Which Vic or Leatherman for Fishing?

[ultimaonliner]

I want to get a multi-tool as a gift for my dad who likes to go fishing.  I was considering the following multitools:

1. Vic Spirit
PROS: Beautiful finish, high rust resistance, only about $40 now
CONS: Pliers aren't true long-nose which would be great for fishing, Blade has no point which would be nice when gutting

2. Leatherman Wave
PROS: Needle-nose pliers, one-handed opening pointed blades
CONS: Heavy, costs $62 (about 50% more than Vic Spirit), may not be as rust resistant as Vic Spirit

3. Leatherman Juice S2
PROS: Light, pocketable, similar cost to Vic Spirit at $42
CONS: ?rust resistance, maybe too small

In terms of bang-for-the-buck, the Vic Spirit including leather pouch at $40 seems like a great deal.  But its blunt pliers and lack of a pointed blade make it less than ideal for fishing.

The wave is great, but heavy and more expensive.

Juice S2 seems like a winner, but I'm not sure about its rust resistance and since it still costs more than a Vic Spirit (since the Spirit is $2 less and includes a really nice leather case), not sure if this is a clear winner.

Any thoughts?

[Hoghead]

Here's another one to consider. The Gerber Fisherman Tool.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0012500514855a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&No=36&Ntt=gerber&noImage=0&Ntk=Products&QueryText=gerber&Ntx=matchall&N=4887&Nty=1

[Dunc]

I think I'd go for the Spirit . The pliers arent that blunt , not as bad as the bigger Swisstool . Also why not by him a Swiss Army knife as well with the money youll save 

Dunc

[Roadie]

Here's another one to consider. The Gerber Fisherman Tool.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0012500514855a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&No=36&Ntt=gerber&noImage=0&Ntk=Products&QueryText=gerber&Ntx=matchall&N=4887&Nty=1

I was gonna suggest that too, even includes a diamond file with a hook sharpener in The Wave does have lots of nooks and crannies for fishy bits to get into, the Spirit would be a lot easier to clean. All 4 of the options would be a good choice though

[Leatherman123]

I would honestly buy him a LM Blast. It is about 45 bucks and it has true needlenose pliers and a pointed blade. The tool selection is almost the same as the Spirit as well..

[Grant Lamontagne]

The Spirit S solves the un-pointed blade problem if you can live with the plier head issue.  The S is the same price as a regular Spirit as well.

Def

[Leatherman123]

But then you lose scissors... I

[Poncho65]

If you shop on Ebay you could get a Leatherman Pulse has great tool selection needle nose pliers and diamond file with hook sharpener.  Plus the one I just bought cost me around $26.50 shipped, if your lucky though and noone bids against you, you could get it for $21.  Also has buy it now for $29.99 plus $6 shipping.  Just a thought though gotta love that Pulse 

[Leatherman123]

Yeah, I got my Pulse for $15 shipped!

[Poncho65]

Plus I forgot to mention  that it is never mentioned, but it is new in box and box is a nice little collectors tin

[scrappy]

i would go with the pulse, blast, or spirit s.

[Smitty44]

I would go for the pulse also if you can find one,or an other good retired tool that I used for over 12 yrs is the PST II.

[ultimaonliner]

Are you guys recommending the Pulse because it's cheap and it's a Leatherman?  How is it better than the Juice S2?

[Leatherman123]

Nope, the Pulse is a great tool. It has a diamond coated file w/ groove for sharpening fish hooks, pointed blade, and scissors!

[BIG-TARGET]

If you are going to fish, you don't need a MT.  You need stick of dynamite

[Dtrain]

If you are going to fish, you don't need a MT.  You need stick of dynamite

A Field Phone along with a length of Commo wire works pretty good too.It is also alot quieter.

Hopefully,no one here will inquire as to how I came across this bit of information. :DAll I have to say is that it is incredible what happens when a young soldier is left to his own devices,access to military hardware,and has plenty of time to occupy.

Dtrain

[ducktapehero]

Another vote for the Spirit S.

[edap617]

If you are going to fish, you don't need a MT.  You need stick of dynamite

You're right, BT! Hehehe...

[Poncho65]

Are you guys recommending the Pulse because it's cheap and it's a Leatherman?  How is it better than the Juice S2?

No the Pulse is at the top of my list of favs  Has everything I need in a regular day

[ultimaonliner]

Thanks for all the great replies.  Just to add to my confusion, now I'm thinking about the Skeletool.   

I just ordered myself the Skeletool CX to test it out. 

I have to admit, the pliers are not truly needle-nose and it doesn't have scissors.  It may not even have the rust resistance of the Spirit (S), but it looks so cool, I'm thinking even my difficult-to-please dad might like it.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Thanks for all the great replies.  Just to add to my confusion, now I'm thinking about the Skeletool.   

I just ordered myself the Skeletool CX to test it out. 

I have to admit, the pliers are not truly needle-nose and it doesn't have scissors.  It may not even have the rust resistance of the Spirit (S), but it looks so cool, I'm thinking even my difficult-to-please dad might like it.

I hope your dad does like it mate , I'm not sure a Skeletool will be much use as a fishing tool though

[WhichDawg]

I would suggest the regular Spirit also.

The pliers are long enough, the tool is built rather thinner than others,
so it should be able to get in most fish mouths because hook extraction is very important
and you can open the tool with one hand, very important, fish in one hand, tool in another.

Scissors would be nice for fishing, line cutting and such.
Personally I'd rather cut fishing line with scissors then a knife, but not necessary.

Then like you know, corrosion resistance, which the Spirit excels at.

As for the blunt blade, you could always re-profile that, and it doesn't have to be too pointy,
just sharp. When I clean fish, I cut the head off first, then gutting next and you don't need a pointy blade.

I personally would use a dedicated fixed blade for guttin fish. their usually bigger and
because your tool is gonna get stinky! and a simple knife is way easier to clean.

but your probably wanting to cut his tool needs down, which is nice.

good luck and good son!

[Dunc]

I would suggest the regular Spirit also.

The pliers are long enough, the tool is built rather thinner than others,
so it should be able to get in most fish mouths because hook extraction is very important
and you can open the tool with one hand, very important, fish in one hand, tool in another.

Scissors would be nice for fishing, line cutting and such.
Personally I'd rather cut fishing line with scissors then a knife, but not necessary.

Then like you know, corrosion resistance, which the Spirit excels at.

As for the blunt blade, you could always re-profile that, and it doesn't have to be too pointy,
just sharp. When I clean fish, I cut the head off first, then gutting next and you don't need a pointy blade.

I personally would use a dedicated fixed blade for guttin fish. their usually bigger and
because your tool is gonna get stinky! and a simple knife is way easier to clean.

but your probably wanting to cut his tool needs down, which is nice.

good luck and good son!

Couldnt agree more mate  When I go fishing I always use the scissors . I have used a Spirit , Swisstool RS and a LM Supertool 200 . The Leatherman was ok but didnt have scissors but the two Vics are best for me and I didnt find the full size Swisstools pliers a problem either.

Dunc