Crocodile PLiers

Crocodile Pliers

Versatile pliers + release tool

When we started Rising, we designed to "improve the fishing experience," and one of the most stressful experienced for us was releasing the fish unharmed - consistently. Another issue was how to preserve the longevity of flies that were catching fish, but getting destroyed in the release process. Not surprisingly, they were both interconnected and the Crocodile pliers solved them both! From the start, we designed the rounded Croc jaws to reach around the body of the fly and grasp the shank of the hook. This solved the problem of shredding the fly as the metal on the pliers would only come in contact with the metal of the hook - and not the thread and feathers of the fly as usually happens when releasing with standard pliers. For many months this was THE feature of the Crocs. Then at a trade show, Dave Leinweber owner of Angler's Covey in Colorado Springs, CO told us about guides in bahamas using a bent coat hanger to release flies - turns out the Croc worked better. Naturally we jumped all over this application, and even now feel pretty embarrassed that we didn't think of it from the get go. But that's how it happened, and we give thanks to Dave - you can do the same by checking out his cool web site, or visiting his shop to buy Rising gear.

Using the Crocodile pliers for a release tool is easy, and it reduces the gear you have to take fishing, but best of all it greatly reduces the handling of fish. As you can see by the image below, releasing the fish does not require touching it at all. Simply grab the tippet as the fish gets near you, lock the crocs around the tippet and slide down until they are wedged into the shank of the hook - then either keep pushing the hook out, or turn the Crocs slightly and push the shank towards the sky so the fish can fall off the hook. This is the method shown on the image below, as you can see the Croc being rotated in the middle frame. These pictures also show that the biggest shock to the fish, other than being hooked in the first place, is to be lifted out of the water momentarily while gravity helps dislodge the hook. But since the amount of time is measures in seconds there are no long term effects. It is faster and easier on the fish than any other release method.

We make the Crocodile pliers in 3 sizes to accommodate wide variety of hooks and fly shapes. The interior diameter of the Crocodile Jaws dictates which size you would want to use - the wider and thicker the body of the fly the larger the pair of Crocodile pliers you would want. Body thickness is main consideration, not length of the fly.

Technical Features:

More Pictures

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Frequently asked questions:

Q: What is the best size for me - 6, 8.5, or 12" ? - ----------- A: 6" if you are fishing for trout, 8.5" if you are fishing for Steelhead, Saltwater using small and medium sized flies, or Bass with small poppers, 12" if you are fishing with large popper patterns, in the saltwater with larger flies, and Muskie

Q:Can I use the Crocodile as a release tool if I am fishing two flies ? -----------------A: Yes, since only one of the hooks on your rig is attached to the fish, it is the same as if it is a single. The important thing is to have tension on the tippet, pulling the fly tight against the fish, so that the Croc Jaws can nestle into the shank of the hook allowing you to push the hook out.

Q: I have snapped flies off trying to release the hook as you've instructed - what up ??? ---------------- A: This is an unavoidable aspect of learning how to use the Crocs to slide release. The tippet gets cut and the fly lost for two main reasons: 1. You did not have enough tension on the tippet leading to the fly, and when you pushed the crocs into the shank of the hook and tried to push the hook out, the crocs slipped back off the shank and cuts the tippet. 2. The fly you are trying to remove is too small for the Croc Jaw - in that the width between the bottom and to section of the hook is not wide enough for the jaw to slide between and anchor into the shank. This happens with 6" Crocs on size 24 and smaller flies, and unlike the issue with tippet tension there is nothing you can correct.

Q: Love the pliers, but what's with the name Crocodile ? ----------------A: We used a series of V shaped teeth to increase grip on rounded hooks, and they reminded us of Crocodile teeth.

Q: I only fish in Salt Water, will these pliers hold up?---------------------A: Yes. Our pliers are 420 stainless steel, which is decent but not the absolute best for saltwater rust resistance like a 300 series steel. We address this by including a tube of CorrosionX with every pair. If you rinse the pliers with fresh water, and apply CorrosionX a few times a year you will have no problems. IF you don't rinse regularly, you can use CorrosionX and a Scotch-Brite style pad to clean off the rust and get them back to looking and working great.