[Hamish Young]

On the back of the catch and release post I thought I might ask for a ‘forum’ recommendation for a catch and release ‘tool’ for my trout fishing. Currently I use long nose fishing pliers but they’re damned hard on my flies and, I suspect, there are better options out there
So anyone got a good suggestion I’m thinking about adding such a request to the list of stuff I like (but won’t necessarily get ) for Christmas……

[Ross]

Long nose forceps(with rubber) are pretty good, as are those plastic hook removal things.

[Hamish Young]

Ross - Yes, that's sort of what I have at the moment (forcep/plier combo) but without the rubber 'fittings'   I did try some heat shrink on the blighters but that lasted 5 minutes 

I'm looking at a Ketchum release tool - maybe 

[PDScott]

Hamish,
I would recommend the Stonefly version of the Ketchum release tool - it comes with 2 different sized heads. One piece of advice, however, before using for the first time, superglue the head to the handle - my first one is lying on the bottom of the loch at Delgattie! The suppliers were kind enough to send me two new heads free of charge - they probably felt sorry for a careless Scotsman.
All the best
Peter

[Mike Barrio]

Have any forum members made their own "ketchum" type tools?

Folk have shown me homemade ones before, but I can't remember who it was

Best wishes
Mike

[Iain Goolager]

Hamish,

I looked at what was on offer a few years ago regarding 'disgorgers' and was convinced that the Ketchum release was the way to go. I did try some other cheaper and nastier designs of release tools which now lie in some land fill site or other.
There are a few styles, sizes and variations on the market and I did have concerns about the Stonefly version (with the interchangable heads) for the same reason that Peter mentioned in his post. The standard Ketchum Release has 3 sizes available which muddied the waters when thinking about which size to buy so I opted for the Orvis version of the tool of which has 2 size options - the one I chose covers hook sizes 10 - 18 ............which  surely covers the spectrum of most anglers armoury. 

I've only had to use it maybe five times in the last few years but with impressive results. 

Standard Ketchum Release retails at about £15 whereas the Orvis one is £17, but a wee jaunt to Banchory saves on P&P.

Iain

[fishfingers]

yeh hamish ketchum release tools r the way to go for me anyway, i hav 2 of these ,hav,nt had any probs with them over 4yrs now.i have 1 for lures,and 1 for small flies both r attached to a zinger and clipped to my pocket. bout £15 each,so get your letter of to santa quickly.by

[Sandy Nelson]

I had the stonefly one for a while but only ever used the smaller head, couldn't get to grips with it though Probably just me.

Although i tend to tie flies on barbless rather than be-barbed hooks, so i would say the hook almost always falls out in the net, the only times (in the last 5-6 years) i've ever needed to extract a hook with a tool, i've found a nice long nosed pair of hemostats are just perfect, i reckon with some practice i could use the release tool just as easily but the opportunity to practice doesn't happen much

Bead headed flies are easier to move with fingers IMHO so i would go for a size that covers 10-18 like Iain suggests

Sandy

[Rod Mackay]

Hi Hamish,

I have used both the Stonefly and Ketchum versions of this and I would have to say IMHO the Ketchum is a slightly better product.  The Stonefly is a little bit longer and for some reason makes fly removal a bit more fiddly.  Both are a pain in the arse to get used to initially but once you get the hang of using them they're fine.

Cheers

Rod

[Rob Brownfield]

One of these....

Familiar to coarse anglers but useful for fly anglers too. You slide the line in the wee slot, then push the barrel of the disgorger over the hook, a little push down and the hook comes away. If you use a large one designed for hooks of about a size 8 or above then the barrel slips easily over the fly dressing and actually protects the fly from the trouts teeth when you remove it from the mouth.

Cost..about £1 for a plastic one and about £3 for a metal one. Double ended ones do a range of fly sizes.

Hope this helps...and I think Andrew may even have some in stock, failing that, Bill Bain does.

[ANDREW BEBBINGTON]

hi rob
yes i do have some disgorgers at the fishery not sure what sizes i have left, only got plastic ones at the moment at 50p each

andrew