Best Fishing Pliers

Every fisherman and angler should carry a knife. It’s arguably the most important tool you’ll need. From cutting line to gutting fish, a good quality knife is a must. Keep your knife sharp and close to hand; you never know when you’ll need it.

But there are some fishing jobs you can’t do with a knife, and that’s where the best fishing pliers come in. Fishing pliers make it easier to grip small, slippery objects and also means you can apply a lot more pressure than with your fingers alone.

Fishing pliers make it easier to remove fishhooks, tie flies, and even repair your rod or trolling motor.

There are lots of different makes and models of fishing pliers to choose from, so which should you buy? After all, the right pliers will be a joy to use, while the wrong choice could end up being nothing but a waste of money.

For this guide, we have tested and reviewed the best fishing pliers so you can buy with confidence. We’ve also provided the vital information you’ll need to make the right choice.

Best Fishing Pliers

1. KastKing 

If you are looking for fishing pliers that are tough enough for even the most challenging cutting job, this model with worthy of your consideration. Multifunctional, corrosion-resistant, and made to last, this could be the only pair of fishing pliers you ever need to buy.

Key Features

• 7” long
• Made from corrosion-resistant 42-grade stainless steel
• Coated in non-stick Teflon
• Tungsten carbide cutting edges
• Non-slip rubber handles
• Multi-function, spring-loaded jaws
• Supplied with a lanyard and nylon belt sheath

Whether you want to pull on a hook to tighten a knot, cut a fishing line, split a shot weight, or even build a steel leader, these pliers are made to help. The high visibility, non-slip handles provide an excellent grip so that, even if your hands are wet, you’ll be able to use these fishing pliers with confidence.

Pros

• Very well made
• Easy to use
• Versatile
• Well-priced
• Stay sharp for a long time
• Won’t bend or break

Cons

• May not be strong enough to cut wire

These pliers can do it all – they’re designed to make almost every fishing job a little bit easier. Leave them in your tackle box or on your belt. You’ll be glad you’ve got them!

2. Piscifun 

Fishing pliers can be expensive. That may be acceptable if you can keep your pliers safe, but a real drawback if you drop them into the water and cannot retrieve them. These pliers are budget-friendly, so it won’t break the bank if you lose them, but they’re still good enough quality for most anglers.

Key Features

• 1” long
• Made from aluminum-grade corrosion-resistant aluminum
• Tungsten carbide cutting edges
• Multi-functional spring-loaded jaws
• Ergonomic machine-cut handles
• Supplied with a coiled lanyard, carabiner, and nylon belt pouch

These fishing pliers are light, strong, and well-priced. Made from aluminum, they are naturally corrosion-resistant but aren’t as strong as those made from stainless steel. But, if looked after, these pliers should provide many years of faithful service.

Pros

• Very lightweight
• Extremely sharp
• Well-priced
• Durable

Cons

• Not as strong as stainless-steel pliers
• Handles are not non-slip

These good looking fishing pliers would really benefit from additional non-slip handles instead of the machine-cut handles they’ve got. But, this small gripe aside, these are very good pliers that are competitively priced and very functional.

3. Booms 

When it comes to fishing pliers, longer is often better. Longer pliers give you more leverage and cutting power, as well as more comfortable to use if you are wearing gloves. At 7.8”, these pliers are a little longer than the average, but this small difference means they are strong enough to cut even braided lines with ease.

Key Features

• 8” long
• Handles made from rust-resistant aluminum
• Jaws made from high-grade stainless steel
• Tungsten carbide cutting surfaces
• Multi-functional spring-loaded jaws
• Supplied with a nylon pouch and extendable steel wire lanyard

These well-priced fishing pliers have removable blades. This means that you can sharpen or even replace them if necessary. Because of this, the handles should last a lifetime, as you can always put in new blades in the unlikely event that the originals need replacing.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Very strong and sharp
• High-quality materials
• Competitively priced
• Nice choice of three different colors

Cons

• Handles are not non-slip

These practical, functional pliers are well-made and built to last. Being a little longer, they feel good in your hands and cut really well. For the price, these fishing pliers are hard to beat.

4. SAN LIKE

Whatever you need your fishing pliers for, this product is up to the job. Made from light but hard-wearing aluminum, they’re sharp, strong, and easy to use. Well-priced and of good quality, these pliers are a great option.

Key Features

• 2” long
• Lightweight aluminum handles
• Spring-loaded jaws
• Multi-functional, including cutting, opening split rings, crimping, and hook removal, as well as cutting lines
• Tungsten carbide cutting blades
• Profiled handles for comfort and non-slip
• Supplied with a lanyard and belt pouch

These super-sharp fishing pliers are strong enough to cut through even braided lines. Yet, they’re precise enough for removing the smallest hooks. Compact and easy to use, these pliers are versatile and functional.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Well-made
• VERY sharp
• Blades can be removed/replaced
• Attractive camo finish

Cons

• Camo finish is prone to chipping and scratches

While these pliers look cool, they probably won’t stay that way indefinitely. The camo paint is prone to chipping and scratches. That small issue aside, these are excellent pliers that will make many angling jobs a lot easier and quicker to perform.

