Tools & Accessories

Which tools belong in a coarse angler's kit?

The first tool should always be a disgorger. Coarse fishing uses small hooks, and a fish can take the bait deep. With a disgorger, forceps or hook removers, the hook comes out quickly and without harming the fish. Fishing pliers are handy for pinching on shot and opening rings, and line scissors or braid cutters give you a clean cut every time.

Rig and hook tools let you build your own rigs. A knot puller tightens knots without damaging the line, and a hook tyer makes tying small hooks much easier. Bait needles and drills are used to mount hard baits on a hair, while hooklength and rig tools help you make hooklengths of equal length and keep finished rigs tidy.

In line and reel tools you will find line spoolers that load new line onto the reel evenly and at the right tension, along with threaders for getting line through rod guides. Pole tools such as elastic threaders and bush cutters are used to fit the elastic and bush into the top sections of a pole.

Measuring tapes and mats let you measure the length of a fish quickly, and many matches and fishery rules require fish to be measured before release. A measuring mat also gives the fish a soft surface, so measuring and photos put less strain on it.

Keep your most important tools in the same place every time, for example in a seatbox drawer or on the side tray. With the disgorger and scissors within easy reach, handling fish and changing rigs goes smoothly without searching around.