A fish tape is a long, flexible strip of steel or fiberglass used to route a pulling string or pilot rope through walls and conduits. It is a fundamental tool for electricians.

A fish tape is the right tool to use when:

• Installing a pulling rope for a larger machine: For long or complex conduit runs, the fish tape is the first tool you'll use to thread the pulling rope through the path.

• Working with short, simple runs: For pulling small, single wires over a short distance, a fish tape can be used manually to pull the wire directly.

• Working in occupied conduits: A non-conductive fiberglass fish tape is the safest option for pulling through conduits that may contain live wires.