5. BITE 

If you prefer a more compact set of fishing pliers, this could be the product for you. At 6.7” long, these pliers are easy to handle and look good too. They don’t have as many functions as some other pliers, but for cutting and gripping, they are more than up to the job.

Key Features

• 7” long
• Made from corrosion-proof aluminum
• Anti-slip rubberized handles
• Replaceable tungsten carbide blades
• Side-mounted cutting blades
• Supplied with a coiled leash and nylon belt sheath
• Available in five colors

Unlike a lot of models on review, these pliers don’t have a massive number of functions.

The plier’s nose is quite rudimentary. But, for gripping, crimping, and cutting, which are the main jobs you’ll need them for, these pliers are definitely fit for purpose. Fewer functions mean there is less to go wrong, so these pliers should last a long time.

Pros

• Strong and well made
• Good choice of colors
• Very comfortable grip
• Light and strong

Cons

• Not as multi-functional as some other models

If you are looking for a no-frills set of fishing pliers, this could be the product for you. They’re all-but unbeatable for cutting, crimping, and gripping, but if you want more from your pliers than these basic functions, you should probably look elsewhere.

6. Bronze Times

Compact and well-made, these fishing pliers are multi-functional and will make almost any fishing-related chore a little bit easier. They’re light, well-priced, and hardwearing too. All in all, these are great fishing pliers!

Key Features

• 7” long
• Lightweight corrosion-resistant aluminum handles
• Stainless steel jaws
• Contoured grips
• Side cutter for lines
• Multi-functional nose for opening split rings, crimping, removing hooks, and tying knots
• Supplied with a coiled retainer and nylon belt sheath

Light but strong, these pliers won’t rust and are also very sharp. The contoured handles mean you should have no problem keeping a firm grip on them, even when your hands are wet. Use the coiled leash to make sure that, even if you do drop them, you won’t lose your pliers in the water.

Pros

• Multi-functional
• Strong, light construction
• Well-priced
• Rust-resistant

Cons

• Side cutter is not as easy to use as a centrally positioned one

These pliers are very easy to use. The design is nothing new, but why reinvent the wheel when they work so well? Made from high-quality materials and with all the functions you could ever need, these pliers are ideal for freshwater and sea anglers.

7. P-Line Adaro

Fishing pliers are available to suit all budgets. This model is one of the more expensive on review, but they are very high quality and quality costs! If you want a pair of pliers that will provide lifelong reliability, this could be the product for you.

Key Features

• 5” long
• Aluminum, corrosion-resistant handles
• Sprung jaws
• Drilled handles for less weight
• Tungsten carbide cutters and grips
• Contoured, machine-cut non-slip handles
• Available in three colors
• Supplied with a nylon belt pouch and coiled lanyard

For the price, you’d expect a few additional functions beyond gripping, crimping, and cutting, but that’s what you get with these pliers. While they aren’t the most multi-functional pliers on review, they are probably the most hardwearing, so it really depends on what you value more – functionality or longevity.

Pros

• Built to last (and last, and last)
• Very strong
• Nice choice of colors
• Very light
• Easy to use

Cons

• Short on functions

These sturdy pliers are strong enough for most fishing jobs and can even cut heavyweight braided lines. But, if you want something that you can use for opening split rings or even opening a beer, these are probably not the pliers for you. They are, however, of very good quality.

8. Van Staal

If these pliers were a car, they’d be a Rolls Royce! Made from ultra-light and super strong titanium, these are very expensive but really will last a lifetime. They look good and work perfectly. If you want the best pliers that money can buy, this model is for you.

Key Features

• 6” long
• Made from AL-4V titanium
• Ergonomic handles
• Precision brushes in the spring hinge for a smoother action
• Side cutting blades
• Handles drilled for a lanyard
• Supplied with a lanyard and high quality, hand-stitched, leather belt pouch

These fishing pliers look and feel amazing, and they work well too. But, on the downside, they have none of the additional functions that can be found on pliers that cost a tenth of the price. They are, however, arguably the highest quality pliers on review.

Pros

• Beautiful design
• Engineered to perfection
• Ultra-light and super strong
• Very sharp and should remain so for years

Cons

• Very expensive
• Not many functions beyond cutting, crimping, and gripping.

These fishing pliers are a premium product. The materials and engineering are beyond compare. Do they work any better than a regular set of fishing pliers? Probably not! But they look and feel fabulous and should be considered a lifelong investment.

9. Lew’s 

No tackle box is complete without a set of fishing pliers. This model from Lew’s is light, strong, and easy to use. Made to last, this is a well-priced product that every angler will enjoy using.

Key Features

• 5” long
• Handles made from high-grade aluminum
• Stainless steel, tungsten carbide cutting, and gripping surfaces
• Supplied with a nylon belt holster and coiled lanyard
• Grooved handle for non-slip use

These no-frills pliers don’t have a lot of functions. In fact, they’re only really good for gripping, crimping, and cutting. But they do these things really well! Sharp and strong enough to even cut braided lines, these pliers are both strong and light.

