Regardless of the type of fishing you’re doing, every angler knows how crucial it is to have solid and durable fishing pliers. It’s absolutely crucial to have well-built pliers that are both corrosion and slip-resistant, making sure that with proper maintenance rust won’t be an issue, and that the surface of the pliers is easy to grip and maneuver when using in a wet environment. While many fishing pliers typically resemble the traditional needle nose shape, pliers can also vary distinctly depending on what type of fishing you’re doing. Read on to learn more about what to consider before your plier purchase, the various types of pliers available, and which ones might be the best to match your specific needs.
Why Purchase Pliers
When it comes to fishing pliers, they all encompass a similar foundation- tapered and slender jaws which can be fit in the mouth or down the throat of a fish in order to remove hooks. The style and shape of the pliers are dependent on the hook and the specific type of fish. For example, fly anglers need small and slender pliers to be able to grip small flies. If you’re fishing toothy fish, the larger hooks will require a larger pair of pliers with a solid and rugged grip.
Apart from removing hooks, many pliers also come equipped with additional features such as wire cutters. Pliers might also be used to remove and re-attach hooks on lures as opposed to from a fish. Having the right pliers on hand will definitely come in handy in a variety of different situations, and here are some quick tips before you begin your purchase to make sure you’re getting the right kind.
Quick tips
- Shop for strength- Stainless steel pliers are strong enough to remove all different types of hooks.
- Invest in solid handles- Buying pliers with rubberized handles will help increase friction for gripping and are a much better investment than plastic-handled pliers.
- Apply proper maintenance- Even stainless steel can corrode if not taken care of properly after continuous use in saltwater. Make sure you’re rinsing your pliers after each trip and regularly applying lubricant to increase longevity.
- Know your fish- Different pliers are designed for different purposes, so make sure you’re pairing the right plier for the correct usage. Read on for more information about matching pliers with purpose!
Needle Nose Pliers
Most people will likely have a classic pair of needle nose pliers in their regular toolbox. Designed with slender and straight jaws made from metal, needle nose pliers are easy to maneuver because of their slender shape and are used to get at places where hooks might be embedded that are more difficult to reach. When looking for a regular pair of needle nose pliers, make sure you’re searching for ones that have good handle grips and are both slender and strong enough to maneuver a deeply embedded hook in a hard-to-reach area.
Pistol Grip Pliers
If you’re fishing for toothy fish such as pike or pickerel then pistol grip pliers are the way to go. In contrast to needle nose pliers, the handles of pistol grip pliers are bent at a 90-degree angle from the front of the pliers, similarly to the shape of a pistol handle to the barrel. The shape of these pliers means they can reach into the mouth of your fish while simultaneously keeping your fingers away from any sharp teeth. These pliers are also useful if you have a deeply embedded hook as the angling of the plier shape can often help to increase torque and leverage when you’re working on the hook removal.
Fly Fishing Pliers
Compared to fishing lures, most of the flies used in fly fishing are on the more delicate side and often significantly smaller. Because of this, regular fishing pliers tend to be too cumbersome when it comes to removing small nymphs and dry flies. You need exceptionally small and slender piers, also often called “fly fishing forceps” designed specifically for this purpose, particularly if you’re a catch-and-release fly angler.
Split Ring Pliers
The final category of pliers that you might want to consider is the split ring pliers. In contrast to the previously listed pliers which are designed for removing hooks or lures from your catch, split ring pliers are designed for changing hooks on lures by opening the split ring that connects the hook and lure.
Funnily enough, these pliers were actually initially designed for jewelry crafting to remove things like necklace or bracelet hooks which are attached to delicate split rings. When it comes to fishing, split ring pliers allow anglers to easily change hook sizes, replace the treble with single hooks, or replace broken hooks. When using the pliers on lures, you insert the pointed nose of the pliers into the ring in order to create space to remove or add a hook, then use the pliers to close the split in the ring back up once your change has been made.
