Knives and tools 2025

Mobasser reply :

Most outdoorsman appreciate a good knife. For fishing, I've never seen the need to carry a large one. I received a leatherman multi tool for Christmas years ago, and I've used it for several years. The only thing I don't like about the leatherman is that when you want to use the knife blade, you have to unfold the tool, open the knife blade, then fold back the handles. Then, repeat this process to close the tool. Otherwise,the Leatherman is good. I mainly use it for the needle nose pliers, which work well. So I carry a pocket knife. Mine is an old yellow handle knife made by Case. It measures 3" when closed, and has 2 blades. I love the older U.S. made knives by Case, Shrade, Buck, and other similar knives. The medium stockman pattern, with 3 blades is another favorite, especially with bone or stag handles. These tools, along with a small v- groove stone to sharpen hooks, is what I've carried for many years. What knife and tools do you take on fishing trips?

lo n slo reply :

i use nail clippers and a bass pro hook remover 95% of the time. i do carry needle nose pliers and have pocket knives.

Mobasser reply :

On 2/19/2019 at 7:59 PM, lo n slo said:

i use nail clippers and a bass pro hook remover 95% of the time. i do carry needle nose pliers and have pocket knives.

Yes, I forgot to mention my nail Clippers. I fish with mono lines, so nail Clippers handle line cutting jobs

scaleface reply :

You have an old Leatherman , the new ones you dont have to open to get the blade out and they are one hand opening . I always take mine and it has a diamond file that is an excellent hook sharpener . I have even skinned catfish with it . I'm a knife junky and always carry a Swiss Army Knife and a cheap Chinese Sanrenmu 710 too. That Sanrenmu is a decent knife for the money spent .

Mobasser reply :

On 2/19/2019 at 8:02 PM, scaleface said:

You have an old Leatherman , the new ones you dont have to open to get the blade out and they are one hand opening . I always take mine and it has a diamond file that is an excellent hook sharpener . I have even skinned catfish with it . I'm a knife junky and always carry a Swiss Army Knife and a cheap Chinese Sanrenmu 710 too. That Sanrenmu is a decent knife for the money spent .

I like Swiss Army knives too. The older knives that I like most are getting harder to find, and pricey too. I pick them up when I can

Choporoz reply :

Always with me on my kayak:

Boomerang snips

Hook file

Forceps

Fish Grips

Jaw Spreader

Folding knife

Lighter

Cigar cutter

Reading glasses

Plug knocker

Catt reply :

Had nail clippers around our neck since the 70s

I carry a Old Timer Model 1520T Sharpfinger that was my Dad's.

I fish marshes & swamps the maybe 30-50 miles from civilization!

A Leatherman is a neat little tool to have but where I'm at ya gonna need "tools"!

I carry a small toolbox with screws drivers, Crescent Wrench, Channellock®, a pair of #9 Klien's, duct tape, various size Zip ties, Zip Tie Gun, roll of stainless steel wire, fuses, trolling motor shear pin, & probably some I'm forgetting.

fin reply :

I fish from the banks, so I keep it light, small and to a minimum. In my pocket are nail clippers and tiny 3" needlenose I found at a craft store, I think. In the backpack are hemostats, folding knife, scissors and lighter.

I hardly ever use the knife, it's there for emergencies really. Guthooks are extremely rare too, thankfully, so I don't use the hemostats much either. Those tiny needlenose were a great find, I wish I could remember where I got them now.

Mobasser reply :

On 2/19/2019 at 8:40 PM, Catt said:

Had nail clippers around our neck since the 70s

I carry a Old Timer Model 1520T Sharpfinger that was my Dad's.

I fish marshes & swamps the maybe 30-50 miles from civilization!

A Leatherman is a neat little tool to have but where I'm at ya gonna need "tools"!

I carry a small toolbox with screws drivers, Crescent Wrench, Channellock®, a pair of #9 Klien's, duct tape, various size Zip ties, Zip Tie Gun, roll of stainless steel wire, fuses, trolling motor shear pin, & probably some I'm forgetting.

Catt, I have an old Sharpfinger too. Mine has a gut hook on the blade. Great old knife

TBAG reply :

I always have a Spyderco Salt clipped to my pocket and one clipped to my PFD if kayak fishing. Other than that I have one of those zing cutters clipped to my PVD and some Rapala pliers.

Mobasser reply :

On 2/19/2019 at 8:40 PM, Catt said:

Had nail clippers around our neck since the 70s

I carry a Old Timer Model 1520T Sharpfinger that was my Dad's.

