Fishing Pliers - What are you packing?

[george]

Over the years I have tried quite a few fishing pliers, none of which I'm very happy with. I've looked at some the expensive ones, like the VS set but it's hard to justify spending $300-$400 on a set of pliers that only have a one-year warranty. Actually, if it were a lifetime warranty I'd still hesitate to spend that kind of coin.

Can anyone here recommend a pair they like that are more affordable?

 

[pequa1]

While I do have a pair or two of stainless from Cabelas or Bass Pro, most of my fishing, (nearly all) is off my yak where I have a buck ninety nine special from HFT. If I forget to rinse and oil I buy another.

 

[Double Trouble]

I use these for cutting mono and braid they are the best
www.amazon.com/Boomerang Tool Company Snip Line Cutt
And I keep a couple f pair of cheap long nose pliers on the boat for everything else.A little spray of WD40 keeps them going.

 

[Roccus7]

Anyone who’d spend hundreds of dollars on pliers is friggin out of their mind, IMO. But then again, I guess they are de rigeur for The Low Spark of Van Stasl Boys Club...

Got an oversized, 11” offshore pair from Cabelas, $12. They don’t sell them any longer, but I found this Shimano version at the same price, it’s my spare.

Size is perfect, lets me quickly unhook small stripers that have inhaled my popper.

 

[BennyV]

I used to use expensive pliers. Now I just use snips like below and a j-hook. I have absolutely no need for actual pliers. Pliers either rust or get locked up when I need them.

 

[Leprechaun]

I agree with the "low-cost pliers are best" school of thought here. I will spend many hundreds on a rod or reel that I think will help put more fish in the box - but a $300 pliers to unhook a fish? Nah, not me.

I've used this $13 pair for the past 12 seasons (at least). The machined teeth are worn down to nubs and the carbide cutting blades will no longer cut anything:

I was in John/Trophy Tackle's shop yesterday, respooling some reels in preparation for Tog season, and saw these for $11.99 - SOLD! Good for another 12 seasons. (If I make it that far. LOL! - Otherwise I will bequeath these to you, George!)

For deeper-hooked fluke and bluefish, I use these stainless steel long-reach hook grabbers:

And for blackfish, I find the J-Hooked disgorger is 99% effective.

None of any of the above cost more than $13 - and all have unhooked 100's of fish on my boat.

 

[BoatGuy]

Bill from combs bait and tackle sold me very inexpensive aluminum pliers. They have worked great for two years. Aluminum doesn't rust.

 

[pequa1]

Bill from combs bait and tackle sold me very inexpensive aluminum pliers. They have worked great for two years. Aluminum doesn't rust.

Can they cut a 4/0 hook ?

 

[NoFlukenName]

I’m mostly a boat guy but I agree on the J-Hook for releasing fish. Super easy to use and is effective on all but the most deep hooked fish. I own a few of the $25 to $50 pliers as well. My favorite is the KastKing model - just like where the snipper is on it when I’m tying rigs....

 

[Leprechaun]

Pequa1 - which pliers are you asking about? Because if that is a prerequisite, I would look here:

 

[BennyV]

Can they cut a 4/0 hook ?

That’s a pretty high standard right there lol. I have never had the need to do something like that. Maybe back in the day when I used to work on the bluefish jigging boats in the sound, but not anymore.

 

[CELLFISH]

3 years onda sand wit this style, Klein, Stanley, very durable... cellfish...

.

 

[cany]

Snapon needle nose pliers

 

[Matts]

I miss my old stainless Sargent's

 

[CELLFISH]

$3.00 pliers wit matching $5.00 bass pro knife tied to a 36” ruler, for those never to loose a plier / knife set onda beach again, well maybe.!!! cellfish...

.

 

[pequa1]

Pequa1 - which pliers are you asking about? Because if that is a prerequisite, I would look here:

No, but I just find that aluminum can't cut wire or thin hooks.

 

[sytheteacher]

I feel the same way as some of the other members...I usually use a pair of four buck Harbor Freight 11 inch long nose pliers that I just give it a wipe of oil every once in a while .. And if it falls in the water I would cry for about a second and purchase another.. They are great for removing the hook from deep gutted fish...

 

[Leprechaun]

Pliers that will go the distance - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum

SportFishing and Charters Forum - Pliers that will go the distance - I am not able to get a pair of pliers to last me longer than 2 months. I fish about 15 days a month. What pliers are you 200+ days a year guys using and how long do they last? I use them for 2 purposes, fish removal and mono -...

www.thehulltruth.com

 

[BennyV]

Every mate including myself used to use these. The only issue is after a quarter to a half a season of rigging and cutting the occasional stainless steel leader when doing nighttime bluefish trips the cutter mechanism dulls and cannot be replaced on its own. The plier side will work forever though with very little maintenance.

 

[Roccus7]

Pliers that will go the distance - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum

SportFishing and Charters Forum - Pliers that will go the distance - I am not able to get a pair of pliers to last me longer than 2 months. I fish about 15 days a month. What pliers are you 200+ days a year guys using and how long do they last? I use them for 2 purposes, fish removal and mono -...

www.thehulltruth.com

I love how people try to rationalize spending HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS on pliers, makes no sense to me, especially for something that could fulfill it's potential energy and go over the side.

My $12 pliers have lasted 6 seasons and I fish over 100 times a season. Yeah, they may need a shot of WD-40 if I forget to put them away and leave them in a pole holder overnight when it rains, but that's it. And when I drop them overboard, I'll say, "Goodbye old friend!!"...