8 Types of Fishing Pliers You Should Know About

Whether it’s fishing or any other activity, if you are careful about choosing the right type of gear, your success rate is the highest. Among fishing gear, fishing pliers are one of the most essential instruments. However, you can’t just go to a fishing store and buy any fishing plier the vendor presents to you. Maybe they’ll show you several types of them (& there are several types) and you’re bound to get confused. In that case, it’s important that you’ve prior knowledge of these different types of fishing pliers. Here it is. But before that, a little about fishing pliers.

Uses of Fishing Pliers

Fishing pliers can perform a range of tasks and thus, is a versatile tool. Here are some tasks it can do.

Removing hooks: Fishing pliers can help you remove hooks from fish, lines and lures.

Cutting line: You can use fishing pliers to cut fishing line, and also braided line and leader material.

Crimping: You can use fishing pliers also to crimp leaders and swivels.

Opening/closing split rings: You can use fishing pliers even to open and close split rings that are often used to attach lures to fishing lines.

Grasping and removing hooks from the fish’s mouth is one of the major uses of fishing pliers. The larger the fish, the longer should be the nose of the pliers. The additional distance is also a comfort when it comes to working with northerns or another toothy quarry. Also, they are a big help when the hook is deep, irrespective of species.

Now let’s take a look at different types of fishing pliers.

1. Cutting Pliers

When it comes to cutting monofilament line, braid or leaders, a timesaving choice is a quality pair of cutters. Many needle-nose designs have an integral cutter, but they aren’t always helpful in saltwater, where line and leader get industrial tough. They also don’t work for cutting deeply seated hooks.

Cutting pliers are great for these tasks. Look for corrosion-resistant finish and carbon steel material to maintain their edge.

2. Needle Nose Pliers

Also known as “long nose pliers”, needle nose pliers are perhaps the most useful hook removal tool ever used. These fishing pliers are really great while unhooking fish that have small mouths, are hooked deep, or are delicate and need a more gentle handling. Although these pliers are excellent for removing hooks, their extra length reduces clamping strength and makes them less useful in preparing lines. Long pliers are a go-to tool for any angler when finesse is needed and are an essential in any tackle box.

3. Crimping Pliers

Going for big fish usually means you have a heavy line to crimp and it’s not a task that lends itself to unpredictable outcomes. Any inadvertent damage to the setup carries a risk of loss of a once-in-a-lifetime lunker.

Tremendous pressure is needed to crimp; so, make sure anything you choose is comfortable and rightly built. Crimpling pliers provides all the leverage required to make the chore effortless and deliver definite results.

4. Short Pliers

These fishing pliers are robust and provide substantial leverage which is excellent for heavy tackle. If you are working with a large, toothy fish or fish with a strong jaw, short pliers are your most helpful tool. While using heavier gear, the clamping strength of these short pliers can free up a stubborn hook and can even help crimp rigging. But avoid working short pliers on delicate fish as they can seriously damage their mouth. This tool is also essential for any tackle box since it enables anglers to better manipulated tackle and free heavier hooks.

5. Utilitarian Combos

In spite of their utility, pliers don’t weigh a lot or take an undue amount of space. For this reason, versions are available as a set – effectively doubling or tripling the uses they offer.

Utilitarian combos consist of a cutter and long-nose pliers in a handy sheath to keep both of them at hand. They’re often made of carbon steel and have a corrosion-resistant finish.

6. Curved Pliers

Curved pliers are a variant of long pliers but have a bend or curve for accurate positioning. The curve makes the job easy for grabbing a hook and working it free from just the right angle. This bend also enables anglers to bend or wrap wire while preparing leaders. These pliers also have a wire cutter at the base which is helpful for toothy fish. While these pliers are not essential in the tackle box, they seem like a godsend when you need them.

7. Small Pliers

When you need to be gentle and are working in tight spaces, small pliers come handy and offer most of the advantages of long pliers. They are easy to keep on hand and work for most fish. Having pliers is anytime better than not having pliers and several models of small pliers can easily fit in your pocket. A drawback of small pliers is that they lack strength which is needed while attaching weights or swapping hooks. Although all other pliers are perfect for most scenarios, you’ll find these pliers not essential, but still, they are useful.

8. Rigging Pliers

Rigging pliers have the highest clamping force among all the above pliers and the force is used for setting up lines and other rigging. Rigging pliers are ideal for making leaders with line crimps or cutting and twisting wire. While some rigging pliers have jaws capable of removing hooks this isn’t its strong suit. These pliers are not essential for most freshwater anglers but while heading offshore or targeting large fish, these pliers work like a boon.

We hope that, with this information, you can make an informed decision when you come across different types of fishing pliers in a store. Happy fishing!