I do a lot of lure fishing as well as some bait fishing so my unhooking tools need to reflect this. Lure fishing requires more heavy duty unhooking tools than required for bait fishing methods; but once you have these you can in most cases use them for both disciplines.
Pike fly fishing probably sits in between Lure fishing and Bait fishing with regard to hook gauge; so you might find yourself using tools from either discipline described below.
When bait fishing one typically uses a lighter gauge of hook which means that long forceps (Greys Prowler brand shown below) are ideal for removing hooks and that long nose side cutters are suitable for cutting difficult hooks, these come in a range of lengths and can have straight or angled jaws.
Perfect for bait fishing hooks, ok for fly hooks but not enough leverage for larger gauge lure hooks
Lure fishing is different, especially with larger gauge hooks seen on many of today’s lures. To remove hooks quickly a lot more leverage is required than is possible using forceps. The photo on the below shows a pair of Greys Prowler branded long nose pliers, these are perfect for the job, an essential piece of kit.
Good for bait hooks but essential for larger gauge lure hooks. I also prefer these for fly hooks.
Sometimes though a hook can be difficult to remove, perhaps all three points of the treble are embedded in a Pikes mouth..... Rather than cause unnecessary damage to the Pike it is much kinder and quicker to cut the hook points below each barb and remove the hook that way, hooks are easily replaceable.
When bait fishing one can cut hooks quite reliably using long nosed side cutters (Greys Prowler brand shown below), however when lure fishing a very strong cutter is required to cope with the gauge of wire. I have tried several types of bait fishing side cutter or mini bolt croppers from DIY shops to do this job and they were either unable to cut through the hook reliably or the jaws became damaged after a couple of cuts. Typical hook cutters sold as predator tools are only suitable for the light gauge bait fishing hooks and not lure hooks.
Good for bait fishing and most fly hooks but not suitable for larger gauge lure hooks
The only suitable tool that I have found, after recommendation is the Knipex 71 02 200 “Cobolt” compact bolt cutters. These are actually piano wire cutters and can cut through larger gauge hooks with ease, even one handed.
I have shown the insulated handle version below but they also do a thinner handle version, the choice is yours. If you are lure fishing do not waste your money on anything else.
Ok for fly hooks, essential for larger gauge lure hooks but perhaps rather cumbersome for bait fishing hooks
The other item worth mentioning is an unhooking mat, especially when bank fishing. It is important not to lay down your catch onto rough ground or concrete, you can cause unnecessary damage.
A soft unhooking mat is ideal to cushion a Pike while unhooking and some versions double up as a weigh sling.
Pike fly fishing probably sits in between Lure fishing and Bait fishing with regard to hook gauge; so you might find yourself using tools from either discipline described below.
When bait fishing one typically uses a lighter gauge of hook which means that long forceps (Greys Prowler brand shown below) are ideal for removing hooks and that long nose side cutters are suitable for cutting difficult hooks, these come in a range of lengths and can have straight or angled jaws.
Perfect for bait fishing hooks, ok for fly hooks but not enough leverage for larger gauge lure hooks
Lure fishing is different, especially with larger gauge hooks seen on many of today’s lures. To remove hooks quickly a lot more leverage is required than is possible using forceps. The photo on the below shows a pair of Greys Prowler branded long nose pliers, these are perfect for the job, an essential piece of kit.
Good for bait hooks but essential for larger gauge lure hooks. I also prefer these for fly hooks.
Sometimes though a hook can be difficult to remove, perhaps all three points of the treble are embedded in a Pikes mouth..... Rather than cause unnecessary damage to the Pike it is much kinder and quicker to cut the hook points below each barb and remove the hook that way, hooks are easily replaceable.
When bait fishing one can cut hooks quite reliably using long nosed side cutters (Greys Prowler brand shown below), however when lure fishing a very strong cutter is required to cope with the gauge of wire. I have tried several types of bait fishing side cutter or mini bolt croppers from DIY shops to do this job and they were either unable to cut through the hook reliably or the jaws became damaged after a couple of cuts. Typical hook cutters sold as predator tools are only suitable for the light gauge bait fishing hooks and not lure hooks.
Good for bait fishing and most fly hooks but not suitable for larger gauge lure hooks
The only suitable tool that I have found, after recommendation is the Knipex 71 02 200 “Cobolt” compact bolt cutters. These are actually piano wire cutters and can cut through larger gauge hooks with ease, even one handed.
I have shown the insulated handle version below but they also do a thinner handle version, the choice is yours. If you are lure fishing do not waste your money on anything else.
Ok for fly hooks, essential for larger gauge lure hooks but perhaps rather cumbersome for bait fishing hooks
The other item worth mentioning is an unhooking mat, especially when bank fishing. It is important not to lay down your catch onto rough ground or concrete, you can cause unnecessary damage.
A soft unhooking mat is ideal to cushion a Pike while unhooking and some versions double up as a weigh sling.