Photos: Fox Rage · supplied retailer imagery
Predator tackle · Unhooking tools · Our take
Fox Rage Predator Unhooking Pliers
NTL041 20cm/8in or NTL042 30cm/12in
A proper bit of pike kit: long, angled and built to give you a safer, more controlled way of dealing with nasty trebles.
- Angled, heavy-duty pliers designed for safer unhooking.
- Made from high-quality carbon steel with a gunmetal grey finish.
- Ergonomic hard-plastic handles use bright red and black colours for visibility.
- Available in 20cm/8in NTL041 and 30cm/12in NTL042 versions.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Fox Rage Predator Unhooking Pliers, available in two separate sizes: the 20cm/8in NTL041 and the 30cm/12in NTL042.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A sensible, purpose-built predator tool with the right shape and size options for safer pike unhooking.
- Product Quality9/10
- Performance8.9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching9.1/10
- Ease of Use8.8/10
- Value for Money8.7/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Pike lure anglers. The angled shape and leverage suit fast, controlled unhooking when a treble is buried in a hard-to-reach spot.
- Predator anglers building a proper unhooking kit. The longer version gives useful reach and keeps hands further away from teeth and exposed hooks.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers only fishing tiny perch lures. These are fairly serious pliers, so a smaller general-purpose tool may be less bulky and easier to carry.
- Anyone who leaves tools wet and muddy. The carbon-steel build deserves a wipe and dry after use to keep it in bob-on condition.
The lowdown
Introducing the Fox Rage Predator Unhooking Pliers
A proper bit of pike kit: long, angled and built to give you a safer, more controlled way of dealing with nasty trebles.
- Angled, heavy-duty pliers designed for safer unhooking.
- Made from high-quality carbon steel with a gunmetal grey finish.
- Ergonomic hard-plastic handles use bright red and black colours for visibility.
- Available in 20cm/8in NTL041 and 30cm/12in NTL042 versions.
Quick verdict
Verdict
These are a sensible bit of kit for anyone targeting pike or other toothy predators. The angled pistol-grip shape gives you useful leverage, while the carbon-steel construction and long-nose design make tricky unhooking jobs more controlled.
Pick the 20cm model for general lure and deadbait work where compactness matters. Go for the 30cm version if you regularly fish bigger trebles, deep-hooking situations or swims where extra reach could keep your hands well away from the business end.
A sensible, purpose-built predator tool with the right shape and size options for safer pike unhooking.
- Product Quality
- 9/10
- Performance
- 8.9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 9.1/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.8/10
- Value for Money
- 8.7/10
Carbon steel, hard-plastic ergonomic handles and a heavy-duty design make this look properly suited to regular predator work.
The angled pistol grip should provide useful leverage and controlled hook removal around awkward treble positions.
It won’t catch more fish directly, but quicker, calmer unhooking helps protect the pike and get you ready for the next bite.
The visible handles and natural grip are practical, though choosing the right length matters for your style of fishing.
A dedicated predator tool earns its keep if you fish pike regularly, with two sizes covering different tackle setups.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Fox Rage Predator Unhooking Pliers
If you’re heading out for pike, a decent pair of unhooking pliers isn’t some optional extra you chuck in the bag if there’s room. They’re proper essential kit. Pike teeth, tangled trebles and a lively fish on the mat are a rotten combination for faffing about with your fingers. The Fox Rage Predator Unhooking Pliers are built to make that job more controlled and, crucially, give you a bit more distance from the sharp stuff.
The first thing you notice is the angled pistol-grip design. Rather than holding a straight pair of pliers in an awkward, wrist-bending position, the shape gives you a more natural line into the pike’s mouth. That matters when a hook is sitting at an annoying angle or a lure has rotated into the corner of the jaw. You want steady pressure, not a wrestling match.
They’re available in two separate versions. The NTL041 is the approximately 20cm/8in model, while the NTL042 stretches to roughly 30cm/12in. That gives you a proper choice rather than pretending one size magically suits every predator angler. The shorter pair is easier to carry and manoeuvre. The longer one offers more reach when the hook placement is less friendly.
For most lure anglers, the 20cm version looks like the neat all-rounder. It should sit comfortably in a lure bag or unhooking pouch without becoming a big, clunky lump. It’s long enough to improve your working distance over ordinary household pliers, while still being manageable when you need to turn a hook or get a firm grip on the shank.
The 30cm option is the one to consider if safety and reach are your top priorities. Bigger lures, multiple trebles and deep-hooking situations can quickly make a short tool feel a bit naff. Extra length won’t solve every problem, of course, but it can help you keep your hands further from the pike’s mouth while you work the hook free. That’s a worthwhile bit of insurance on a serious predator session.
Both versions use high-quality carbon steel and come in a gunmetal grey finish. That gives them the look and feel of a proper bit of tackle rather than a throwaway tool. Carbon steel is a sensible choice for leverage and durability, but it does need a little care. Wipe the pliers down after a wet day, don’t leave them buried in a soggy unhooking mat and they should stay sweet for plenty of sessions.