I fish marshes & swamps the maybe 30-50 miles from civilization!

A Leatherman is a neat little tool to have but where I'm at ya gonna need "tools"!

I carry a small toolbox with screws drivers, Crescent Wrench, Channellock®, a pair of #9 Klien's, duct tape, various size Zip ties, Zip Tie Gun, roll of stainless steel wire, fuses, trolling motor shear pin, & probably some I'm forgetting.

Catt, us Missouri boys like your knife!????

jimmyjoe reply :

Gerber's version of the Leatherman, a nail clippers ..... and a side cutter for use as a hook cutter, just in case jj

EGbassing reply :

All I carry is a pair of pliers that double as line cutters.

GReb reply :

I keep several tools in my tackle box including a small multi tool, pocket knife, small scissors, wire cutters, needle nose pliers, and split ring pliers. There’s also a cheep fixed blade knife in the boat glove box just in case I need something to cut rope or anything nasty.

matbellon3 reply :

I fish from the bank and in a kayak so I don't carry much.

1. Rapala pliers

2. Kershaw Pico(decent knife, also cheap if I lose it)

3. Boomerang line snips

fishballer06 reply :

Buck Splizzors are the single greatest tool I have ever came across in fishing. I highly recommend them and they are well worth the money.

WRB reply :

Carry a small tool box in the boat with everything needed to work on batteries, spark plugs, fuses, a few knives, Crescent wrenches, channel lock pliers, multi screw drives set, duct tape , WD-40, BreakFree, compound side cutters, etc, etc. 3 clippers for line, 1 for the passenger, driver and front pedestal plus needle nose pliers for removing hooks and hook hones.

I use a fillet knife to split worm trials and trim pork rind with a small cutting board.

I like Boomerang clippers with the retractable cord.

Tom

Bankbeater reply :

I carry pliers, line cutters, wire cutters for hooks, folding Buck knife, set of screwdrivers, set of wrenches, and some forceps. I used everything listed at least one time last year.

thinkingredneck reply :

When fly fishing, I wear a Olsen Hagar needle driver (hemostats with cutting blades) on a lanyard and pocket knife.

When conventional fishing I carry a Boomerang tool, aluminum pliers with cutter, pocket knife.

I keep a rope cutting tool on my life jacket, a compass and a light.

Allen Der reply :

boomerang snips are awesome

knipex cutter is a must for anyone that also fishes musky and pike with thick treble hooks

extra long nose pliers and forceps

A-Jay reply :

Hook cutters you can operate easily with your weak hand.

These 8 inch mini-bolt cutters are very good, won't break the bank and could save the day.

A-Jay

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01018D2CS/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Log Catcher reply :

I have a Case medium stockman pocket knife. Also keep a small multi tool, needle nose pliers, nail clippers, small pair of scissors, and a pair of Klein dikes for cutting hooks in the tackle box.

DogBone_384 reply :

I use a Gerber Centerdrive multi-tool. Its knife blade is on the outside of the tool and the pliers open one handed. It's made here in the states like many of Gerber's more expensive multi-tools.

I also keep a pair of Manley pliers and stainless forceps on retractable keepers on my kayak.

Revival reply :

I carry:

- Boomerang tool

- nailcutters

- pliers

- Spyderco Delica

- Spyderco Salt (serrated edge)

- headlamp

- flashlight

Mobasser reply :

On 2/20/2019 at 8:53 AM, Revival said:

I carry:

- Boomerang tool

- nailcutters

- pliers

- Spyderco Delica

- Spyderco Salt (serrated edge)

- headlamp

- flashlight

One of the carpenters on our crew loves the Spyderco knives. I've never had one, but they seem really nice. One hand opening too.

Revival reply :

On 2/20/2019 at 9:09 AM, Mobasser said:

One of the carpenters on our crew loves the Spyderco knives. I've never had one, but they seem really nice. One hand opening too.

I have quite a few Spydercos. I love each and every one.

blckshirt98 reply :

I'm a shore guy and carry a Boomerang snip attached to a belt loop via keychain carabiner, an assist-release Kershaw knife that I clip onto my backpack, surgical type pliers in the backpack in case a fish swallows a hook, and a Bogagrip in the backpack to hold/weigh any big fish.

scaleface reply :

Besides the three knives I carry on me ,on my box satchel I keep a set of hemostats ,needled nose pliers , side snips and split ring pliers . There are holders built-in to accommodate some tools . For the last two years I have carried a Fish-Grip . I use that plastic fish grip a lot .

junyer357 reply :

I carry one of these and a small swiss army knife all the time. When im fiahing i always throw a pair of needle nose in my back pocket too.

