In this article, we are going to list our favorite forceps for fly fishing and explain a bit about how to use this really handy tool.
It will help you choose the right forceps for your next fly fishing adventure so you can easily remove flies when you are out on the lake or river.
Why Do We Use Forceps?
Forceps are very handy for quickly removing hooks from fish you have caught.
Having forceps on hand is great for those times a fish has swallowed the fly down deep in the mouth.
They allow you to remove even barbed hooks easily and quickly.
Forceps are also great for those times when things go wrong fly fishing, and you end up with a hook wedged in your skin somewhere.
This happens to all of us in our fly fishing careers and having a good pair of forceps helps you remove even barbed hooks.
Our Best Fly Fishing Forceps: Full Reviews
Dr. Slick has got a great reputation for making high-quality fly fishing tools (we use their scissors for fly tying) and these are no exception.
They have the curved tip that we like and when engaged they can be clamped on with the easy locking mechanism. At 4" in length, these are perfect for freshwater fish such as trout. We also like the hook eye cleaner that is included with them.
- Scissors blade included
- Flat screwdriver too
- Corrosion-resistant and high quality
These top-quality Loon Outdoors forceps come in Loon's matte black rust-resistant finish.
They are made of surgical-quality stainless steel and a durable and convenient pair of forceps. The locking system has two settings meaning you can keep these clamped down on the hook without having to squeeze - handy when removing a hard-to-get hook.
- Eye cleaning needle
- 5.5" long
- Scissor blade include
These high-quality hemostats with built-in scissors are quite the Loon Rogue model in many ways.
They have matte black grips and are made from surgical-grade stainless steel.
Orvis has included the hook eye cleaner too.
- Locking handles
- Half smooth, half serrated jaw
- Orvis quality
SAMSFX makes a wide range of well-priced and popular fishing accessories, including this 7"set of self-locking hemostat forceps. They have a built-in line cutter suitable for braid and a hook eye cleaning pin.
- Made of stainless steel
- Coiled lanyard for easy hanging
- Suits freshwater or saltwater use
These are a great pair of forceps, particularly if you have larger hands. They are 6" long and have matte black textured grips.
- Half smooth, half serrated jaw
- Stainless steel
- Ergonomic design with one big and one small handle loop
Fly Fishing Forceps FAQs
How to Use Them?
To remove the hook, you need to grab the hook in the points of the jaws at the end of the hook and, with a prizing action, pull it out in the direction that it entered the fish’s jaws.
What to Look For in a Pair of Fly Fishing Forceps?
Here is our list of things that you should look for in a set of forceps. All of the models of fly fishing forceps we’ve reviewed have most of these features.
-Stainless steel construction to prevent corrosion
-A self-clamping mechanism
-Lightweight
-Comfortable handles and grips
-Able to be attached easily to a zinger or lanyard
-Long jaws to get a hook out of a fish’s mouth
Why Are Fly Fishing Forceps Also Called a Hemostat?
Forceps with locking clamps, such as fly fishing forceps, are called hemostats in a surgical context because they are used extensively to clamp small blood vessels.
What else can you use fly fishing forceps for besides removing flies?
The best fly fishing hemostat models can be used for a variety of uses beyond removing hooks. Some of these include:
-Pinching split shot
-Clearing hook eyes
-Cutting line and tippet
-Crushing barbs on hooks to make them barbless-
Are There Any Alternatives to Fly Fishing Forceps?
Yes, you can also use a pair of long-nose pliers or needle-nose pliers as a tool for performing the same tasks. In fact, these tools are betting for saltwater fishing and lure fishing, where you are dealing with larger and stronger hooks and fish with teeth.
Be sure to get pliers with long enough jaws to allow you to avoid the fish’s teeth when removing lures and flies, and obviously, they should be stainless steel to avoid corrosion.