Pros

• Well-made
• Compact design
• Easy to use
• Great holster
• Reliable and hardwearing

Cons

• Not the cheapest pliers available

These neat, compact pliers feel good in your hands. They’re not packed with functions, but they do the basics very well. For most anglers, these pliers can do everything that’s needed during a fishing trip on freshwater or the sea.

10. Gerber 

Gerber makes some of the best outdoor equipment available, including knives, axes, saws, and multitools. These fishing pliers are equally high quality, and while they aren’t the cheapest on review, they aren’t the most expensive either. If quality matters to you, these pliers are worthy of your consideration.

Key Features

• 5” long
• Aluminum and stainless steel construction
• Replaceable, reversible carbide cutters
• “Bearhand control” to increase gripping and cutting power
• Off-axis blades for better visibility and more cutting power
• Lock to prevent accidental opening
• Supplied with a lanyard and sheath

Like all Gerber products, these pliers are backed by a 12-month warranty. Precision engineered for optimal performance, this product is perfect for all your gripping and cutting needs.

Pros

• Very well made
• Backed by an excellent warranty
• Built to last
• Very strong grip
• Sharp enough to cut braided line

Cons

• Quite expensive
• Not very multi-functional

These Gerber fishing pliers are quite basic in design and don’t offer a lot of fancy features. This might seem like a disadvantage, but really, it’s not. Instead, these pliers know what they are, and they aren’t pretending to be a multitool.

Instead, these are high-quality pliers for gripping and cutting, and they do those things very well.

What to consider when choosing the best fishing pliers

The best fishing pliers are the ones that match your budget and do what you need them to do. That means you need to consider the construction materials (discussed below) and the functions offered.

Some pliers are only suitable for gripping and cutting lines, while others have additional functions, such as opening split rings and crimping lead weights closed.

If you want a genuinely multi-functional plier, it may be worth considering a multitool. However, these can be expensive and have so many moving parts they’re almost impossible to keep free from rust.

But, sticking with fishing pliers, make sure that your prospective purchase a) matches your budget and b) has all the functions you need. Otherwise, you could find yourself with a set of pliers that don’t do what you need them to and never leave your tackle box.

Sizes

Fishing pliers come in a range of sizes, from 6” up to 8”. The longer the pliers, the more cutting and gripping power they’ll have, and the easier they’ll be to use while wearing gloves. But, obviously, they’ll also weigh more and take up more space on your belt or in your tackle box.

More compact models are often easier to handle, lighter, and take up less space, but can lack grip and cutting strength. Try a few different sizes to determine which fits your hand best. Comfort is as important as performance.

Material

Fishing pliers are typically made from a combination of stainless steel and aluminum, although more expensive models are made from ultra-light titanium too.

Typically, the handles are made from aluminum, while the jaws are made from stainless steel.

Most also have tungsten carbide cutting and gripping surfaces for increased strength.

While aluminum is light and naturally resistant to corrosion, it’s also prone to bending. Stainless steel is much stronger and heavier, but it’s also more expensive, although it should last longer.

Your budget will probably determine which material is best for your needs, but aluminum is more prone to bend or break than stainless steel, and titanium can be prohibitively expensive.

How to avoid corrosion

Fishing pliers are bound to get wet from time to time, which means they may become corroded.

Avoid this problem by drying your pliers thoroughly as soon as you get home from your fishing trip and then lightly oiling them.

Store them in a dry place to protect them from rust when they’re not being used.

Pay extra attention oiling to the hinge as rust here could make your pliers unusable. Rust elsewhere is purely cosmetic.

How to remove a hook

Removing a fishhook with pliers is easier for both you and the fish! Using your pliers, grasp the hook by the stem and twist and gently pull the hook out the way it went in.

If the hook is snagged, twist it a little more and gently try again. Do not rip the hook out, as this will injure the fish and, even if you release it, it could still die. Ideally, you should remove the hook while the fish remains in the water.

Bottom Line

A good set of fishing pliers is a handy addition to your tackle box or belt. Armed with your pliers, you’ll be able to crimp lines, attach lead weights to your line, remove embedded fishhooks, and cut lines too. Fishing pliers are truly multi-functional. Every angler should have a set of fishing pliers.

But, with so many different makes and models to choose from, it can be hard to know which ones to buy. You need to think about the price, the materials they’re made out of, the functions on offer, and the size. The right pliers should be a joy to use. The wrong pliers could end up staying at home!

That’s why it’s always worth trying a few different sets of pliers to see what works best for you. For some, that will mean smaller, lighter pliers. For others, strength will be more important, and some anglers will prefer something that offers a whole lot of extra functions.

Ultimately, there are no one-size-fits-all best fishing pliers, and we can’t tell you what the right choice is. Instead, you’ll need to make that decision for yourself. Decided what you want to use your pliers for, set your budget, and start searching. It’s a safe bet that the right model for you is in our fishing pliers review!

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