I normally don’t like gadgets hanging off the outside of my chest pack. I try to limit it to the things I want quick access to like hemostats and line clippers. Until now, I have kept my tippet spools inside my pack thinking it was one less thing to clank around. But, I like the convenience of having my tippet readily available and to be able to pull off a length of tippet with one hand. I’ve also been known to drop a tippet spool here and lose it to the current. This simple DIY tippet spool holder keeps your tippet close at hand, prevents loss, and costs virtually nothing.
All you need is some paracord, scissors, a lighter, and a cord lock. I happened to have a bag full of extra cord locks and tons of paracord so this project didn’t cost me anything. If you don’t have any cord locks, you can buy small bags of them at places like REI or cannibalize one from an old stuff sack or other piece of gear.
Cut off a few inches of the paracord (you can adjust the length later if you need to). Now singe the edges with a lighter so they don’t fray. Next, find an attachment point on your chest pack or vest where you want to hang the tippet spool holder (eg. a D-ring) and make a girth hitch connection to it with the paracord.
Slide your tippet spools through the tag end of the paracord and then slide the cord lock on. You can adjust the length by tightening or loosening the cord lock to accommodate the number of tippet spools you want to carry.
That’s it! Now, you can easily pull off extra tippet without having to dig in your vest or chest pack and don’t have to worry about dropping a ten dollar spool of fluorocarbon into the stream. Here is an example of the tippet spool holder on the D-ring of a vest:
Here is how I carry mine on my chest pack. Notice that the spools are parallel to the sides of the pack. This allows the spools to spin freely and not catch on the pack (I prefer this orientation):
Here is an example on the Esoteric Tackle Sling Pack:
Here’s a little tip. To make your system even more hands free, add Loon Shark Tooth tippet cutters to your spools. This will allow you to pull off and cut a length of tippet without even grabbing your nippers. And if you’re really good, you can do it with one hand!
I swear you keep me digging around the house trying to make some of the gadgets you come up with.
Jason,
I’ve done the exact same thing with my Ebira rod quiver. I carry the tippet in the Enira’s pocket until I get to where I want to start fishing and then use this system to attach the tippet to the outside of the Ebira while fishing, it works great.
Thom
TrailLite Designs
very coo. have to try that.
Great post Jason. Did just about the same thing a couple days ago on a new fishing pack that I got recently. Set up one spool on the shoulder strap of the pack with a spare spool (just in case) in the pack. With a single spool (use 5X for 98% of the time) it’s a very compact set up that is almost not noticeable on the strap. Your description is spot on.
Paul
Tenkara-Fishing
Very cool idea!
Nice job. Have you seen the Umpqua Rising Flask Pack chestpack? A little bigger than the fishpond chestpack you use (I still take too many fly boxes with me) and has a nice tippet holder on the side.
I have a fishpond chestpack like yours, and will make the “modifocations” tomorrow.
Thanks
Hi Mossy, yes, I’ve seen it. But it has a bunch of features I don’t need (like floatant caddies, etc.). Looks nice otherwise. I like my San Juan so far. Just the right size for me.
Thanks! I’ve made my own spool attachments for years and came up with a number of different ways, but I really like yours best, because it is simple and by tightening stops the spools swinging in the breeze, what I hate most about lanyards and packs etc.
Here’s a simple idea to improve – Rio spools have a slot in the hole that can catch on small diameters like cord, when this is threaded in them without any covering. Cut a small, say0.5cm length o plastic tube from something and thread on the cord, and the spools will rotate freely always as the larger diam will no longer get caught in the hole slots.
Put a knot in the end of that cord.
I heard there are a couple of willows on the hunt for tippet.
well, they’ve got cousins in Australia, the tea-tree-tippet-takers. I lost a nearly fresh 100m spool of 6x Rio FF+ the weekend before last. maybe I need something more. So far I have managed to lose just about everything not tethered, now it looks like I’m starting on tethered gear! As for rod plugs, don’t get me started.
Great idea! I’m going to do this.
Where’d you get the cool looking hemostat? Also, what is the metal tool with holes next to the tippets.
Hi Jason, I never saw your reply to my question. Thanks! Syd
See below
This is way cool–and so simple! I only carry two spools, so it elminates my havng to buy one of those big fancy ones. Thanks for the fantastic tip!
Hi Sydney, sorry, I ran out of room in the threaded comments. The thing with the hols in it is a Fishpond line nipper. The hemostat is just a cheap mitten clamp. I can’t remember the brand now…”Angler’s” something. But better ones are made by Dr. Slick.
Beautifully smart and simple! One of those things where you think “how come I didn’t think of that!”.
Would it perhaps work even better with bungee cord? That stuff would keep the spools taught, but at the same time would flex to allow the spools to run even better when you need some material. Perhaps not an issue even, just a thought.
Thanks Peter! It hasn’t been an issue for me but you certainly could use any kind of stretchy cord. Just don’t cinch it up too tight or the spools won’t rotate.
I’ve been looking for way to make a tippet holder
so I would not have to go out and buy, this one great idea, thanks.
Hi Douglas, cool. Glad it helped and I hope it works out for you.