plier choices - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Finaddict · 08-06-2007, 10:21 PM

Okay so I got a gift certicate to Cabelas from work, I thought I'd get a nice pair of pliers with it ... Cabelas has the Donmar Checkpoint CP850 EX and the CP880 Side Pliers ... as well as the Van Staal stainless steel 6 inch pliers on sale only $10 more than the CP880 Side Pliers from Donmar and neither the top Donmar they offer or the Van Staal on sale offer sheath or lanyard ...

... that said, has anyone here used the Donmar pliers and what are your thoughts as I don't necessarily need the Van Staal pliers, although they would be nice to have, just $50 more when said and done ...

... any body have insight on these two/three pliers?

Thanks

BigFish · 08-06-2007, 10:34 PM

I got the VS pliers.....they are AMAZING! You will have to pry them from my cold, dead hands!

fishpoopoo · 08-07-2007, 05:09 AM

get something else from cabelas.

head over to ocean state job lot and buy a dozen $3 stainless pliers.

cheferson · 08-07-2007, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassturbed

get something else from cabelas.

head over to ocean state job lot and buy a dozen $3 stainless pliers.

BigFish · 08-07-2007, 05:33 AM

A dozen....yeah great but all that means is they will rust up and fail on you when you need them most! Just spend the dough and you will never have to worry about them again! They are as important a tool as the rod and reel!

Rick Ackley · 08-07-2007, 05:37 AM

I seem to lose 'em way before they ever get a chance to rust. Ocean State is my choice.

afterhours · 08-07-2007, 05:43 AM

i agree with the big fella. they're surely expensive- but i like not have to worry about them and they always perform what i ask them to do. i used to use to el cheapos but had failures at the wrong time. buy 'em once (hopefully) and if you fish 30x a season they'll cost you about $2 per for a few yrs- and you'll love 'em.

Terence · 08-07-2007, 05:59 AM

VS .Never failed me going on 3 years now. Light strong and no rust/oxidation. Worth every penny.

Raider Ronnie · 08-07-2007, 06:13 AM

I've got the larger Van Staals also, and nothing compares !
I also have 2 somewhat expensive pairs of Accurates that I'll sell for a good price, but their no where near as good as the VS !

JohnR · 08-07-2007, 06:36 AM

I'll put my 3 or 4 Ocean State Job lots per year against losing the VS once a season anytime

Redsoxticket · 08-07-2007, 06:55 AM

I would purchase the less expensive pliers. Thereafter if you feel that you want the high end pliers then go for it.
You'll probably come to the conclusion that the cheap pliers is the way to go for the reasons mentioned above.

The Dad Fisherman · 08-07-2007, 07:22 AM

I use the Rapala Pliers....$20 and I'm on my 3rd season with them. When they get a little stiff I hit them with some Master Mechanic or WD40 and they are as good as new.

decksweeper · 08-07-2007, 07:30 AM

If you choose to go with the VS pliers....get the 7" versus the 6". I think they're about $40 more, but are well worth the extra. IMO...

zacs · 08-07-2007, 08:00 AM

i am on season 5 with my Donmars. I love them. use the sheath with the lanyard and you will not lose them.

they cut braid and are smooth. i love the donmars.

BigFish · 08-07-2007, 08:10 AM

You guys lose your pliers....sounds like you need to get the VS with the lanyard.......I have had mine 4 years now.....have not lost them yet! Gotta be a damn fool if you lose them with a lanyard!!!

fishpoopoo · 08-07-2007, 08:18 AM

Get a dozen $3 stainless steel pliers from Ocean State Job Lot.

Send them into a place that provides saltwater resistant coating for $5/apiece.

Not a bad option if you're prone to losing pliers like I am.

Van Staal pliers are nice, but they're not bulletproof.

BigFish · 08-07-2007, 08:24 AM

I don't shoot em'.....just release fish with them! Boils down to convenience......wanna keep swapping out your crappy pliers every month or so, or have them so rusty when you are waist deep in water trying to unhook a fatty that you wind up getting a hook buried in your hand with the fish still attached because you were futzing around with your crappy pliers (on top of that you won't be able to cut the hook to get it easily out of your hand) then by all means.....do what you think is right!

JFigliuolo · 08-07-2007, 08:25 AM

job lot pliars. 1 can of wd-40. Going on 3 years. rusted to crap but still get the job done.

BigFish · 08-07-2007, 08:26 AM

Bassturbed....ever own a pair of VS Pliers??? I am betting not cause you would still have them! Unless you lost them?

