Quick answer: Carry a pair of locking forceps for small and light hook-holds, 14 cm fishing pliers for firmer holds, split rings and tackle work, and a small side cutter to cut line, leader or a hook that will not come out cleanly. Add longer tools if you fish for predators. Rinse everything in fresh water after a session.
Every angler needs to get a hook out quickly and cleanly, and the right tool makes all the difference. Fingers cannot grip a small hook well. A disgorger is fine for tiny fish but not for a firm hold. And a hook that will not come out needs cutting, not wrestling. A compact unhooking kit of three or four tools covers most situations, whether you fish coarse, game or sea. Here is what each tool does and how to choose.
Locking forceps: the first tool to reach for
Locking forceps (also called haemostats, or "hemostats" in the US) are the classic angler's unhooking tool. Long, slim, serrated jaws reach into a mouth, and a ratchet lock on the handles holds the jaws closed on the hook without you having to keep squeezing. That lets you concentrate on a gentle backing-out movement rather than on grip.
Our 12.5 cm straight mosquito forceps are fine-jawed, with a multi-position ratchet, and suit small hooks and fly fishing. The 5.5-inch straight locking forceps add a little length and have coated finger loops that are easier to manage with cold or wet hands. Both are stainless steel.
Use them for: light, lip-hooked fish and small hooks; holding a fly or small hook while you tie on; pinching down a barb.
Fishing pliers: firmer holds and tackle work
When a hook is set firmly, or is too big for forceps, pliers give more grip and leverage. Long-nose fishing pliers also double as a tackle tool. The 14 cm straight-nose fishing pliers and 14 cm curved fishing pliers both have long stainless jaws and a split-ring tooth at the tip for opening split rings when you change hooks on a lure. The straight pair has a lanyard ring, so it can be clipped to a vest or bag. The curved pair is spring-loaded and gives a clearer view round the side of a hook.
Straight or curved? Straight jaws reach furthest in a straight line. Curved jaws let you see what you are doing when the hook is round a corner. Many anglers carry one of each.
Bent-nose pliers: small and handy
A pair of 5-inch bent-nose pliers with smooth jaws is a useful extra in a tackle box for crimping, bending wire, tidying rigs and fly-tying jobs where straight pliers cannot reach.
Cutters: line, leader and the hook that will not come out
Sometimes the kindest option is to cut. That might mean snipping the line, cutting through a wire trace, or cutting a hook shank so the hook can be backed out in pieces. The 115 mm hook-remover side cutters combine a hook-holding notch in the jaw (grip the shank, twist the hook free) with side-cutting edges rated for line, leader and wire up to 1.5 mm. They are small enough for a vest pocket.
Predator anglers tend to treat cutters as essential. Fish care guides from angling writers often describe long-handled forceps and a set of wire cutters as the basic minimum for unhooking pike, because trebles in a toothy mouth sometimes have to be cut free. Heavy hooks may need larger cutters than a pocket pair.
What to carry, by type of fishing
- Coarse and match fishing: small locking forceps and a disgorger for small fish, plus a small side cutter for line.
- Fly fishing: fine 12.5 cm forceps (also handy for pinching barbs) and a line snip.
- Sea and lure fishing: 14 cm fishing pliers with a split-ring tooth, plus side cutters for wire traces.
- Predator fishing: long forceps, long-nose pliers and wire cutters, kept together so you are not hunting for them with a fish on the mat. Longer tools than the ones above keep hands further from teeth.
Unhooking good practice
- Have the tools out before you land the fish. The fastest unhooking starts with the forceps already in your hand.
- Grip the hook, not the line, and back it out the way it went in.
- Wet your hands before handling fish, and keep the fish low over a mat or the water.
- If it will not come, cut. A cut hook removed quickly is better than a long struggle.
- Follow the venue's rules, since many fisheries set their own requirements for hooks, mats and unhooking tools.
Keeping tools working near water
Stainless steel resists rust well, but salt water, bait and fish slime still get into joints. After every session, especially at sea, rinse the tools in fresh water, dry them and put a drop of light oil on the ratchet and pivots. Check that forceps still lock positively and that cutter edges still meet. Clip tools to a lanyard or retractor so they are not dropped in the margins.
Frequently asked questions
Are forceps or pliers better for unhooking fish?
Use locking forceps for small hooks and light, lip-hooked fish: their slim jaws reach in easily and the ratchet holds the hook while you back it out. Use fishing pliers for firmer holds, bigger hooks and tackle jobs such as opening split rings. Many anglers carry both.
What length of forceps do I need for fishing?
Short 12.5 cm forceps suit small hooks, fly fishing and pinching barbs. A slightly longer 5.5-inch pair is easier to handle with cold or wet hands. Predator anglers usually carry longer forceps and pliers to keep their hands further from teeth.
Do I need wire cutters in my fishing kit?
They are worth carrying. Cutters let you snip line or wire trace and cut a hook that will not come out cleanly, which is often quicker and kinder than a long struggle. Our 115 mm hook-remover side cutters are rated for line, leader and wire up to 1.5 mm. Heavy hooks may need larger cutters.
How do I stop fishing tools from rusting?
Rinse them in fresh water after every session, especially after sea fishing, dry them fully and put a drop of light oil on the ratchet and pivots. Store them dry rather than in a damp bag, and check regularly that forceps still lock and cutter edges still meet.
Everything above ships from the UK with free UK delivery on every order, and we aim to dispatch orders placed before 2pm UK time, Monday to Friday, the same working day. Unused items can be returned within 30 days. Every tool above is listed in our pliers, cutters and forceps ranges.
