Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kenwee on December 29, 2011, 02:04:10 PM

Title: Fishing pliers
Post by: Kenwee on December 29, 2011, 02:04:10 PM
Over the last 2 years, I have bought 4 pliers. 3 were garbage and did not work well and rusted. The one I am using now is  Dr. Slick bullet head plier, it was good for a few months and now it has to be garbaged as it does not do its job anymore. So far I have spent about $85.00 buying these.

What in your opinion is a good set of pliers to buy . It may be wise to buy a quality tool that will last for years to come and one that will not fail when the need arises.

I am thinking of the Abel #2 plier with leather sheath and lanyard which will cost about $200.00.

Any opinions and advice from experience members on this item will be appreciated. Thank you foe any advice.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Nucks on December 29, 2011, 02:09:45 PM
How about regular pliers from a store like Crappy Tire. I've been fishing for over 20 years on rivers now and only owned 2 sets of pliers............both just regular run of the mill pliers. I think I've spent maybe 10 bucks in total. No need to break the bank on something that you may lose, pinch barks with and take hooks out of fish mouths right?
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: milo on December 29, 2011, 02:35:54 PM
Why not buy a Leatherman multitool and be done with it.
I have one of my Leathermans (or is that 'Leathermen'? :D) in plier mode all the time in my waders' pocket and it works perfectly.
Plus you get to have the scissors and knife and all other goodies handy when you need them.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Geff_t on December 29, 2011, 02:43:14 PM
I have used quite a few pairs of pliers and have now gone to one of the Dr Slick ones and I must say they are great. When I pinch the barb on the hook it pinches it perfectly flat. The head on these Dr Slick pliers are perfect for those small hooks. Some of the other pliers I have owned where great for the larger hooks like a size 1 or 1/0 but the smaller hooks I have found they just do not pinch it flat enough.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Geff_t on December 29, 2011, 02:44:47 PM
Why not buy a Leatherman multitool and be done with it.
I have one of my Leathermans (or is that 'Leathermen'? :D) in plier mode all the time in my waders' pocket and it works perfectly.
Plus you get to have the scissors and knife and all other goodies handy when you need them.



 I am always afraid of loseing my Leathermen. This is why I just keep it at home.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Sterling C on December 29, 2011, 02:56:16 PM
I have used quite a few pairs of pliers and have now gone to one of the Dr Slick ones and I must say they are great. When I pinch the barb on the hook it pinches it perfectly flat. The head on these Dr Slick pliers are perfect for those small hooks. Some of the other pliers I have owned where great for the larger hooks like a size 1 or 1/0 but the smaller hooks I have found they just do not pinch it flat enough.

I'm also a fan of using forceps, although I use the cheapo $8 kind. They are great, don't rust, do everything I need them to and can be clamped onto just about anything (often times my shirt)
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Fish Assassin on December 29, 2011, 07:53:37 PM
I've been using a needle nose plier I bought from a hardware store. Being serving well for over 10 years and still going strong.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Kenwee on December 29, 2011, 08:34:00 PM
Thank you for our feedback. Will look for a reasonably priced pair of pliers and go from there.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: iCemAn on December 29, 2011, 09:49:20 PM
Over the last 2 years, I have bought 4 pliers. 3 were garbage and did not work well and rusted. The one I am using now is  Dr. Slick bullet head plier, it was good for a few months and now it has to be garbaged as it does not do its job anymore. So far I have spent about $85.00 buying these.

What in your opinion is a good set of pliers to buy . It may be wise to buy a quality tool that will last for years to come and one that will not fail when the need arises.

I am thinking of the Abel #2 plier with leather sheath and lanyard which will cost about $200.00.

Any opinions and advice from experience members on this item will be appreciated. Thank you foe any advice.


