In this article we field test the Jarvis Walker Pro Series Bent Nose Fishing Pliers. In the review we will cover both the positives and negatives of the pliers.
The pliers were used and tested over five months for freshwater and saltwater fishing and also used for kayak fishing.
(Spoiler Alert – If you want to skip my field review and know if they are good or bad, unfortunately they failed my review. Read on to see why they didn’t pass the test, go to near the bottom of the article under – The Cons Of The Fishing Pliers.)
Before we get into the review, here are the features:
- Stainless steel
- Bent nose pointy pliers
- Braid cutters
- Split shot crimp
- Sheath and lanyard
These pliers are handy for removing the hook out of the fish’s mount and for attaching tackle and cutting fishing line and have braid cutters.
A black sheath is included with a lanyard. The sheath has a small tab that has Velcro on it, for holding the pliers in the sheath.
The pliers initially seem solid and robust.
Above photo: Jarvis Walker fishing pliers used to unhook bent minnow lure on fat rainbow trout.
Pros
The grip is comfortable and made out of a hard plastic. Even when wet or with fish slime on the handle, they are easy to control.
I like the red section of colour on the pliers. As if you put them down, you can spot them easier.
It cuts monofilament and fluorocarbon easily, in heavy and light poundage fishing line.
The bent nose design, does make it easier sometimes to retrieve lures and hooks out of the fish’s mouth.
Another positive is the lanyard and sheath idea. They are handy for holding the tool, especially if you do land based fishing and need a spot on your belt, vest or tackle bag.
The spring that spreads apart the pliers is strong enough and opens them up easy when you squeeze the pliers shut.
You can get them out of the sheath quickly.
The lanyard is long enough that if the sheath is clipped to your belt or daypack, you can extend your arm fully and the lanyard doesn’t restrict you. You could also use the carabiner clip to secure the sheath to a backpack strap as well.
You can also unclip the lanyard from the sheath and attach it to something else, which is handy if you are kayak fishing.
The length of the pliers was a good size for me for trout, redfin, carp, flathead, bream and pinkies, etc. If you are into larger game fish, you would want the bigger size pair, but for estuary and freshwater fishing they do the job well.
The pliers are light enough in weight, while still being solid enough for heavy duty use in the field. For boat fishing the weight is no big deal, but for backpack fishing, the weight does add up on your fishing tackle and gear.
For putting split shot on the fishing line, they work well.
The Cons Of The Fishing Pliers
Here are the negatives of the pliers:
- Carabiner broke
- Sheath wore a hole in it
- Cutters don’t cut braid very well
- Plastic handle slips down with pressure on it
In less than two weeks of use, the carabiner spring broke. (I wasn’t rough on it.)
The sheath has a belt holder and is a bit small.
After a few months use, the pliers wore a hole in the end of the sheath. (Hard to see on photo.) The pliers being bent nose, stick out sideways into the sheath. In fairness it is only a small hole now, but the hole will get worse and the metal point of the pliers then will stick into other gear and possible damage it.
The flare on the handle of the pliers, makes it hard to go easy back into the sheath. While with a bit of mucking around it does fit, but who wants to be fiddling about when you could be fishing?
The metal clip that keeps the pliers in the closed position is also fiddley and hard to latch it. On the positive, it does make it easy to unclip the closed position with one hand and minimal effort. But it doesn’t help to put them away quickly.
The braid cutters on the pliers doesn’t cut braid very well, either on light or heavy braid.
The actual pliers work good for removing hooks, but when you put a bit of pressure on the rubber / plastic handles, they slip down the metal arms of the pliers. (You could put a bit of glue on the handle grips, but the buyer shouldn’t have to fix them.)
Where To Buy The Jarvis Walker Pro Series Fishing Pliers From?
They are available in Australia from Anaconda, Jarvis Walker website, BCF, Kmart and local selected fishing shops. They can also be brought online from eBay and selected fishing tackle stores.
The price ranges around $15 which is okay. You might be lucky and get them on sale for cheaper.
Conclusion – The Verdict
If you only occasionally fish a few times a year, the pliers would be okay, but if you use fishing pliers regularly, I would suggest another option.
If you use the pliers to frequently cut braid, they are a big fail. If you just cut mono, or fluorocarbon, they cut well.
For getting hooks out of the fish’s mouth they work well, except for the plastic grip slides down over the metal handle when pressure is applied.
Overall, while the above points could have been improved on the Jarvis Walker bent nose pliers and sheath, for a cheap pair they are tolerable. The fishing pliers are now a backup pair of fishing pliers for me.
Author – Ted Jones
