Forceps

After having a couple of pairs of Mustad fishing forceps break on me, I started using ordinary surgical forceps for removing hooks. These are stainless steel, cheap and haven't broken on me yet.

You can get them in a range of sizes from on-line medical supply outfits. They cost less than 5 euro a pair + P&P. The type to get are "artery forceps" (these have an end like a pair of plyers and a ratchet to lock them shut).

i have them in two sizes and find them great for unhooking spinners or plugs

for bigger treble hook sizes you're better off using long nosed pliers. forceps arent man enough to grip big hooks.

ditto on long nosed pliers. I've heard horror stories about surgical forceps locked on hooks in big strong fish (think pollock, coalies, pike, ferox trout) which bucked, slipped, twisted and broke the fingers of the angler...

May be a modern myth, but I prefer the long noses myself.

cant beat a small home made T-bar 8)

I've heard horror stories about surgical forceps locked on hooks in big strong fish (think pollock, coalies, pike, ferox trout)

Never had that problem but then I've been using them for lure fishing mainly removing treble hooks from bass, which are almost always in the mouth area. Worth bearing in mind though. I find the ratchet lock makes removal quicker and cleaner.

Also, my thumbs don't fit into the holes properly!!

get smaller thumbs!

get smaller thumbs!

Yes, you can buy the equipment for that from the same medical equipment supplier.

well get it then! lols!

ditto on long nosed pliers. I've heard horror stories about surgical forceps locked on hooks in big strong fish (think pollock, coalies, pike, ferox trout) which bucked, slipped, twisted and broke the fingers of the angler...

May be a modern myth, but I prefer the long noses myself.

Speaking of long nosed pliers, can anyone recommend ones that don't rust?

i think most of them do, even the specially made fishing ones from fox. best thing to do is wipe them down with wd40 and keep them dry and clean as much as possible.

Thanks for the reply, but with the best will in the world I'm never in the mind to do this kind of thing when I get in from a session. I seem to recall adverts for rust proof ones in various magazines but can't remember the brand.

i always wind up loosing mine anyway so i just keep buying cheap ones, if you only pay €3 for one you dont care if it rustes.

alternatively buy a leatherman, the genuine ones not the imitation crap, they tend to be pretty resiliant

Got a multi tool set up from Gerber that has taken dogs abuse over the past couple of years without a sign of rust. They arent cheap but well worth the few quid in fairness. These are not to be confused with the ones for a fiver with 20 quid of petrol at your local filling station.... :D

I have a couple of Leatherman tools and i have to admit that i use them daily. I got my first one as a gift and I consider it the best present I have ever got. I got my first one 7 years ago and apart from the odd spray of WD40 its maintenance free. Great tools. I got my second one in America and bought it for less then half the price it was in Ireland.

all leathermans have a life time guarantee as well

they are the dogs bollox. i have been using mine for 10 years now and never had a fault with it.

never brought it on the beach though, but never had a fault

they are the dogs bollox. i have been using mine for 10 years now and never had a fault with it.

never brought it on the beach though, but never had a fault

Leatherman? Nah! What about a pair of these instead? :)

http://www.tackledirect.com/doncp950titi.html

i just buy a few cheap needle nose pliers then if they do go missing or droped its not a 120 euro leatherman.

I got a grauvell stainless steel pliers from veals which is excellect for rust resistence. Handy at times for unhooking but also for any jobs such as bending grip wires. Alot of the mustad tool range is crap and rusts. Only exception is the bait scissors which is excellent. The mustad forceps I bought didn't even lock properly. An ordinary forceps .

I use different tools for different fish heavy T-bar for congers, the gemini disgourger for dogs and deep hooked ray, and a froceps for small hooks and trebles.