The handiest tool I've found in recent years is the Mitten Scissor Clamp.
When I'm fishing I generally carry several different kinds of tools.
- One is a clipper or nipper for cutting line and poking out glue in the hook eye holes.
- I carry a needle-nose pliers for hook removal, crimping barbs and split shot or extracting hooks embedded in my fishing buddy.
- I carry a small wire cutter that doubles as a line cutter. I like to have a wire cutter in the rare event I need to cut off a hook somewhere if it's embedded where it should not be.
- I generally have a hemostat in case I want to clamp down and hold something like a hook, etc.
Recently I've been using a 7 1/2" Mitten Scissor Clamp (NuCast) and found these instruments very handy as they are five tools in one! The Mitten Clamps contain the following uses:
- A pliers or grasper for holding or crimping, with both a serrated and smooth portion.
- A clamp for solid containment with three levels of tightening to ensure a forceful grip.
- A surgically sharp scissors to cut line, light wire, & small diameter rope.
- A hook eye cleaner pin with insertion hole on other arm.
- A 1/8" hole in the lower handle for hook holding when tightening a heavy mono knot or adding a lanyard.
I no longer have to carry several different tools and now just used the Mitten Clamp for everything.
The 7 1/2 inch model is great for larger fish such as bass, pike and saltwater. The 5 1/2 inch models are perfect for trout and panfish.
Many of these clamps come with a cushioned grip material called NuFoam for easy non-slip gripping and protection in cold weather.
You can check out the whole line of Mitten Scissor Clamps here: