6 must-have tools for safely releasing fish

JAW SPREADERS

Don’t fish for toothy critters without a set of spring-loaded jaw spreaders. Northern pike, in particular, have a habit of firmly clamping their jaws shut, and you don’t want your hand in there trying to remove a lure when it happens.

PLIERS

There’s a near-endless variety of hook-removal tools. Simple long-nosed pliers from a hardware store will work. But pliers designed specifically for anglers have better ergonomics, corrosion resistance and extra features such as cutters and lanyard attachments. Pliers are also handy for flattening the barbs on hooks, which makes unhooking fish much easier. And again, match the size of the tool to the fish. You don’t want to bring jewellery pliers to a muskie fight.

HEMOSTATIC FORCEPS

Borrowed from medical circles, these tools are commonly called “hemostats,” or “hemos” for short. They do the same job as pliers, but they’re more delicate, making them well suited for flies and small lures. Hemos are also light enough to slip into a shirt pocket or hang around your neck on a lanyard, making them a favourite of wading anglers.