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Comment by Tobias Gibson on June 11, 2015 at 20:19

Syd you are correct about the spring loaded flipping open.  I''ve been looking for a locking pair but so far no luck.  I'm thinking I'll just make a small loop that keep the handles together or make a scabbard out of duct tape! .  a couple other companies sell similar pliers with a sheath.

Comment by Syd Carr on June 11, 2015 at 18:47

I agree with your conclusions Tobias, the only thing I would do differently is trade the spring loaded needle nose in for non-spring loaded. I find spring loaded ones to be a little inconvenient from a carrying standpoint, (if you are carrying them on your person that is), as you are essentially carrying them in a open position like shown in your photo. In a pants or vest pocket that can be clumsy. I've poked a few holes in pockets carrying spring loaded too, and/or had them hang up when trying to get them out of the pocket because they were open and snagged against the insides of the pocket. I started using "normal" pliers instead just so I could slip them in & out of my back pocket more easily. Needle nose are my most used fishing tool, so I always want them close at hand, my back pocket is usually that place.

But like most things tool related it's just a matter of taste. I like Berkley tools, I have a various few in various tool boxes, (I have lots & LOTS of hand tools). I especially like their grips, and the jaws always seem to align well.

My fishing knife of choice is my old Buck 313, I've cleaned many a fish with that knife, and it rides along in a belt sheath. Since I don't usually catch fish that need scaling, I don't need a scaler. I do need a new filet knife though, because I filet my own marine fish, (instead of paying a deck hand to do it), and I've been scouring thrift stores for one that I like.

We should start a thread about "Fish Stories". I know I have a few. Not necessarily only about fish that we have caught, but also stories about adventures and misadventures we have had while fishing, (I have more than a few of those too). Unfortunately I've had days fishing that ended up with me at a hospital, but most importantly it was a really great day fishing before that, therein lies a good "fish(ing) story".

Comment by Tobias Gibson on June 11, 2015 at 17:55

About those multi-tools -- I know that when Swiss Army Knife users start voting on the most useless blade on a Swiss Army Knife, the one that usually wins out --  even beating the much maligned cork screw -- is the Fish Scaler.

That said, I also read somewhere on IKC that someone has scaled quite a few fish using the scaling blade  found on many five inch fish-knives!    More than one person has told me the hook remover on the scalers works great if you know what you're doing!

Like most people I do have the actual tools instead of a multi-tool  but as I'm trying to set up a light weight tackle system that will allow me to just grab my pole and walk about a mile to a nearby lake I began thinking multi-tool as a way to cut out some weight.

Yes weight is a key factor in my thoughts. I even opted to go with a 4 1/2 foot ultra-light pole to cut down the weight and make it easier to cut through the woods with its many low hanging branches.  The tackle box itself is just  2X3X7 inches and consist of a few jigs and some small hooks.  Because of this I was  exploring the possibility of a multi-tool as I really want some spring loaded pliers and most multi-tools have spring loaded pliers.

But here's the rub.  In order to get a decent pair of pliers on a multi-tool that will reach deep inside a fish, you need to buy a pretty big and clunky multi-tool!  So more for keeping the weight down!

So after looking into it for a while and thinking hard about all my options,  I'm leaning more towards a pair of spring loaded  needle nose pliers that can perform multi-functions, such as cutting line, crimping weights, removing hooks that were made with the angler in mind!   As of today, the winner is a pair of  Berkley Precision Grip pliers (see image below). 

The bottom line is I already have a Swiss Army Knife, a small fixed blade that I will carry.  There is and pair of nail clippers in the tackle box. . What I really need is the some spring loaded pliers so all the other stuff in the multi-tool is just extra weight, especially if I get a pair big enough to actually remover deep-set hooks. If I wanted to carry more weight through the woods, I'd bring my two piece 7 foot pole!

Comment by John Bamford on June 11, 2015 at 14:40

That sounds great Jan , bears and Indians sound very exotic to me !

Featured Comment by Charles Sample on June 11, 2015 at 14:01

Sounds like a lot of fun Jan!

Comment by Jan Carter on June 11, 2015 at 13:55

Right after the 4th of July we are going to pick up the grandbabies and go on an adventure!!  We will be off to Cherokee to see bears and Indians but the biggest part???  Trout fishing!!

KnifeMaker Comment by Carl Rechsteiner on June 11, 2015 at 6:24

Hey Tobias, I have a box full of runts and chuggars - all wood.

Best setup I have is an all Shakespear rig that was my Dad's favorite.

Shakespear Steel Wonderrod, Shakespear Braided Countdown line (4 color), Shakespear Marchoff Reel, and a Shakespear Slim Jim lure (looks like a Devil Horse, but weighted at the tail so that it sinks real slow heliocoptering the whole way down). I've actually caught a few bass on it.....quite an experience when you're used to newer style baitcaster......direct drive with no anti-reverse can be tough on the knuckles.

Comment by Syd Carr on June 10, 2015 at 23:49

Well Mark, your experience with multitools must be quite different than mine.

I was bitten, then cured of the multitool bug actually. I've had so many useless multitools I lost count, (ended up giving most of them away). After fooling around with them for awhile, and having them fall short of satisfactory on most occasions, I finally decided that I needed REAL tools when fishing. When I go fishing I have a good pair of small needle nose pliers w/ a cutter jaw, a good pair of mini scissors, a good mini multi-bit screwdriver, small forceps, and nail cutter; (as well as fire starter & mini first aid kit), all in my vest. I also will have a full toolbox nearby if possible, if on a boat that goes for sure, especially on  the ocean. If I even have a Leatherman left it's in a junk drawer someplace, not with my fishing gear. Most multitools simply aren't tools that can be relied on IMHO, it's better to have real tool than a wannabe tool that can let you down in a pinch.

I know a lot of folks collect them, and that's cool. I'm not bagging on them as a collectible, I just find them of little use practically.

Comment by mark causey on June 10, 2015 at 22:55

we have all been bitten by the multitool bug. it is a knife, hook straighter , hook sharpener, pliers and scaler .  it may do it all but not as good as a specialist tool. we all have one in our tackle boxes hidden down in the bottom some where

In Memoriam Comment by John McCain on June 10, 2015 at 18:38

Tobias--Back when I first took this photo I had yet to use it- Now since I have retired and this is the view from my front door, the line gets wet a lot more often-LOL

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