Key takeaways
- Clip pliers and cutters to your belt, life jacket or a tackle bag strap.
- Keep a small “go box” of your most-used bass lures and terminal tackle.
- Store soft plastics in their original bags to stop colors bleeding together.
- Rinse tools with fresh water after saltwater or brackish trips.
Lures get most of the attention in bass fishing, but the tools in your pocket decide how smoothly a day on the water goes. Cutting braid cleanly, removing a treble hook from a big largemouth, measuring a fish for a tournament or retying in seconds all depend on having the right gear within reach. Here are the bass fishing tools that matter and how to choose them.
Essential bass fishing tools
| Tool | What it does | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing pliers | Remove hooks, crimp, open split rings | Corrosion-resistant aluminum or stainless; split-ring tip; lanyard |
| Braid scissors / line cutters | Cut braided line cleanly | Serrated blades made for braid |
| Fish grip / lip gripper | Hold fish securely while unhooking | Locking jaws, gentle on fish |
| Hook remover / dehooker | Reach deep hooks quickly | Long shaft, easy one-hand use |
| Scale and measuring board | Weigh and measure catches | Accurate readings, bump board for tournaments |
| Hook sharpener | Keeps points sharp | Small file or stone that fits in a pocket |
| Knot tying tool | Speeds up knots on small hooks | Simple, compact designs |
Pliers and cutters
Good fishing pliers are the most-used tool on a bass boat. Aluminum pliers resist corrosion and stay light; stainless pliers are strong but need rinsing after use. Built-in cutters that handle braid save carrying separate scissors, though dedicated braid scissors cut cleaner. A sheath and coiled lanyard keep them from going overboard. Compare aluminum fishing pliers with braid cutters.
Fish handling tools
Lip grippers hold a bass steady while you remove hooks, protecting your hands from treble hooks and the fish from being squeezed. Many anglers simply lip bass by hand, but grippers help with toothy bycatch and big fish. Keep handling time short, support heavy fish horizontally and wet your hands before touching fish you plan to release.
Measuring and weighing
A digital scale and a bump board are essential for tournament anglers and useful for anyone tracking personal bests. Choose a scale with a hold function and accuracy suitable for your fish size, and keep spare batteries in the tackle box. See digital fish scales and measuring boards.
Organizing tools and tackle
- Clip pliers and cutters to your belt, life jacket or a tackle bag strap.
- Keep a small “go box” of your most-used bass lures and terminal tackle.
- Store soft plastics in their original bags to stop colors bleeding together.
- Rinse tools with fresh water after saltwater or brackish trips.
Braid to spool and leader knots
Braided line can slip on a bare spool. Many anglers add a few wraps of monofilament backing or a strip of electrical tape before spooling braid, then use a reliable knot such as an arbor knot. A knot tying tool makes small knots easier with cold or wet hands.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using cheap scissors that fray braid instead of cutting it.
- Leaving pliers loose in the boat where they can fall overboard.
- Fishing dull hooks; sharpen or replace them regularly.
- Holding big bass vertically by the jaw for long periods.
Which tools suit you
Every bass angler: pliers with cutters and a lanyard. Braid users: dedicated braid scissors. Tournament anglers: scale and bump board. Catch-and-release focus: lip gripper and quick dehooker.
FAQ
What tools do I need for bass fishing?
At minimum, fishing pliers, line cutters and a hook sharpener; add a scale and grip as needed.
What cuts braided fishing line best?
Serrated braid scissors or pliers with braid-rated cutters.
Are aluminum fishing pliers worth it?
They resist corrosion and stay light, which suits frequent anglers.
What is the best knot for braid to spool?
Many anglers use an arbor knot over mono backing or tape so the braid does not slip.
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