Forceps or Pliers?

[Bugner]

Some advice please. Have purchased some long forceps for unhooking (hopefully to be caught soon Pike) yet a lot of video's I have watched it seems Pliers are used?
I presume pliers provide a better grip? so should I be investing in a pair of long nosed pliers as well? I have also seen the pistol grip pliers. What in your expereince is the best tool for the job and also what will be the easiest for a junior to use (under supervision of course) TIA

[Andrew]

Forceps are a little flimsy trying to get a solid hold on a difficult hook. They have their use but not the pair I'd grab first. Solid long nose pliers should be the first tool of choice.

Those trigger type pliers are also good but give seen cheapo ones slightly warp/twist when trying to get a difficult hook, probably a cheap soft sheet metal used.

[Bob Watson]

I grind the ends off my forceps so the jaws are only about an inch long, plenty of grip.

[Andrew]

I grind the ends off my forceps so the jaws are only about an inch long, plenty of grip.

Man its so obvious now 😳 will be trying that

[Fish on....]

I personally don’t like pliers, though can see their advantage for big hooks on lures. I use this style of forceps, but longer, that have a short pair of jaws like Bob up there said

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Surgical-Nee ... 635-2958-0

[Bob Watson]

I grind the ends off my forceps so the jaws are only about an inch long, plenty of grip.

Man its so obvious now will be trying that

Reduce the profile while your at it too Croftus, when you grind them back the jaws get fatter!

[dolph]

I personally don’t like pliers, though can see their advantage for big hooks on lures. I use this style of forceps, but longer, that have a short pair of jaws like Bob up there said

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Surgical-Nee ... 635-2958-0

I think needle holder forceps have a shorter nose than normal artery forceps. I bought some of these after a recommendation from someone on this forum, haven`t used them yet but they look the part
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231658793490 ... 0885200301

[Slug]

I personally don’t like pliers, though can see their advantage for big hooks on lures. I use this style of forceps, but longer, that have a short pair of jaws like Bob up there said

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Surgical-Nee ... 635-2958-0

I think needle holder forceps have a shorter nose than normal artery forceps. I bought some of these after a recommendation from someone on this forum, haven`t used them yet but they look the part
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231658793490 ... 0885200301

I put this post on the good reviews section because I could never remember the name of them!

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=37050&p=556251&hil ... ar#p556251

[Flipflopjoe]

I’ve got both, 12” bent nose forceps and long reach needle nose pliers, they’ve both come in handy on different occasions !

[Pinkie]

I use both, depending on where the hook is. The deeper the hook the longer the forceps, but the longer ones are more flimsy so I now use pistol grip ones. Pliers for hook holds that are much firmer than normal!

Best always to carry more than one pair of whatever you use, especially on a boat, as its a real bummer when they fall overboard or are lost!

[Kevin O'Keeffe]

Going in through the gills... forceps are nicer.
I carry both.

[Paddy_R]

Usually a pliers but I used to have a short 6inch forceps on my jacket on a retractable cord too. Was very handy and despite it's small size was enough for most fish. Not sure where it's gone, I must invest in a new one.

[Chico 48 PAC]

Take every kind you can, some work better in certain situations, some will only be called upon once in a while but better to have them at hand when you need them.

[Andrew]

Usually a pliers but I used to have a short 6inch forceps on my jacket on a retractable cord too. Was very handy and despite it's small size was enough for most fish. Not sure where it's gone, I must invest in a new one.

I think there was a cautionary tale of punctured lung with those chords on here

[MarkBerrisford]

Pliers for lures, short nose needle holders for bait fishing

[Bugner]

Thanks for all the responses. I will get some Pliers and then will have both.

[JoeNickel]

You also want some side cutters, so you can cut a hook in an emergency (eg. I cut off the end of a big lure hook from a tiny jack today - there wasn't room to manoeuvre it back out). Or if you get a hook in you, with a pike still attached - snip the hook and you have two small problems, not one awful thrashing problem.

Something like this: https://sp8tium.co.uk/products/knipex-7 ... ters-160mm

[Nige Johns]

I personally don’t like pliers, though can see their advantage for big hooks on lures. I use this style of forceps, but longer, that have a short pair of jaws like Bob up there said

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Surgical-Nee ... 635-2958-0

I think needle holder forceps have a shorter nose than normal artery forceps. I bought some of these after a recommendation from someone on this forum, haven`t used them yet but they look the part
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231658793490 ... 0885200301

I found them too bendy Dolph.have a look for the Caimore ones.so good I bought 3 pairs

[Mike F]

The easy answer is take both and your covered. The front compartment of my rucksack may look like a surgeons tool kit but i can deal with any situation.

