Fishing: Orange Juice or a Squirt of Blue

G

GLDNDomer

Joined
Apr 8, 2011
Messages
322
Okay, so I've looked up every thread I could possibly find on both these multitools, but none of them really answer my thoughts 100%. I'm looking for a multitool that has scissors, a knife, and pliers. I also want it to weigh less than 6oz, something pocketable in summer shorts and in a jeans coin pocket. The pliers need to be strong enough to dehook bream, bass, and catfish - the latter being large hooks and usually fairly stuck into their muscular mouths or lips.

Will a Squirt PS4 get the job done on this? All the threads I've read always warn about the feeble little pliers not having much power. I've read similar things about the Juice S2... But just let me know if the Squirt could handle this task or if you have any other recommendations besides these two and the Skeletools, which just aren't my cup o' tea.

Thanks and any comments are most welcome. I like the look and the IDEA of the Leatherman Juice S2, but I just see it as an unnecessarily larger and heavier version of the Squirt PS4. They both have almost exactly the same toolset but in different sizes. Dang it, why can't Leatherman just make an awesome 4 oz multitool with the specific tools that I personally want?? Why oh why.
 
GLDNDomer said:
Dang it, why can't Leatherman just make an awesome 4 oz multitool with the specific tools that I personally want?? Why oh why.
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The Juice S2 is 4.4 oz and has the tools you want.

If you are looking for something to fit in a jeans coin pocket, you will probably have to stick to the PS4 or something similar. A Juice S2 will fit in there, but its not comfy.

In terms of utility, I think the PS4 will be a little too small for removing fish hooks. Something at least the size of the S2 would work, but a Leatherman Fuse (6 oz.) would be even better. The Fuse is at the upper end of what is pocketable, though.

For light EDC usage, go with the PS4 or Juice S2 in your pocket. When you go fishing, put a Fuse, Blast, Wave, etc. on your belt. Thats what I say. You'll appreciate the full size pliers and handles. Or keep it in your tackle box. :thumbup:

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I just can't see something so small being useful for fishing. Hooks don't always end up in the lip. I use a Gerber 600 multitool. I can hold the fish in one hand, grab the 600 in my pocket with the other hand, flick my wrist to open the pliers, and remove the hook.

Picture004.jpg
 
I have a PS4 I carry daily. I've cranked on that little thing pretty hard.... has held up great so far. My point is those little things will take a lot more abuse than what you would think.
 
bergholz said:
I have a PS4 I carry daily. I've cranked on that little thing pretty hard.... has held up great so far. My point is those little things will take a lot more abuse than what you would think.
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Just this morning I was cutting up a clothes hanger to compare four leathermen I own. With the ST300, clipping the wire was almost effortless, slightly more difficult with the Charge TTi, and just doable with the PS4, although I did manage to raise a blood blister on my hand from a slip of grip.

To my surprise, I was unable to snip through the wire at all with the S2. Aside from my questionable hand strength :o, I think the problem was with the thin handle edges digging into my palm, preventing me from bearing down hard enough. I might have been able to get it done wearing gloves, but in that kind of work situation, I would have had a larger multi-tool on me, anyway. Or better yet, a dedicated wire cutter.

I don't know if any of this would have a bearing on how well an S2 would perform in a fishing situation. Small and light is great for pocket carry, but there is no getting around the laws of physics.Without thicker skin and the gripping strength of two separate gorillas, I would opt for one of the big guys and learn to live with it.
Which I do, anyway ;) .
 
The Gerber 400 and 600 multitools are highly underrated. The designs do have their limitations, but they are VERY robust, and often the best multitools for the job at hand. You wouldn't believe the things I've done with the RemGrit blade on my Gerber. It has performed jobs that never could have been done with a Leatherman.
 
Thanks for the recommendations, fellas. I'll look into the Gerber 400, but right now I'm leaning towards the PS4. The problem that I have is I've never seen them in person, so I'm not sure whether the PS4 pliers would be able to even FIT into a little panfish's mouth about an inch down, because those are usually the ones that I catch that just swallow the bait hook, line, and sinker. The only two multitools I have, both of which I found in random places (like in a tree on our farm or in my dad's boat, put there overnight??), are the Gerber 600 and the Gerber Flik. I like the one-handed pliers, but my Gerber 600 doesn't have scissors, and the Gerber Flik is 10oz, way to heavy for my summertime shorts' pocket but great for when I'm wearin jeans/belt. Thanks guys I think I might just bet on the PS4, since it's about half the price anyway.

Also as far as I know, all current Gerber multitools are being made overseas? I think that the old 600s were from the US but no longer. The funny thing is, I have had the Gerber 600 for about three years, but I never knew I could just flick my wrist to get them out until I came to this forum a year ago. I always just pulled them out using both hands. Maybe I would have figured it out on my own given another 5 years...

Okay, one more edit. I'm jealous of the ToolBus, Buzzbait. It looks fantastic, much better than the prison cell stainless steel.
 
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GLDNDomer said:
Thanks guys I think I might just bet on the PS4
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I think you should do that, since it seems thats what you want, and its a fine tool when its diminutive size is taken into account.

Here are some Gerber pics, just because:

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diesel.jpg


bear.jpg

Bear Grylls version: when you have more money than brains.
 
I have both the S2 and PS4(in fact, orange and blue). I bought them for essentially the same reason you are considering. The PS4 should do fine for panfish whereas the S2 would be better if you were primarily fishing for bass or larger species. My suggestion, which has never failed me, is to mash down the barb on all hooks and they will be much easier to remove regardless of specie caught or the tool used.

I replaced the S2 for everyday carry with the PS4 and have not been disappointed, given that the PS4 is obviously not as heavy duty as the larger S2.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.
 
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