Top Rated Fishing Pliers

Leatherman Freestyle CX

Leatherman's Freestyle CX pliers are a minimalist multi-tool, essentially a lightweight pliers with an externally-sheathed knife blade for one-handed use. Named the best fishing multitool of 2010 by Fish and Game Magazine, Fish & Game's Jay Cassell said that the Freestyle's genius "is not what's been added to this multitool but what's been taken away," noting that its lack of other integrated tools (saw, screwdrivers, etc.) allows it to maintain its low weight of just 4.5 ounces without sacrificing strength and performance.

Orvis Aluminum Saltwater Pliers

With a curved ergonomic grip and long nose, Orvis' Aluminum Saltwater Pliers are a solid choice for the saltwater fisherman. In addition to the curved grip, there is an angled head for easier access to embedded hooks, and tungsten carbide cutters snip through hooks and line with no problem. In a field test of the best fishing pliers, Fish & Game Magazine's John Merwin was a fan of the additional leverage the pliers' angled head provided, and noted the cutting power, saying, "The replaceable carbide cutters deal with almost everything, including superbraids, extremely well."

Gerber Flik Fish

Gerber's latest entry in the fishing multitool department, the Flik Fish, is an entire tool chest designed to fit on a sportsman's belt. In addition to pliers, the Flik Fish has a flat blade, a saw blade, line snips, a hook-sharpening file, pinch cutters for severing hooks, as well as standard and Phillips head screwdrivers. WoodsMonkey.com's Will Stewart took the Flik Fish out for a review, noting among other aspects the effectiveness of the hook sharpener and the line-cutter's performance, summing up his review by saying, "This is truly a gizmo that lets you take less with you, in both bulk and weight."