Indispensible fishing tool?

What's your favorite tool that you'd go back home to get if you left it? Favorite knife? Leatherman?

Mine is a pair of children's Fiskar scissors tied to a pair of needle nose split ring pliers. That combination has been the most useful for me for a while now (even over the Leatherman).

The scissors cut braid like butter (I got that tip from a power pro rep at a show). They also make fairly short work of most mono and trim a knot almost as good as a pair of nail clippers. In a pinch they'll even cut a pretty good bevel on a herring.

I like split rings for connecting things, therefore split ring pliers are indespensible. The necessity of a pair needle nose pliers on the boat, goes without saying. Among everything else they're good for, I use the cutter to hold the tag end of braid, then take a few wraps and use it to snug knots.

The foot and a half lanyard keeps them easily at hand, and insures that they don't go overboard (either that, or they both go over ) It also makes a great visual cue to find the tools.

So whats yours?

Fishing tool?   

My fishing pole is a tool, and would be pretty high on my list.  Without it, I'm not going to get far. 

Hi Wali,
I looked up split ring needle nose pliers and I was wondering if yours are like a standard needle nose plier with the little tooth that splits the split ring along with a wire cutter near the hinge?

If yes, I presume you can use them as a standard needle nose and also to split the rings.
Thanks,
David

I would say my Leatherman, old school.  Just the old basic one for fishing- but I do own a wave model and the vise grip model too.  I use it everyday and I would feel totally naked if I left it when going fishing.  Now if I left my fishing pole at home when going fishing, I would feel like a tool.

Ok, so I have left my flyrod at home one time.  Another time, I left the flyreel.  But hey, when you live that close to the river, stuff happens!  

I have the same set of children's Fiskar scissors too.  I felt kinda bad for "borrowing" them from the kids...at first.  But then they are very sharp...ha ha.
-Scott  

Fishing tool?   

My fishing pole is a tool, and would be pretty high on my list.  Without it, I'm not going to get far. 

Oh I don't know about that.  Some folks do just fine without the pole..
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,3649

Hi Wali,
 I was wondering if yours are like a standard needle nose plier with the little tooth that splits the split ring along with a wire cutter near the hinge?
Thanks,
David

Yep!
The pliers are adequate and function fairly well as needlenose, but the tip is different. They still work great for reaching down a fishes throat to get a hook out.
 Fisherman's Marine has my favorite pair of Chinese pliers with a sheath (that I don't use) for $5.

The only thing that has stopped me and made me turn the car around was forgetting my fishing rod.  Honestly, I am still so new to the game that I haven't had a chance to forget much.

Of course, landing my coho has taught me that I need to find a good set of pliers or a small leatherman that I can stow on the boat - like in the pocket on the back of the seat, and just leave there, so I always have a set on the boat.

Hi Wali,
 I was wondering if yours are like a standard needle nose plier with the little tooth that splits the split ring along with a wire cutter near the hinge?
Thanks,
David

Yep!
The pliers are adequate and function fairly well as needlenose, but the tip is different. They still work great for reaching down a fishes throat to get a hook out.
 Fisherman's Marine has my favorite pair of Chinese pliers with a sheath (that I don't use) for $5.

I actually prefer the tip of a the split ring pliers.  Like Wali says, it helps you "hook" the hook.

-Allen

Fishing tool?   

My fishing pole is a tool, and would be pretty high on my list.  Without it, I'm not going to get far. 

Oh I don't know about that.  Some folks do just fine without the pole..
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,3649

I have a hard enough time catching fish "with" my pole.   

I've caught lots of perch off a dock in the Puget Sound using hand line, split shot, a hook, and small shore crab.  But I don't fish there as often as I do on the local lakes, rivers and ocean.

I can stow on the boat - like in the pocket on the back of the seat, and just leave there, so I always have a set on the boat.

They will turn to red dust in short order.
Do I really need to tell you not to ask?

It kind of depends on what kind of fishing I'm doing. I mostly fish for salmon so I'd have to say my salmon net "old gold". In PS, if you don't have a net to scoop it up with you'll just watch those barbless hooks fly and that fish swim away. The only other thing I can think of is my downrigger and release clip. Without those I can never get down to the dark depths where they hang out.

Z

It kind of depends on what kind of fishing I'm doing. I mostly fish for salmon so I'd have to say my salmon net "old gold". In PS, if you don't have a net to scoop it up with you'll just watch those barbless hooks fly and that fish swim away.

I would have said net also but since mine "old F'er" let me down twice last year, I've managed to land a couple of big fish without it.  I've even managed a big Coho on barbless in the ocean hand-lining the last couple of feet.  So, I'd have to say the only thing that would keep me from fishing would be line and a lure.

-Spot-

Six pack of piss beer, such as Hamm's, Oly, or MGD.

Also partial to Grandpa's antique fly reel.  Beautiful in its simplicity.

I would have said net also but since mine "old F'er" let me down twice last year, I've managed to land a couple of big fish without it.  I've even managed a big Coho on barbless in the ocean hand-lining the last couple of feet.  So, I'd have to say the only thing that would keep me from fishing would be line and a lure.

-Spot-

How did  you handle the fish without fingers getting ripped up?


My indispensible tool would be the information I've garnered from everyone that's been so helpful with all my questions    Seriously, thanks you guys.

"old F'er"

I've managed to land a couple of big fish without it.  I've even managed a big Coho on barbless in the ocean hand-lining the last couple of feet.

Dude, that's why you're an OG.

Z