I have a large fixed blade knife in a sheath strapped to the rear seat pedastal in the boat. I often carry my hunting knife bank fishing. I also keep a pistol on me when bank fishing. Had a run in with a cottonmouth a few years back and carried since.

If you want a multi-tool you can open knife on without unfolding tool, check out the bear and son bear jaws. It has the tools on the outside.

CrankFate reply :

Smith and Wesson makes great pocket knives in the $20-30 range.

I’m currently using one of these, after breaking the blade of the fishing knife I bought 27 years earlier trying to remove a kitchen backsplash.

fin reply :

Nobody uses a switchblade? I thought they were illegal, I just learned they're legal in a lot of places.

MN Fisher reply :

On 2/21/2019 at 8:36 AM, Hank. said:

Nobody uses a switchblade? I thought they were illegal, I just learned they're legal in a lot of places.

Only 12 states ban switchblades...Minnesota is one of those.

blckshirt98 reply :

On 2/21/2019 at 8:36 AM, Hank. said:

Nobody uses a switchblade? I thought they were illegal, I just learned they're legal in a lot of places.

"open-assist" is what I prefer and have on my knives, though I don't get the high end stuff. Just a collection of sub-$50 knives I found on woot.com (SOGs and Kershaws) that I don't mind getting grimy and dirty.

Crow Horse reply :

Blunt tip knife

flashlight & strobe

2way radio

hook file

surgical needle holders - 8" & 10"

ceramic scissors

not picture - fish gripper, whistle (in pocket)

WI_Angler1989 reply :

I always take my Esee Izula 2, Rapala Fisherman's split ring pliers, and Berkley Forceps.

I didn't get the blade for fishing specifically, but it's perfect for the application: small, razor sharp, cuts braid easily.

Crankin4Bass reply :

Spyderco Delica 4 (love this knife)

NRS Co-Pilot blunt tipped knife clipped to my PFD

Rapala pliers

Texas Tackle split ring pliers

side cutter for hooks

Dr. Slicks Scissor Clamp

Fish Grip

Headlamp

Spankey reply :

I’m pretty tooled up when I’m out. I have everything in this small tool type caddy. Everything is in one place and not all over hunting for stuff. Spray scent, bug spray, line conditioner all in this.

Long needle nose

short nose pliers

split ring plier

braid scissors

hook file

lip gripper

fish gripper

jig eye buster

cap light

nail nipper

small filett type knife

DaveT63 reply :

I always have either a Schrade or Buck pocket knife, needle nose pliers, hemostats, and a small pair of scissors handy while fishing. I also keep a tool box with pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, duct tape, electrical tape, and other stuff in a plastic bin in one of the storage compartments on my boat.

NYWayfarer reply :

I take the following with me on my kayak and when I bank fish:

Scissors

Pliers

Fish Grips

Scale

Tape measure

Folding knife (Ozark Trail 6.5 inch 1 handed opening knife, titanium coated blade and glass,nylon orange handle)

Spankey reply :

Just throwing this out there but Rapala has a nice selection of fishing tools. To each his own, their stuff has always worked out good for me. I’m a Rapala junkie.

I may not always or hardly ever been able to find rods, reel, and lures I want but tools have always been on the shelf locally.

KayakFish107 reply :

On 2/25/2019 at 1:55 AM, Crow Horse said:

Blunt tip knife

flashlight & strobe

2way radio

hook file

surgical needle holders - 8" & 10"

ceramic scissors

not picture - fish gripper, whistle (in pocket)

I’ve got the same exact pfd in orange for my kayak so I’m visible for a song at academy last year ($54), love it! Anyway, I’ve been looking for a good blunt tip dive knife for it to fit the attachment point where you have your hemostats. Do you know if that gerber one you have would fit? Also, I like the pouch idea on there, does that attach right to that spot, or did you have to rig something up?

Crow Horse reply :

I used the "rod" holder strap on it to secure the needle holders. You could do the same with the Gerber. I did sew a loop of webbing so the Gerber would secure on the shoulder strap. Did that answer your question?

NYWayfarer reply :

On 2/20/2019 at 9:17 AM, Revival said:

I have quite a few Spydercos. I love each and every one.

Great knives. I have a Spyderco Co-pilot for years. Can't stand the thought of cutting bait with it so I bought a $5 Ozark Trail knife from Walmart for that duty. It has an orange handle, easy to find in the tackle bag and when I leave it on the ground.

6841

Knives and tools 2025

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