Redsoxticket · 08-07-2007, 08:27 AM

Improvise and be creative. IF you don't have a laynard use surgical tubing.

Dame fool not I, bet you also never lost your mittens because you had a string tied to both mittens via the jacket.

fishpoopoo · 08-07-2007, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFish

Bassturbed....ever own a pair of VS Pliers??? I am betting not cause you would still have them! Unless you lost them?

i did.

they broke.

VS wouldn't fix it w/o me shelling out more $$$ on top of the $$$$$$ I already spent.

i was so livid, i took them out to the 200 yard line of my local rifle range. blew them to $hit with some 300 Winchester Magnum handloads.

i felt better afterwards.

daceman63 · 08-07-2007, 09:50 AM

what do you use the pliers for?

lurch · 08-07-2007, 10:09 AM

I had the cabelas pliers for ~8 years without any rust...unfortunately I lost them on the vineyard.

IMO buy the pliers from cabelas and save the cash for plugs!

ChiefLinesider · 08-07-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I use the Rapala Pliers....$20 and I'm on my 3rd season with them. When they get a little stiff I hit them with some Master Mechanic or WD40 and they are as good as new.

I have the Rapala pliers too. Pro guide series. Had them for two seasons. Work like new. 20 bucks. Buy something else at cabelas.

jim sylvester · 08-07-2007, 10:34 AM

vs 7"

well worth the investment

Flaptail · 08-07-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassturbed

get something else from cabelas.

head over to ocean state job lot and buy a dozen $3 stainless pliers.

I agree, 200.00 plus for fishing pliers is totally insane. I have had my pair of VanJobLot's for five years now. 2.98 without the sheath. Never failed me. This is my second pair, first pair I had for 6 years but lost over board or else I would have still had them.

Just another case of more hype than reality like VS Reels.

Fire at will Gridley!

Flaptail · 08-07-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFish

A dozen....yeah great but all that means is they will rust up and fail on you when you need them most! Just spend the dough and you will never have to worry about them again! They are as important a tool as the rod and reel!

Larry, you can't be serious? I spray my VanJobLot's with a touch of WD once a week. Never failed me yet.

Rockport24 · 08-07-2007, 11:42 AM

I got a gift certificate to Cabela's for Christmas and ended up getting the Ross Worldwide alumunium pliers. I love em'.

ThrowingTimber · 08-07-2007, 12:21 PM

vs pliers cant cut a hook, without the cutters shattering. = junk to me.

manleys cut a hook = good to me saw some on sale for 30$.

Most times I remove the hooks from fish I release with my hands.. yup sometimes I even touch the fish

.69 cent nail clippers on a piece of rope cut braid great!!! and for the price, I keep one in each of the plug bags I use and one in each dry top and one in my waders, and a few extras in the car. And if I remember to hit them with a drop of oil at any point in their lifespan they last longer....

I dont need vs pliers, I fish at night so I dont have anyone to POSE for

I actually splurged this year and bought 16$ rapala piers, I hit them with 3 in 1 red can a few drops whenever I think of it and they do fine. They crimp steel leader sleeves, they do split rings, they cut braid, they come with a sheath, and they remove a hook from a fish if I need them to just fine.

vs pilers maybe if I got them below wholesale or free. Then I'd be all over the internet spouting babble about how great a pair of pliers that cant cut a hook are....

The reels I can see the sense in the purchase the pliers not unless I get them wicked cheap or free. I'd like to see how many of the advocates for the vs pliers paid full price

SeaWolf · 08-07-2007, 12:23 PM

my vote is for manley's first, then maybe a pair of needles, such as the job lot's s/s or a pair of vs pliers as a backup pair. my manley's serve 2 main purposes, cutting any size hook and/or line/leaders and to cut hooks out of my hand or someone elses. i can cut thru 6x hooks all day and still be able to use them for cutting line. manley's may not be as sharp as a pair of vs pliers, but vs cutting jaws are not as strong to cut those heavier wire hooks. the only drawback i have found w/ manley's is that they dont have a long point like needle nose pliers, but that's not their true purpose anyhow. that's why i carry a cheaper backup pair just for that. manley's run maybe $30-35 at most tackle shops. that's cheaper than a pair of vs replacement cutters.

if all you want to do is cut line and want a pair of pliers to last you a long, long time buy a pair of vs pliers, a sheath, and a lanyard. i'm not really knocking them, they are nice, i just have not yet justified buying them when i use manley's.