Some pieces of gear made the list while others did not for a variety of reasons. This last spring issue I wanted to focus on fishing tools as we all end up needing them at one time or another.

Every angler needs a few reliable tools on their person, in the tackle box or on the boat. I am pleased to say that the tools I tested really did hold up well.
Rapala (www.rapala.com) has several tools that I wanted to highlight since they all were of very high quality. The Fisherman’s Big Game Set came with a 6" double-sided hook sharpener, a long reach hook remover, a jaw spreader and Rapala DVD. The long reach hook remover is perfect for doing a little on the spot surgery for those larger catch and release citation fish. The stainless steel will hold up for bay use. I recommend oiling it (especially the spring) after each trip to keep it moving freely. This is a very good tool to have on hand. Attach the lanyard to keep it from going overboard in the excitement.

The jaw spreader is a very good idea for those toothy critters we all seem to like chasing and casting to. Whether you have a nice blue, flounder, mack or whatever else the jaw spreader will keep your fingers from getting slashed and allow you to return any fish that you want back to the water. This tool is made of plastic with a stainless steel spring so again, no worries in saltwater environments.

Fisherman's Big Game Set

The hook sharpener is an all in one tool in my book. My filet knife gets its edge from the tool now. Dull or damaged hooks get roughed back into shape in a few strokes too. The diamond grit surface is fast and does the job well.

Two other tools that really come in handy include the camp combo. The set includes an 8.5 inch fishing plier (great for reaching way down into a fish’s gullet) that is nickel coated, has a lure tuning groove on the side, side cutters, split shot crimper and soft grip handles when your hands are slimy in fish. I like the pliers, which move freely. The other half to this combo is a dear favorite of mine. I keep the 5-inch folding camp/fillet knife in my vest or my truck at all times. I never know when I might hit the river or pond on a whim and this knife has saved my dinner a number of times. The fact that it folds and stows easily is a huge plus. The knife is lightweight, easy to hold, extremely sharp and tends to keep an edge very well, and is just right for freshwater or smaller saltwater fish. A belt clip sheath keeps both the pliers and the knife in one spot and the clip pops on or off your jeans or belt without taking your belt loose.

Finally, if you are into catching croaker or other rough scaled fish you might want to look at the Rapala Fillet Glove. I generally do not use a glove when fishing but if you take a lot of people fishing and you are the mate on the boat or the designated cleaner, those gill plates can work on your hands and cut them up. The Fillet Glove does the job in protecting your hands. I prefer to keep the cuts off my hands. The glove fits either hand and is washable. It also will deflect a knife should you slip and we all do that!

blade for chumming and cutting bait and for those that clean their catch on the boat. The handle is soft and easy on the hands when working a pile of fish too.

The dehooking tool also floats (great when using to drop that undersized fish back in the water). The end of the dehooker has a groove in it to push against deep hooks. I like this dehooker for croaker, spot, small blues and other smaller fish.

If out on the water and you are in need of a large gaff that floats be sure to look at the X Tool gaff. It comes in a variety of sizes to include various hook sizes. The one I tested has a 36” handle with a 4” hook on it. The hook can be pushed and locked into one of four directions for a sure 90-degree set very easily. It comes in smaller sizes and a 60 inch size as well. The gaff floats and it washes easily. Although the gaff is not made for anything other than fish I use mine to snag hats, dock lines, logs and sticks and other loose items. It comes with a hook cover to keep it safely stowed. The lanyard is a bonus for keeping your hands on it while in use.

combo wrenches, feeler gauge, gap gauge, crimping tool, water pump pliers, hacksaw, auto tester, pliers, some terminals, a copper brush for the battery, zip ties, a utility knife, a measuring tape and a crescent wrench. The case supposedly floats. I have not tried this yet.

If you do not have any tools on the boat yet or are interested in any of the ones I discussed above take a look at them at your nearest tackle shop. These are common items in a well-stocked store. I had fun testing them and plan on using them myself for some time to come.