

Loon Outdoors calls it “A simple nipper with nail knot capabilities” and “The all-in-one nippers. Stainless steel cutting jaws, knot tool, hook clearing needle, and chain attachment.” The bullets read “Stainless steel cutting blades”, “Stealthy matte black rust-resistant finish”, “Eye cleaning needle” and “Knot tying tool attachment”. It comes in black, one size; length and weight are not published. The listing we link is sold by Ed’s Fly Shop, a fly shop.

The page carries customer reviews on Loon’s own store, which are not independent. One reads: “Love the new nippers I just got. Super sharp, small and knot tool works great.” Another reads: “Maybe the know tool is a good add to the nippers, maybe not. I really haven’t used it that often.” Against the Dr. Slick (pick 3), Loon states the knot function in one phrase and publishes no step list; against Umpqua (pick 5), Loon does not say how the tool attaches to the nipper.

Specs (linked: black)

• Type: nipper with knot tool attachment (maker)
• Knots listed: “nail knot capabilities” (maker)
• Material: stainless steel cutting blades; matte black rust-resistant finish (maker)
• Length and weight: not published

Umpqua RiverGrip Nipper Knot Tool, Nipper With Rotating Knot Tool

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Umpqua product page (the maker’s own site).

Umpqua says: “This versatile tool combines all the great features of our Big Nip PS Nippers with a nail knot tool.” Its list reads “Pin eye-cleaner”, “Free-rotating ring attachment” and “Nail Knot Tool – this grooved function-formed addition rotates from body of nipper to allow easy attachment of fly-line to backing and leader to fly line.” Umpqua offers black, Hot Orange and red; the Amazon title names Hot Orange. Material, length and weight are not published on the page. The listing is sold by AvidMax, a fly retailer.

We found no independent test or owner report for this tool. Of the nipper combos here, Umpqua’s page is the one that names both connections the knot tool is for: backing to fly line and leader to fly line. Our guides to putting backing on a fly reel and tying a leader to fly line cover those two connections.

Specs (linked: Hot Orange)

• Type: nipper with rotating nail knot tool (maker)
• Knots listed: nail knot, for “fly-line to backing and leader to fly line” (maker)
• Material: not published on the page
• Length and weight: not published
• Extras: pin eye-cleaner, free-rotating ring attachment (maker)

C&F Design CFA-11 Three-in-One Nail Knot Pipe, Pipe, Needle and Magnet

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: C&F Design CFA-11 product text at Fly Fish Food (a shop; the maker’s page could not be read).

C&F Design’s page returned a server error, so the text is from Fly Fish Food, a shop that sells it: “Essential tool to tie fly line and tapered leader.” and “Splice the tapered leader to the fly line, then use pipe included to create nail knot with small bundle to avoid entangled with top guide.” It adds that a “Small magnet on the tip of nail knot pipe” can pick up small flies from a box. It also warns: “Be careful not to warp the needle when splicing the tapered leader to the fly line core. It will lead to needle breakage and damage.” The listing we link is sold by Whitefield LLC, a third-party seller.

We found no independent test or owner report. The trade-off against the nail knot tools above, by the shop’s own text, is a needle that can break if warped; the text lists a splice joint as well as a nail knot.

Specs (linked: CFA-11)

• Type: nail knot pipe with splice needle and magnet (Fly Fish Food product text)
• Knots listed: nail knot (pipe); leader splice (needle) (Fly Fish Food)
• Material: not published on the page
• Size and weight: not published

HOOK-EZE Nail Knot Tying Tool, Multi-Knot Tool With Hook Cover

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Hook-Eze product page (the maker’s own site) and Hook-Eze’s Amazon listing.

Hook-Eze lists its Nail Knot Model for “River, Coast & Fly Fishing”. Its list reads “Protects fingers from sharp barb”, “Simplifies tying strong knots”, “Stainless steel line cutter”, “Attaches hook to pole securely” and “Stainless steel tool to tie Nail Knots”. The Amazon listing, sold by Hook-Eze, says the tool “Simplifies complicated knots such as the Improved Clinch Knot, Blood Knot, FG Knot, Bimini Twist, and Yucatan” and that “The hook cover helps tie hooks, jig heads, swivels, speed clips and selected flies.” The maker’s page and the listing disagree on two points: the page gives “standard 7/0 hook down to smallest” and “ABS Resin”, while the listing gives “a standard 4/0 down to the smallest hook size #28” and “100% Raw Virgin Polypropylene”. The listing we link is a pack of two in blue, sold by Hook-Eze and shipped by Amazon at the time of writing.

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We found no independent test or owner report for this model. Hook-Eze sells it for river and coast fishing as well as fly, and the listing’s “selected flies” comes with no fly size range. Against the TYEPRO (pick 8), Hook-Eze names knots; TYEPRO publishes a fly size range. Against the nail knot tools (picks 1 and 2), the Hook-Eze adds a line cutter and hook cover; Tie-Fast and Loon sell theirs as nail knot tools.

