Nobody frames a photo of their pliers, but the right tools are what let you fish efficiently and, just as important, handle and release fish well. A few good tools live on every serious angler’s belt or console.
The essentials
- Long-nose pliers: the workhorse, for unhooking fish (keep your fingers clear of bluefish teeth), crimping, and general rigging. Get a corrosion-resistant pair for salt water.
- Side cutters or braid cutters: braid is tough to cut cleanly with plain scissors, so dedicated cutters save a lot of frustration. Heavy cutters also handle wire and hooks.
- Nippers: the fly angler’s tool for trimming tippet and knots clean and close.
- A rubber net: the single best fish-handling tool, gentle on the slime coat and easy to unhook from.
Handling and release tools
For handling and releasing fish well, add a dehooker (pops the hook out fast, minimizing handling), a lip gripper for controlling toothy or thrashing fish, and, for deep bottom fish, a descending device. If you fish for sharks, a hook or leader cutter is required gear, see conservation and fish handling.
Tip Leash your pliers and cutters. The most important tool is useless at the bottom of the harbor, so tether the tools you reach for most to your belt or the boat, especially anything you need in a hurry to release a fish.