Every angler needs a good pair of pliers, but there are about a million different varieties out there. How are you supposed to pick the best one? Consider the following factors:
Pliers are critical gear, for an angler.
Nose Length – Long-nose pliers will help you get out hooks, and generally speaking, the longer the better. But they can also feel clumsy in-hand if you use side-cutters a lot of the time, and they don’t offer as solid a grip as pliers with a shorter, thicker nose. Some anglers favor one style or the other, but in truth, the best move is to keep a pair of hemostats or pliers with a very long, thin nose close at hand for dealing with fish and hooks. But also have a shorter, thicker pair onboard your boat, for when you need to apply some serious leverage.
Construction Material – Get a high-end pair of Titanium pliers, and they will likely last for years. However, most also have other materials incorporated in them such as Tungsten cutters. This is just fine, but make sure the cutters are replaceable because they won’t last as long as the body of the pliers. Aluminum can be good too, and many anglers favor this material because it usually lasts for a season or two but costs a lot less than Titanium. However, aluminum is softer so the jaws will usually be made of steel. And if it’s not high-quality stainless (which it often isn’t on low-cost models) you can bet rust and corrosion will appear in short order. All stainless-steel pliers made of high-end 316L-grade provide better longevity and usually fall between Titanium and Aluminum in cost range. However, they’re noticeably heavier than either of the other options.
Sheaths and Tethers – These come in all sorts of quality levels, but the important thing to ask yourself is just how important they are to you and the way you fish. Boat anglers may prefer to leave their pliers in a knife/pliers holder located in a tackle station or next to the cutting board. In this case, the sheath and tether are irrelevant. However, at the other end of the spectrum kayak anglers will find these components to be critical. One item to look out for: be sure the hardware on a sheath (like belt clips) and the wire in tethers is made of high grade material if you plan to fish in the salt.
Cutters – Many pliers advertise that they have braid cutters, but in truth, few are up to par with a good sharp pair of braid scissors or snippers. Even on very high-end pliers you’re better off using the right tool for the job and reserving pliers cutters for monofilament and/or light wire in some cases. That said, Tungston does tend to hold up better than most materials.
As you choose your pliers, remember that any pair costing less than $100 is unlikely to last more than a season or two. And that $20 version will likely be a hunk of corrosion after a few trips in the saltwater environment. If you want a pair that will last for years on end you’ll have to invest several hundred dollars – and then make sure you don’t drop them overboard!