[Mattjb]

You also want some side cutters, so you can cut a hook in an emergency (eg. I cut off the end of a big lure hook from a tiny jack today - there wasn't room to manoeuvre it back out). Or if you get a hook in you, with a pike still attached - snip the hook and you have two small problems, not one awful thrashing problem.

Something like this: https://sp8tium.co.uk/products/knipex-7 ... ters-160mm

Word of warning when snipping hooks, close your eyes at the moment you snip.Had a hook point hit me in the face drawing blood before,would have been nasty in the eye.

[Ratty46]

You also want some side cutters, so you can cut a hook in an emergency (eg. I cut off the end of a big lure hook from a tiny jack today - there wasn't room to manoeuvre it back out). Or if you get a hook in you, with a pike still attached - snip the hook and you have two small problems, not one awful thrashing problem.

Something like this: https://sp8tium.co.uk/products/knipex-7 ... ters-160mm

Word of warning when snipping hooks, close your eyes at the moment you snip.Had a hook point hit me in the face drawing blood before,would have been nasty in the eye.

yup, when ever i snip a hook before the cut, i always say "look away", me and my piking PIC know what it means and what either of us is doing- tho i do most of the unhooking as im quick

pliers 99% of the time, and always with lures ( tho i do carry forceps just in case i lose either )

[old_school]

My tool kit comprises of cutters, long nose pliers and pistol grip pliers (all 3 Fox brand) and a pair of forceps. All tools get used at some point over a season and I wouldn’t even start fishing without all 4 in the bag.
Pistol grips are used mainly, they keep your operating hand offset so you can see what you are doing in the pikes mouth better. Long nosed for deeper hooks where pistol grips can’t reach. The cutters (long nosed) are used for difficult hookups and I won’t think twice about sacrificing a hook. The forceps are used to clamp on the hook point when using the cutters, the cut off portion of the hook being retained by the forceps where possible, this avoids a hook point pinging off and sticking in your face or left in the pikes mouth. They are also much narrower for going in through the gills (as already said by another poster)
These 4 tools have been settled on over years and at the point where I don’t need or want anything else or anything less

[Sebas]

I always have 3 or 4 sets of forceps with me, a good pair of cutters and some long nosed pliers which don't get used too often.

Don't know if its because I've got huge hands but I find the slimmer design of forceps a bit easier to maneuver than the thicker, heavier pliers especially when working around the gills, and they're much better for awkwardly hooked jacks IMO. Both tools have their uses though.

[m00minpapa]

I try to be prepared for every eventuality, so my toolkit looks like this:

4BDC8589-6A2D-4D34-BC58-1CA1F84DFBE2.jpeg

[Steve Le maitre]

I try to be prepared for every eventuality, so my toolkit looks like this:4BDC8589-6A2D-4D34-BC58-1CA1F84DFBE2.jpeg

Knipex the best a man can get !!

[m00minpapa]

I try to be prepared for every eventuality, so my toolkit looks like this:4BDC8589-6A2D-4D34-BC58-1CA1F84DFBE2.jpeg

Knipex the best a man can get !!

They’re really well built! I can see them outlasting me

[wilkie]

Be careful when using forceps, a mate of mine had his thumb and forefinger through the handle rings ready to unhook a pike, as soon as he clipped the forceps onto the hook the pike managed to roll and twisted the forceps around his fingers. He ended up in A&E but was lucky he didn't break his finger. He still uses forceps but has cut the ring and streatened the handles out. Still easy to clip onto a hook but a bugger to release.

[stubbojo]

Be careful when using forceps, a mate of mine had his thumb and forefinger through the handle rings ready to unhook a pike, as soon as he clipped the forceps onto the hook the pike managed to roll and twisted the forceps around his fingers. He ended up in A&E but was lucky he didn't break his finger. He still uses forceps but has cut the ring and streatened the handles out. Still easy to clip onto a hook but a bugger to release.

nasty that ....

[Ben]

I try to be prepared for every eventuality, so my toolkit looks like this:4BDC8589-6A2D-4D34-BC58-1CA1F84DFBE2.jpeg

Knipex

I’m a big fan of their bent nose pliers, I like the leverage they provide.

[BillCollins]

I still have a forceps in my gear somewhere (I think), but have'nt used it for years. I have 2 pair of pliers, the Fox long ones and a shorter pair, they're mostly used to unhook lures. Using single hooks for baits, I can unhook fish by hand 95% of the time.