The hard-plastic handles are shaped for an ergonomic grip, with bright red and black colouring that makes them easy to find. That might sound like a small thing, but tools have a habit of disappearing into dark bags, weed and the general chaos around an unhooking mat. When a pike is flapping and you need the pliers now, visible handles are dead handy.
In use, the main benefit is control. The angled jaws and pistol-grip layout let you work with a more deliberate movement, whether you’re removing a single treble or trying to free a hook from a lure without adding more damage. Keep the fish wet, support it properly, use your forceps with purpose and avoid endless prodding. The tool helps, but good unhooking habits still do the heavy lifting.
There are a couple of trade-offs. The 20cm model won’t offer the same reach as the longer version, and the 30cm pair takes up more space in a compact setup. Neither is a deal-breaker; it simply comes down to the sort of pike fishing you do. For a tidy, dedicated predator kit with sensible handling built in, these Fox Rage pliers look like a cracking choice.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Product type
- Angled predator unhooking pliers
- Construction
- High-quality carbon steel
- Finish
- Gunmetal grey
- Handle design
- Ergonomic hard-plastic pistol-grip handles
- Sizes
- Approximately 20cm/8in and 28–30cm/12in
- Model numbers
- NTL041: 20cm/8in; NTL042: 30cm/12in
Specs checked with Fox Rage, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
The key angle
The big selling point here isn’t fancy gadgetry. It’s safer distance and better control when a pike has turned a lure into a mouthful of trouble.
The angled handles let you work the pliers more naturally, particularly when you’re leaning over the mat and trying to keep pressure off the fish. That’s exactly the sort of small design choice that can make an awkward unhooking job feel far less of a faff.
What you’re buying
A safer bit of reach for pike work
The Fox Rage Predator Unhooking Pliers are angled, heavy-duty tools made for dealing with predator hooks. Their pistol-grip shape helps line your hand and wrist up more naturally with the job, while the carbon-steel build gives you the stiffness needed to work a stubborn hook.
The 20cm/8in NTL041 is the compact choice. The 30cm/12in NTL042 gives you more reach and a bigger safety margin around teeth and trebles. Both have ergonomic hard-plastic handles in bright red and black, plus a gunmetal grey finish.
Worth knowing. Pick the size before you buy. The 20cm and 30cm versions are separate options, not one pair with an adjustable length.
On the bank
Built for proper predator sessions
These make most sense for pike anglers using lures, deadbaits or rigs with exposed trebles. The 20cm model suits mobile lure fishing where every inch of bag space matters. It’s compact enough to keep close at hand without becoming a nuisance.
The 30cm model is better for anglers who regularly fish larger baits, bigger lures or waters where a hook can end up awkwardly placed. Extra reach can keep your hands further from the danger zone and give you more room to work calmly.
Whichever size you choose, have them beside the unhooking mat before the first cast. If a screaming take comes along, you don’t want to be rummaging through a rucksack while the fish is waiting.
Quick answers
The stuff you’ll want to know
The shorter and longer versions do the same basic job, but they suit different styles. Go compact for portability; go long for reach and extra separation from pike teeth and hooks.
They’re not a substitute for a proper unhooking mat, forceps technique or fish handling. Keep the pike wet, support it correctly and use the pliers smoothly rather than yanking at a buried hook.
Worth knowing. Carbon steel is tough, but don’t treat it like it’s immune to corrosion. Dry the pliers after a wet session and give the moving parts occasional care.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Angled pistol-grip design gives good leverage on stubborn hooks.
- Longer 30cm option keeps your fingers further from pike teeth and trebles.
- Bright red and black handles are easy to spot on a busy unhooking mat.
- Carbon-steel construction feels suited to regular predator work.
Worth knowing
- The 20cm version may feel a touch short for deeply placed hooks or bigger pike lures.
- The 30cm model takes up more room in a compact sling or small lure bag.
- Carbon steel needs sensible care and drying after wet sessions.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Which Fox Rage Predator Unhooking Pliers size should I choose?
Which Fox Rage Predator Unhooking Pliers size should I choose?
The 20cm/8in NTL041 is the handier all-round option for lure fishing and compact tackle bags. The 30cm/12in NTL042 is the safer shout when you want extra reach around bigger lures, deeper hooks or lively pike.
02Are these pliers suitable for pike?
Are these pliers suitable for pike?
Yes. They’re designed with pike and other toothy predators in mind, with an angled pistol-grip layout that helps you apply controlled leverage while keeping your hands away from the mouth and trebles.
03What should I do after using them?
What should I do after using them?
Give them a rinse if they’ve been in dirty or silty water, dry them properly and keep the moving parts clean. A tiny bit of suitable oil now and then is sensible, especially with carbon-steel tools.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: verdict. The strongest reasons to choose it are angled pistol-grip design gives good leverage on stubborn hooks. and longer 30cm option keeps your fingers further from pike teeth and trebles.; the main trade-off is the 20cm version may feel a touch short for deeply placed hooks or bigger pike lures..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Angled pistol-grip design gives good leverage on stubborn hooks.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Pike lure anglers: The angled shape and leverage suit fast, controlled unhooking when a treble is buried in a hard-to-reach spot.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “The 20cm version may feel a touch short for deeply placed hooks or bigger pike lures.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Fox Rage Predator Unhooking Pliers
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