6 Reasons to Use the Turtle 8 Pocket Tool

When fishing from land or from a small boat with limited space to store gear, you have to think carefully about what to bring so that you don’t have a pile of tools and tackle to tote around. My friend Jamie gifted me a Turtle 8 Pocket-Tool from Quarrow (the company also makes Clip-On Cap Lights) for my birthday this past year, so I tried leaving my traditional pair of pliers, line cutters and knife behind and put the Turtle 8 to the test. After taking it out on the field with me, I come up with six reasons why I liked using this handy little tool, but also came up with a few examples of when you would want to use a tool that’s a bit more heavy duty.

1. Compact Size. Since this tool is only 2 inches wide, you can easily fit the Turtle 8 inside a cargo pant pocket or clip it to your tackle bag, belt loop or key ring without it getting in the way.
2. Comes with a Carabiner. The Turtle 8 comes with a carabiner attached so it can always be kept handy and won’t easily get lost given it’s small size.
3. Stainless Steel. It’s made of stainless steel so it doesn’t readily corrode, rust or stain when it gets wet.
4. Built-in Wire Cutters. The wire cutters on the Turtle 8 are good to use for cutting leader line or mono, but you will need to bring along braid cutters or scissors if you’re using braided line. The wire cutters on the Turtle-8 won’t cut through braided line very well.
5. Built-in Pliers. The small pliers on this pocket tool are best used for tightening split shots or correcting bent hooks. They will also work to some extent if taking hooks out of small panfish, but the nose isn’t long enough to remove hooks from larger fish.
6. Price. The Turtle 8 is very affordable. It costs right around $6 and can be found at Bass Pro Shops or Dick’s Sporting Goods. I’ve talked to a few other anglers who feel that the tool isn’t all that sturdy, but I think it’s a good value and worth having handy for the price.

Is there a specific type of multi-tool that you prefer to use? And, in which types of fishing situations have you found it to be most helpful? Comment on this post by registering and signing in or go to the Shefishe2 Facebook page and offer your feedback there.