2026.10.27 2026.10.28

Shimano Power Pliers and Power Pliers Bent: Heavy-Duty Pliers for #5–11 Split Rings

minagiman

Big lures mean big split rings, and big split rings are a pain to open. Braid is also hard to cut cleanly. Shimano’s new Power Pliers are aimed at exactly those two problems. They are heavy-duty pliers for shore jigging, rock-shore casting and offshore work, built to handle #5 to #11 split rings. They went on sale in Japan in September 2026, in two versions: straight and bent.

Contents

Lineup and price
Key features
Straight or bent?
Where they fit
How they fit with Shimano’s other pliers
Make them last
My take
Read next

Lineup and price

Model	Code	Colours	Size	Price in Japan (ex. tax)
Power Pliers	CT-561Z	Black / Light Grey	179 × 51 × 14 mm	¥4,750
Power Pliers Bent	CT-562Z	Black / Light Grey	179 × 51 × 14 mm	¥4,800

Both have stainless steel jaws. The only real difference is the nose: straight or bent.

Key features

1. A two-angle split ring opener

The tip uses two angles. A sharp angle slides easily into the ring, and a shallower angle holds the ring wide open once it is in. That matters most with large, stiff rings, which tend to snap shut while you are swapping hooks. Shimano says the design is made for #5 to #11 rings.

2. A cutter that actually cuts braid

The cutter combines a scissor-style shearing action with serrated blades, so slippery PE braid is gripped and cut instead of being crushed.

3. Fluorine coating against rust

The stainless steel also has a fluorine coating for better corrosion resistance on rocks and boats, where the pliers get soaked in salt water all day.

4. Stiff jaws

The frame is rigid, so the jaws do not flex when you grip a big hook. That gives you more confidence when you are pulling a treble out of a large fish.

5. Small details

Spring hinge: stays in your hand on a rocking boat
Comfortable grip: easy to squeeze hard
One-hand lock: quick to open and close, with a shorter spring so the pliers fit holsters more easily
Large lanyard hole: fits a wide range of coil lanyards

Straight or bent?

Type	Nose	Best for
Power Pliers (straight)	Straight, transfers force directly	Anglers who like a classic feel and do a lot of hook removal
Power Pliers Bent	Curved, so you can see what you are working on	Anglers who change rings and hooks often and want a clear view

My suggestion: if you swap rings and hooks a lot, get the Bent. If you mostly unhook fish and need pulling power, get the straight version.

Where they fit

Fishing	Why they help
Shore jigging	Changing rings and assist hooks on metal jigs, and cutting braid
Rock-shore casting (yellowtail amberjack, kingfish types)	Big plug rings and trebles, plus rust resistance on the rocks
Offshore casting and jigging	Large rings and work on a moving deck
Surf yellowtail and big flounder	Hook changes and unhooking

How they fit with Shimano’s other pliers

Pliers	Role
Power Pliers / Bent	#5–11 rings, big game
AD Pliers	The standard mid-size pliers for seabass, surf and general fishing
Mini Ring Pliers	Small rings for light game

Choose by the size of the rings on your lures. If you mostly fish seabass or flounder minnows, the AD Pliers are enough. If you use big jigs and plugs, the Power Pliers make more sense.

Make them last

Rinse in fresh water after every trip
Dry thoroughly
Put a drop of oil on the hinge
Clear any braid fibres out of the cutter
Wash and dry the holster and lanyard as well

Even with the coating, salt left on the hinge will make it stiff. Rinsing after every trip is what keeps pliers working. Shimano is also releasing a semi-hard plier holster in its autumn–winter 2026 range, which is worth a look alongside these.

My take

In big-fish game, the bite window is often short. How fast you can change a lure or a hook can decide whether you catch anything. A ring that will not open, or braid that will not cut, wastes exactly those minutes.

The Power Pliers are not flashy, but you use pliers on every single trip. If you fish with big jigs and plugs, they are a sensible upgrade before the winter shore-jigging and rock-shore season.