My friend brings everything on a fishing trip.

Everything.

I bring as little as possible, and to me, that’s key.

I make myself concentrate on fishing, not gear. If I forget something, I make do. I fish, and remember next time.

When fishing saltwater, pliers are one of the few things I do not want to forget.

The checklist in my mind goes something like this: rod, reel, a countable number of lures, leaders, swivels, snaps to make the lures swim well, hook sharpener, pliers.

I can make do without some of those.

But forgetting pliers can hinder fishing too much.

Pliers help release a fish quickly, cut tough line and do any number of tasks that come up, like bending hooks back into shape after snagging.

Dr. Slick has made a beauty of a set of pliers.

The company’s Typhoon Pliers are machined from aircraft-grade aluminum that’s tough, light and withstands saltwater.

The jaws are replaceable coated stainless steel, and the side cutters are replaceable tungsten carbide, a material typically two times stronger than steel.

The jaws meet cleanly, and the cutters are precise enough to cut a hair, yet strong enough to cut 60-pound wire, one reviewer said.

The 6-1/2-inch pliers feature rubber grips and come with a holster and a lanyard.

If I forget pliers, I’ll likely need to return and get them.

If I forget anything else, I’ll ask my friend!

For more info, visit Dr. Slick’s website.