I just got Abels for my bday. They look and feel awesome and seem to work great! Look forward to using them more. I've always had cheap ones but always lose them or they rust
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Matt on December 30, 2011, 12:06:33 AM
Why not buy a Leatherman multitool and be done with it.
I have one of my Leathermans (or is that 'Leathermen'? :D) in plier mode all the time in my waders' pocket and it works perfectly.
Plus you get to have the scissors and knife and all other goodies handy when you need them.


x2
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: BentRodsGuiding on December 30, 2011, 05:12:43 AM
I buy the $20 Stanley good quality long needlenose pliers, when they get sticky or rusty, they get a overnight WD 40 bath, good as new the next day.
They are strong enough to cut through a hook as well.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: the carp on December 30, 2011, 05:35:43 AM
I get my pliers at garage sales, usually about 2 bucks a pair, collect about 5 over the summer and have lots for the winter season, call me cheap but it works for me.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: milo on December 30, 2011, 09:34:23 AM
I have used quite a few pairs of pliers and have now gone to one of the Dr Slick ones and I must say they are great. When I pinch the barb on the hook it pinches it perfectly flat. The head on these Dr Slick pliers are perfect for those small hooks. Some of the other pliers I have owned where great for the larger hooks like a size 1 or 1/0 but the smaller hooks I have found they just do not pinch it flat enough.

Geff, if you don't mind me asking you, why don't you just buy barbless hooks if you like your barb pinched perfectly flat?

I like to leave a bit of a bump on my hook where the barb was...I find factory barbless too flat for my liking.
A confidence issue I guess.  :-[
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Noahs Arc on December 31, 2011, 01:24:04 AM
Am I and bent rod the only ones who have heard of the magical wd 40?
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: brownmancheng on December 31, 2011, 07:11:09 AM
Personally my ten buckers have done me very well. Never even
 entertained the idea of high end pliers before this thread!
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: greyghost on December 31, 2011, 07:47:45 AM
Try and find some stainless steel needle nose pliers, never have to worry about rust.  I got mine at Lee Valley Tools almost 17 years ago and they're still going strong (LVT no longer stocks them). Do some looking around I'm sure you can find some.

X2
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: armytruck on December 31, 2011, 10:41:35 PM
Berkley has aluminum pliers or try these guy's
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lews-7-5-Aluminum-Pliers-Tungsten-Cutters-/170689326170
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Riverman on January 01, 2012, 08:23:48 AM
The best pliers are free ones you find by the river :D.I use a se tof nickle plated spring return ones I found while quading a a few years back.They are just cheap but don't rust and usually just a quick dunk and rince frees them up when they start moving slow.If you want high end you can not beat Klein needle nose.Lifetime warranty and have not found anything better for removing pin bones.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Geff_t on January 01, 2012, 10:47:45 AM
Geff, if you don't mind me asking you, why don't you just buy barbless hooks if you like your barb pinched perfectly flat?

I like to leave a bit of a bump on my hook where the barb was...I find factory barbless too flat for my liking.
A confidence issue I guess.  :-[

 I use owner hooks and they do not come barbless, and if you get a CO that likes to do the old sweater test, then it is best to have the barb perfectly flat. I know of a least one person that this happened too last winter and he got fined. He even took it to court and lost.


 As for the Dr Slick pliers, they are the "Barb Pliers" and are just under $15. They are spring back and come with a wrist strap so attaching a lanyard is is easy. I use a one that looks like a coiled telephone cord that always springs back into shape when streched out. I have not found a better pair of pliers for pinching a barb and removeing a hook from a fish.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: Zach Sanchioni on January 01, 2012, 11:19:09 AM
I keep my leatherman on my wading belt in a sheath. Never gets lost this way, use it and put it right back when done. Just like any good tradesman would with his tools. Its used for cutting pencil lead, crimping split shot and what have you. Also carry my Dr. Slick combo forceps/scissors for general use, cutting line pinching barbs ect. It gets clamped on a zipper tag on my coat or other easily accessible area.
Title: Re: Fishing pliers
Post by: lovetofish on January 01, 2012, 04:39:09 PM
The best pliers are free ones you find by the river :D.I use a se tof nickle plated spring return ones I found while quading a a few years back.They are just cheap but don't rust and usually just a quick dunk and rince frees them up when they start moving slow.If you want high end you can not beat Klein needle nose.Lifetime warranty and have not found anything better for removing pin bones.

I agree. I  have picked up 3 or 4 pairs of needlenose pliers on the rivers over the years. All but one pair responded to WD40 and are completely useable.
 I can lose pliers or forceps also and don't feel that high end pliers will last longer or not get lost. That being said, my Leatherman is always on my belt. It is just not easily accessible under my waders.