Fly Fishing Serrated Pliers Hemostat Forceps Stainless Steel Catch and Release Tool with Precision Grip Locking, 5.5 in Straight Review (2026)

What It Is

This is a 5.5 inch straight hemostat-style forceps built for catch and release fly fishing, sold under the generic import brand Tinsel Town rather than a dedicated fly fishing company. It follows the same basic design as a medical Kelly hemostat, with long, thin jaws meant to reach into a fish's mouth and grip a hook shank or eye for quick removal. Anglers also use tools like this to pinch split shot onto leader, open and close split rings when swapping hooks, or hold small parts steady while tying knots streamside. The straight jaw pattern is the more common of the two common forceps shapes, the other being curved.

Materials and Locking Mechanism

The jaws and handles are stainless steel, which resists rust better than plated carbon steel tools when they spend a season getting dunked in rivers or salt spray. The forceps use a multi-position ratchet lock, similar to a surgical hemostat, so squeezing the handles clicks the jaws closed in increasing increments until they hold a hook or object firmly without you needing to maintain grip pressure. The tips are serrated rather than smooth, which helps them bite into a hook shank or fish jaw without slipping, though serrated jaws can also nick fine tippet if you use the tool to crimp line rather than just hooks.

Straight vs. Curved Jaws

Because this pair is straight rather than curved, it handles typical trout and bass hook sets well, where the hook is visible near the front of the mouth and a straight line of approach works fine. Curved forceps are generally easier to maneuver around the tongue or deeper into the throat of a fish that has taken the fly further back, since the bend lets you angle around soft tissue instead of pushing straight through it. Anglers who mostly fish streamers or nymphs on larger fish that occasionally swallow the hook may prefer a curved pair as a second tool, while this straight design covers the majority of everyday dry fly and light nymph releases.

Build Quality Expectations

As a generic-branded, import stainless tool rather than a purpose-built fly fishing brand like Dr. Slick or Orvis, there is less published information about long-term durability, spring tension retention, or how the ratchet holds up after repeated seasons of use. That does not mean it is poorly made, since basic stainless hemostats are a mature, simple design that many manufacturers produce to a similar standard, but buyers should not expect the same fit and finish or lifetime warranty support that a dedicated fly fishing brand often provides. The tool is best viewed as a functional, no-frills option rather than a premium purchase.

Who It's For and Value

This forceps suits anglers who want a dependable, inexpensive tool for hook removal and basic line work without paying a premium for a name-brand fly fishing tool. The locking ratchet and stainless construction cover the core job well, and the 5.5 inch length is a practical middle ground that is not so long it feels unwieldy on a lanyard, nor so short that it struggles to reach a hook set well back in a larger fish's mouth. Anglers who fish larger streamers or species prone to swallowing hooks should pair it with, or choose instead, a curved pair for those specific situations.

Frequently asked questions