Best fishing multi tool – get your money’s worth and enjoy your new fishing buddy

Let me just put it out there, I am hooked on multi tools and they’ve become an irreplaceable part of my fishing gear over the years.

There’s nothing like packing a ton of utility in a small, lightweight, pocket-sized thingamabob. Today I’m here to show you what these little guys can do for us and to give you a small reference list containing my personal picks. Once you get used to carrying one of these, you won’t be able to imagine a fishing trip without it, I’m telling you from my own personal experience.

What are we looking for in a multi tool?

We basically always want what we paid for, right? Well, with multi tools you usually get even more provided you know what and where to look. We want versatility, practicality, simplicity, and good performance overall.

Here are some general tips:

ü  First of all, make sure that you get a multi tool from a well-known manufacturer. I know you might be tempted to go cheaper and save a few bucks, but trust me it will come to bite you in the, well… later on. Companies like Leatherman, SOG, Gerber, and Victorinox are always a safe bet. They stand firmly behind their products and more often than not offer a lifetime guarantee for them

ü  Keep it simple. Sticking to the basics is what I’m all about. You don’t want to fall victim to flashy marketing strategies that try to sell you a product featuring a gazillion of cool, yet profoundly unnecessary tools. It will look awesome and weigh a ton, not good when we’re trying to travel as light as possible

ü  Define your own needs first. This will help you make up your mind between general multi tools and those specially made for fishing purposes. What I’m trying to say is you don’t necessarily have to go for the specialized and more expensive options if you can go by perfectly with your regular high-quality multi tool

ü  Do your homework. This is where I fall in. Articles such as this are meant to educate you point you in the right direction without being too cumbersome or delving into unnecessary theory. A short internet search would probably be everything you’ll ever need

What can a multi tool do for us?

A great many deal of things if you ask me. Every single one of these bad boys features numerous functions and will leave you stupefied at how versatile it can actually be.

Let’s see some of the things multi tools are good for:

ü  Firstly, almost every multi tool features a good pair of pliers that can be used for removing the hooks. If you never tried removing a hook from an underweight catfish, you don’t know what the true pain is my good man. Most of these pliers can be opened using just one hand, which leaves you with a free hand for some other important tasks

ü  Razor sharp blades have become the staple of modern multi tools. They’ll come in handy in more way than one, especially for quick fish fileting. Just start and observe as they do the job for you

ü  Split ring tool will change those lures in no time

ü  Time for some pesky scale removing? Your new multi tool will take care of that

ü  If you need to sharpen your hooks, you can always use a file that’s a part of standard tool set or a special sharpening groove if your multi tool has it

ü  I don’t have to tell you about the importance of a good pair of scissors now do I? They’ll snap any line you have in store for them

This is what I meant when I mentioned versatility, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Ok, I promised I won’t theorize much, so it’s time to get specific.

Reference list of my personal picks

I’ve whipped out a couple of amazing tools for guiding purposes. I’m not advertising anything, just trying to implant in your head a model and a set of qualities your new multi tool should have.

Let’s see which one of these babies might be the best multi tool for you:

Leatherman Skeletool

This tool “schools” most of the others when it comes to simplicity and minimalistic yet effective design. It’s called Skeletool because it represents bare bones and bare necessities. And Leatherman is one of the best known and respected companies in the multi tool industry.

A relatively new addition to the Leatherman portfolio, and it has a more aggressive and into your face look than traditional Leatherman multi tools. It’s a perfect look for an aggressive and very relentless piece of equipment if you ask me.

Beautifully styled, minimalistic in design, compact, lightweight, and just powerful. Stainless steel is the material of choice, of course. It’s very ergonomic and sits more than comfortably in your hand.

It contains needlenose and regular pliers, hard-wire and regular wire cutters, combo knife, carabiner clip that can be used as a bottle opener, and a good screwdriver with bits. It also comes with a pocket clip that can be removed and with a storage case. The blade has a locking mechanism so safety of your fingers is not a concern.

Gerber Flick Fish Multi-Plier

This would be your specialized multi tool that’s every fisherman’s dream at the same time. Once again, we see a trusty manufacturer that’s a well-known name in the industry of knives and multi tools.

Its pliers are very high-quality, solid and designed for one-handed opening. It features a great pair of scissors and a sharpening file. Regular/serrated blade, crimpers, bottle/can opener, and a saw are what awaits you under the hood of this bad boy. All tools are understandably top tier.

It comes with a lifetime guarantee. That’s what we like to see, a manufacturer that’s not afraid to stand behind its multi tool.

There we have it. I’ve given you some quick tips, some info about the multi tool’s functionality, and a couple of great examples of what a good multi tool should look like. But, each of us has their own set of needs.

My hope with this article is to point you in the right direction and point to some benefits. But by all means, do a bit more research for yourself, read some more reviews before you decide which is the best multi tool for you.

As a collector and an enthusiast I promise you, it’s time well spent.

when or if you make the decision, enjoy your new toy and have a great many of successful fishing trips together.