Ketchum Release Tool

Standard size with black handle.

Practice flawless catch-and-release with the breakout tool that revolutionized fish handling: the Waterworks-Lamson Ketchum Release. Designed to significantly reduce fish mortality, this innovative hook remover allows you to retrieve your delicately-tied flies quickly and without damage—all while keeping your hands completely dry and high above the water.

By sliding the tool down your leader directly to the fly, the Ketchum Release® lets you pop the hook free instantly without the need for hoisting, clamping, netting, or excessive handling. This touchless release method preserves the fish's protective slime coating and eliminates harmful air exposure. Crafted from a durable, lightweight carbon fiber composite, it is an essential piece of conservation gear for every trout, steelhead, and warmwater angler's pack or lanyard.

Key Features & Technical Specs:

• Touchless Hook Release: Eliminates netting and handling, preserving the fish's protective mucus layer and maximizing survival rates.

• Fly Protection: Quickly backs out hooks without twisting, bending, or damaging delicate hackles and bodies.

• Carbon Fiber Composite Construction: Incredibly lightweight, durable, and unaffected by freezing cold or extreme heat.

• Hands-Dry Design: Safely unhook fish without submerging your hands in freezing mountain water.