What is the best tool for Catch and Release?

[pinklife]

I fish for brownies using mostly small traditional flies with barbless/debarbed hooks.
Releasing fish is never a problem when they are hooked in or around the trout's lips, but often, especially when they really want the flies, they get hooked in the tongue or elsewhere inside their mouth. Now I have fairly large fingers and thumbs and the trout have relatively small mouths and I have problems getting the flies out. I carry a pair of flat faced pliers for debarbing the hooks but they never seem to work well. Are forceps the best or are there any other suggestions?

[pompy.bass.man]

hi mate welcome to te forum. forceps are brillaint on getting the hook out of small mouthed fish.
good luck

regards

ollie

[dave fish]

why dont you try a disgorger good tool and cheap

[Rossthedon]

personally i find a disgorger easier with small fish like perch, roach, small brownies.... but forceps easier with bigger fish like larger trout, pike......
just try both and see what you prefer personally

[Greenheart]

I use a small pair of curved medical forceps

[dry imperial]

The best tool is the tip of your rod, which is just like a long disgorger.

Unhook the fish in the water, though, alas, there are those who feel a need to take photos of gasping fish, etc etc.

Tight lines to you.