How to Use Fish Tape

Project Overview
  • Total Time: 5 - 10 mins
  • Yield: Pull electrical cable with fish tape
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $20 to $50

Fish tape is used during construction or remodeling for installing wires inside walls, through studs, up and down between floors, or through conduit.

Available in 25-, 50-, 100-, and 200-foot lengths, the fish tape is rolled up and stored in a round, plastic casing. The fish tape is manually pulled out of the casing and then is reeled up by rolling it back into the casing, though there are powered fish tapes that reel in the tape automatically.

Fish Tape

Fish tape is a tool used by electricians primarily for pulling electrical or other wires through conduits. It's also used for pulling NM wire through walls, ceilings, floors, and other enclosed spaces. The fish tape itself is a long, stiff, flat steel wire.

If you have complete access to the walls, you likely don't need fish tape for the project; you can feed the electrical cable through the studs by hand. But wherever access is limited, fish tape comes in handy.

Where to Use Fish Tape

Fish tape is used for pulling:

Safety Considerations

Wear safety glasses when working with fish tape. Fish tape's stiff metal wire can be dangerous if allowed to unreel all at once. The fish tape casing only needs to be opened when replacing the tape; otherwise, keep it sealed up.

Metal fish tape is a conductor of electricity. Turn off electric circuits in the area where you're working to avoid being injured by electricity. Non-conductive fiberglass fish tape is also available.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Wire stripper
  • Cable sheathing ripper
  • Pliers

Materials

  • Fish tape
  • Electrical tape

Instructions

  1. Unreel Some of the Fish Tape

    Pull 5 to 6 inches of the fish tape out of the plastic housing. Do not unreel the entire length.

    You may need to push a button to release the tape. With other types of fish tape, you simply pull the tape out—no button release is required.

    Fish tape unreeled from plastic housing

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  2. Feed the Fish Tape

    Push the fish tape forward to feed it into the conduit or through the holes in the studs. Feed the tape until a foot or two of the tape is exposed at the other end.

    Fish tape end pushed through conduit opening

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  3. Attach the Wires to the Fish Tape

    Rip the sheathing from the electrical cable to expose several inches of wire. Strip the plastic casing from the ends of the wires to expose the copper wire. Twist the wires together, leaving one of the wires loose at the end. Attach that wire to the end of the fish tape. Bend the wire to form a complete loop.

    Tip

    Tamp down the wires tightly by hand so that the bundle is smooth. Nothing should protrude from the bundle.

    Twisted copper wires attached to fish tape through loop

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  4. Wrap the Wires With Electrical Tape

    Wrap the wires with electrical tape. Start where the wires attach to the end of the fish tape. End the wrap at the cable sheathing. Wrap tightly, using one layer of tape only.

    Copper wires wrapped with black electrical tape

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  5. Pull the Fish Tape

    At the reel end of the fish tape, pull the fish tape back. Work slowly and patiently. It's helpful to have an assistant at the other end unspool the electrical cable to relieve tension.

    Fish tape pulled back from conduit opening

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  6. Detach Wires From Fish Tape

    Reel back all of the fish tape until the electrical cable appears. Make sure that about a foot or more of the cable is exposed to prevent it from retracting and being lost. Unwrap the tape and remove it. Untwist and remove the wires from the fish tape.

    Electrical tape unwrapped from copper wires and fish tape

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Tips for Using Fish Tape

  • Reduce friction on the wire by using wire-pulling lubricant.
  • Unspool the electrical cable before pulling it with the fish tape if working alone.
  • For cables with four or more wires, cut the wires to staggered lengths to slim down the bundle.
  • Avoid rust by running the wet fish tape through a towel as you reel it back. Even with dry fish tape, occasionally run the tape through a towel to clean it off.
  • Take extreme care when opening fish tape casing. All of the tape must be removed in advance.
  • Straighten kinks or sharp bends in the tape by gently forcing the tape backward by hand.