Welcome to our latest blog post on pike & predator fishing tools. We are going to dive into the essential tools of the trade for pike and predator fishing. From crimpers to forceps, pliers, and scissors. We’ll explore the must-have equipment that can make all the difference in your fishing adventures. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting, knowing your tools is key to a successful day on the water. Join us as we break down the gear that helps you reel in those elusive catches with finesse and precision.
Crimpers
Crimpers are indispensable pike & predator fishing tools, allowing anglers to create, modify, and maintain secure connections between their wire traces. These connections are crucial for preventing bite-offs, ensuring angler safety, and promoting the treatment of the fish.
What crimpers do:
- Wire Trace Construction: Pike are known for their sharp teeth, which can easily cut through standard mono fishing lines. To prevent bite-offs and lost lures, anglers often use wire traces made of steel or other strong materials. Crimpers are used to secure these wire leaders by crimping crimps or connectors onto the trace wire. This creates a robust and reliable connection between the leader and the main fishing line.
- Adjusting Leader Length: Pike fishing conditions can vary, and sometimes you may need to adjust the length of your wire leader to accommodate different lure presentations or depths. Crimpers allow you to trim or extend your wire leader on the bank and re-crimp the connection securely.
- Customization: Anglers may choose to create custom leaders with specific attributes, such as varying wire thicknesses or lengths. Crimpers enable them to craft these specialized leaders to suit different fishing situations and personal preferences.
- Safety: Properly crimped connections are essential for the safety of both the angler and the fish. A securely crimped leader reduces the risk of the pike breaking free with a hook or lure lodged in its mouth, which can lead to injuries for both the fish and the angler.
- Durability: Crimped connections are generally more durable and reliable than knots when dealing with heavy-duty wire traces. They are less likely to weaken or slip under the strain of a powerful pike, ensuring that your tackle remains intact during intense battles.
Wire Cutters
Fishing wire cutters are specialized tools designed for cutting fishing lines, leaders, and wires used in fishing tackle. They provide clean and precise cuts, making them essential for trimming lines, adjusting leader lengths, and handling various fishing-related tasks.
This particular Fox International set of crimpers has a wire cutter included in the design and kills too birds with one stone.
Side or hook Cutters
An essential tool, especially when trebles are being used, side cutters can help hugely with awkwardly hooked predators or if accidental self-hooking occurs.
There will be situations when rather than using unnecessary force on hooks that are well embedded it’s quicker, and safer to the fish if you simply turn the hooks through and cut the points and barbs off the treble. This can be quicker and ensures that the fish risks minimal stress and discomfort.
Forceps
In pike fishing, forceps serve as invaluable tools for several important purposes.
Hook Removal: The primary function of forceps is to safely remove hooks from a pike’s mouth. Pike have razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaws, making hook removal by hand risky. Forceps allow anglers to grasp the hook firmly and extract it without harming the fish or the angler.
Quick and Precise Work: Designed for precision work in hospitals they allow anglers to access hooks deep within a pike’s mouth. This precision is crucial for both catch-and-release fishing and minimizing harm to the fish.
Minimizing Injury: Forceps help minimize injury to both the angler and the fish. Pike have formidable teeth, and accidental bites can lead to painful wounds and infection. Forceps keep the angler’s hands at a safe distance from the pike’s mouth.
When using forceps in pike fishing, it’s important to choose a sturdy pair with a long reach. Twelve-inch forceps are ideal to ensure you can access hooks effectively and maintain a safe distance from the pike’s mouth.
Scissors
Probably the most versatile cutting tool in the world. Used for a wide range of tasks including fishing line, braided line, and more. Scissors are designed to provide precise, clean cuts and are essential for tasks requiring accuracy and neatness.
A good pair of scissors in pike and predator fishing serves various practical purposes:
- Line Cutting: We use them to cut fishing lines, whether it’s to trim excess line, change rigs, or replace damaged sections. They provide a clean, precise cut, ensuring the integrity of your setup.
- Bait Preparation: They are handy for cutting or trimming bait. They are also handy for adjusting the size and shape of artificial lures.
- Knot Trimming: After tying knots, scissors are useful for trimming excess tag ends to create neater, streamlined connections, which can reduce the chance of tangles or snags.
Bent nosed Pliers
This little tool is the safest and best way to unhook lip-hooked predators. Simply grab the shank of your hook with the pliers and twist just like an extended set of fingers.
This design allows you to reach into tight or hard-to-reach spaces and provides better access for tasks such as gripping, bending, and manipulating.
Unhooking Gloves
Unhooking gloves ensure a completely secure grip, enabling you to hold the fish at your discretion. They are highly effective for safely landing pike and zander with a firm hold behind the gill cover.
Fish gill rakers are bony, comb-like structures located within the gill arches that function to filter food particles from the water as it passes through the gills. While these structures are crucial for a fish’s feeding process, they can potentially pose a danger to humans if not handled properly.
The sharp edges of gill rakers can cause injury when a fish thrashes or when it is handled carelessly, leading to cuts, punctures, or abrasions
If you have this array of tools in your bag you should cover most eventualities. There are a whole host of brands out there and a range of prices to suit everyone’s budget.
Until next time, may your hooks stay sharp and your catches plentiful,.
https://www.foxrage.com/home/product/fox-rage-side-cutters