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Specs (linked: Nail Knot, blue, pack of 2)

• Type: hook cover with knot tool, nail knot tool and line cutter (maker)
• Knots listed: nail knots (maker); Improved Clinch, Blood, FG, Bimini Twist and Yucatan (Hook-Eze’s Amazon listing)
• Hook range: 7/0 down to smallest (maker); 4/0 to #28 (listing). Cutter: trims “up to 50lb mono or Braided Line” (maker)
• Material: ABS Resin (maker); polypropylene with stainless-steel fittings (listing)
• Weight: not published by the maker

TYEPRO Fly and Ice Fishing Knot Tying Tool, Fly Eyelet Threader Tool

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/flyfishing poster: TYEPRO Fly and Ice.

TYEPRO describes it as “A handy tool for fly fishing and ice fishing to thread small eyelets, help tie knots, and clip monofilament and fluorocarbon line.” Its FAQ says: “TYEPRO Fly & Ice works well with most flies size 2 to 16, jigs size 1/32 to 1/8 ounce and hooks size 10 to 1.” It also says: “Eyelets on smaller bead heads and flies size 18 and smaller don’t extend far enough into the eyelet pocket to thread consistently.” Material and weight are not published on the pages we read. The listing we link is sold by TYEPRO.

In the 2026 r/flyfishing thread “Tyepro a Good Investment?”, a poster who bought the Fly and Ice wrote: “Update… this product does not seem very well designed for fly fishing. The fly just gets in the way of the line when trying to tie.” The same poster said forceps gave better results. Other posters in the thread advised practising knots instead. The tool lists no knot by name on the pages we read except through a tip about a clinch knot, so this guide credits it with threading and clipping, plus “help tie knots” as TYEPRO words it.

Specs (linked: Fly and Ice)

• Type: eyelet threader and line clipper (maker)
• Knots listed: “help tie knots”; clinch knot, in a TYEPRO tip about spinning the tool (maker)
• Fly size: flies size 2 to 16 (maker)
• Smallest flies: size 18 and smaller may not thread consistently (maker)
• Material and weight: not published
• Made in: USA (maker)

Which Tool for Which Knot

Nail knots. The Tie-Fast and Loon Ergo are the two sold as nail knot tools, the Dr. Slick, Loon Rogue and Umpqua add the tool to a nipper, and the C&F pairs a pipe with a splice needle. Our guide to tying a leader to fly line says that for a nail knot you need “a small tube or a nail-knot tool”. Not every line needs one: our floating fly fishing line guide notes that the Cortland 444 Peach DT has a welded front loop, so a loop-to-loop leader connection works there.

Threading small eyelets. The TYEPRO is sold to thread small eyelets and publishes a fly size range, 2 to 16.

More than one kind of knot. Hook-Eze’s Amazon listing for the HOOK-EZE Nail Knot names the Improved Clinch, Blood, FG, Bimini Twist and Yucatan, and its site adds a nail knot tool. The nail knot makers list nail knots, and TYEPRO says only “help tie knots”.

Frequently Asked Questions

None of the sources here ranks these tools against each other, so this guide does not name one. They split by job: the nail knot tools and nipper combos are for nail knots, the TYEPRO is for threading small eyelets, and the HOOK-EZE covers the hook while you tie several kinds of knot. See the “Which Tool for Which Knot” section above.

Posters disagree. In the Tie-Fast thread one wrote “I don’t believe in knot tying tools,” and in the TYEPRO thread another wrote that “There is no need for the tool”. In the r/flyfishing thread “Tool to help tie on flies?” one poster wrote of several they tried: “They are fine, but are basically just a gimic.” Another wrote: “I use one of those tools (3in1) for knots and threading and it seems to work pretty well.” Our fly fishing for beginners guide covers the basics, and if you rig on the water, our fly fishing float tubes guide compares U-boat, V-tube and teardrop tubes.

Our guide to how to tie a fly on names the improved clinch or a non-slip loop for tippet to fly, and it covers what tippet is in a separate guide. Of the tools here, two have a maker source naming one of those knots: a TYEPRO tip about a clinch knot, and Hook-Eze’s Amazon listing, which names the Improved Clinch Knot, so check the maker’s list before you rely on a tool for a particular knot. If you fish a tippet ring, our guide to fly fishing tippet rings quotes a source that uses the clinch or improved clinch on both sides of the ring.

Reports are mixed. TYEPRO says its Fly & Ice “works well with most flies size 2 to 16” and that flies “size 18 and smaller” may not thread consistently. One poster wrote of such tools: “They work great on flies large enough to not be difficult, but ineffective below size 14 where you want help.”

The bottom line

Final Verdict

For a dedicated nail knot tool, start with the Tie-Fast Knot Tyer (check price): one-piece stainless steel, per a shop’s product text, with one poster using it for line to leader nail knots, though the linked listing does not say which length it is. For a nipper that carries the tool, the Dr. Slick Nipper with Pin, File and Knot Tyer (check price) has the only independent review here, a 2014 column that called the nail knot “a bit of fun” and the pin and file “largely useless”. For more than nail knots, the HOOK-EZE Nail Knot Tying Tool (check price) adds a line cutter and hook cover to a nail knot tool, with five more knots named on Hook-Eze’s Amazon listing, and the TYEPRO Fly and Ice Fishing Knot Tying Tool (check price) lists a fly size range of 2 to 16, with one poster who found it awkward with a fly. Read each maker’s knot list before you buy: no tool here is credited with a knot that its maker, or for Tie-Fast and C&F the shop text quoted, does not name.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.