Essential Catch And Release Fishing Tools

Light and effortless to hold thanks to a short handle design, these nets make it easy to scoop a fish with one hand. These nets have a 35 cm hoop with 50 cm deep netting, and feature black anodize aluminum construction, reinforced edge meshing, a soft grip handle and an elastic lanyard. 

A Fish Gripper is another useful fish-landing tool. One hand is all it takes to open the tool, and then close the gripper’s jaws on a fish’s mouth to securely hold the catch.

With several Fish Gripper options available, finding the best model to suit your needs is easy. For example, the Floating Fish Gripper is popular among kayak and wading anglers. Another option is the dual-purpose 50lb. Digital Scale/Fish Gripper.

For times when you need excellent non-slip, fish control and protection from teeth, gill plates and dorsal fins, Fisherman’s Gloves have got you covered. These gloves can be used in freshwater and saltwater and are made to deliver years of service. Be sure to wet gloves before use to avoid damaging a fish’s protective slime coat.

Tip: Fisherman’s Gloves are not the same as Fillet Gloves. Fillet Gloves are made with Tuff-Knit™ yarn, a comfy blend of natural and synthetic fibres with stainless steel, and are what you want to be wearing for the best protection against a slicing injury when cleaning fish.

Mag Spring Pliers are a fan favourite. Built with a patent pending Mag-Spring system, these ergonomic pliers stay open when held without pressure. Once you use Mag Spring Pliers, you’ll never reach for needle-nosed pliers from the hardware store again.

The long reach of the stainless steel Hook Remover makes it the ideal tool for quickly and safely removing deep set hooks from a large predator with a mouthful of sharp teeth, like pike, muskie and salmon. Fisherman’s 11” Pliers are another great option with an extended reach.

Tip: When fishing for panfish, trout and other fish with tiny mouths, be sure to carry 4” Panfish Pliers or Fishing Forceps.

When a strong predator clamps its mouth shut during the hook removal process, the new stainless steel 8” Jaw Spreader is worth its weight in gold. Featuring a strong spring and wide gap, this tool easily holds a fish’s mouth open so an angler can quickly remove hooks without hassle.

The less time a fish is out of the water the better, so it’s critical to have a quality fish ruler within reach when a quick, accurate measurement is needed.

The 24” Folding Ruler and 60” Magnum Folding Ruler make measuring fish a breeze thanks to their large, easy-to-read numbers and flip-up, vertical flange. Made with high-impact plastic, each of these rulers have markings for both centimetre and inch measurements.

For those wanting something even more compact, the 60” Retractable Ruler is sure to please.

Whether you’re fishing a tournament, or out for fun and looking to beat a personal best catch, you don’t want to get caught second guessing a fishing scale. This is why anglers in the know trust Rapala’s wide collection of digital and mechanical scales that are designed with accuracy, reliability and ease of use in mind. The 50 lb. High Contrast Digital Scale is just one example of the great scales you’ll find at rapala.ca or by visiting your local fishing retailer.

Keeping tools tidy is not complicated and will help make quick work of on-the-water tasks. Installing a magnet tool organizer in your boat is one easy and effective solution. Another strategy is storing tools in a RapStack Deep Open Tackle Tray, which features heavy-duty, rigid plastic construction and a quick latch system for single-hand access. Don’t forget about the rest of the RapStack tray series for all your other tackle storage needs(watch video)!