The next piece of favorite gear is significantly smaller, but still very important.  The Rising Ultralight plier is a tool that has lasted through many years of use and keeps going strong.  The Ultralight is basically a mitten clamp with dipped handles for better control, smooth tipped jaws to debarb hooks, a serrated cutter to cut tippet/leader or give a fly a haircut and an internal spring which allows single-handed operation.  These are like a tricked out forcep.  The Ultralight is beefy enough to take to the flats yet small and light enough to always have on your vest, pack or lanyard.

I most commonly use the Ultralight Plier to flatten barbs or pull tags ends of knots to ensure a strong connection.

The Ultralight is designed by Rising’s owner/operator Dylan Rothwell and is distributed by Umpqua Feather Merchants.  Look for this and other Rising products at your favorite fly shop.

Rising page link:  http://risingfish.net/Ultralight.htm

Rising makes it easy to love their products since they are very innovative and are a member of 1% for the planet, which means they give 1% of their sales to environmental organizations to help create a healthy planet.