Protect — Fishing

Line Cuts.
Hook Pricks.
Fin Spines.
Bare Hands All Day.

Guard-Tex wraps the fingers that handle line, hooks, and fish — blocking monofilament cuts, cushioning hook pricks, and shielding against fin spines. Self-adhering tape that bonds tighter in water.

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Fishing Demands Bare Hands in Conditions That Destroy Them.

You can't tie knots in gloves. You can't feel a strike through rubber. You can't bait a hook with numb, gloved fingers. Fishing demands bare-hand sensitivity — and bare hands take the damage. Monofilament and braided line slice fingertips during casting, retrieving, and fighting fish. Hook points prick during baiting and unhooking. Fin spines puncture during fish handling. Saltwater dries and cracks skin. And everything happens with wet hands from first cast to dock.

The wet-hands problem makes adhesive tape useless. It dissolves in water. Band-Aids slide off in five minutes. Even waterproof adhesive fails when hands are submerged and dried repeatedly throughout the day.

Braided line was slicing my casting finger on every hookset. Guard-Tex on that one finger — zero cuts in three months of tournament fishing.
— Bass Tournament Angler

Guard-Tex bonds tighter in moisture — the exact opposite of adhesive tape. Cotton gauze provides a cut-resistant layer on line-handling fingers, cushions hook contact, and blocks fin spine punctures. The only finger protection that improves in the wet conditions fishing guarantees.

Fishing hand protection

Works Better Wet

The only tape that bonds tighter in water.

Guard-Tex cohesive bond strengthens in moisture. Adhesive tape dissolves. Band-Aids slide off. Guard-Tex holds all day on the water.

Protection From Cast to Release

Line handling and casting. Monofilament and braided line slice the index finger during casting and the fighting finger during fish runs. Guard-Tex on line-contact fingers catches the cutting edge before it reaches skin.

Hook and bait handling. Baiting hooks and unhooking fish puts fingertips near sharp points. Guard-Tex cushions hook pricks and provides grip on slippery bait.

Fish handling. Fin spines, gill plates, and tooth plates puncture bare hands. Guard-Tex on the handling hand catches spine points while maintaining the gentle grip catch-and-release anglers need.

Saltwater skin protection. Salt dries and cracks skin, especially in existing cuts. Guard-Tex creates a cotton barrier between salt water and damaged skin, preventing the crack-salt-crack cycle that worsens on multi-day trips.

Knot tying. Guard-Tex is thin enough to feel line, thread hook eyes, and cinch knots. Full knot-tying dexterity with protected fingertips.

0
Adhesive on Skin
0
Residue on Gear
100%
Cotton Gauze
1935
Made in USA Since

Guard-Tex vs. Other Options

FeatureGuard-TexAdhesive TapeBare HandsFishing Gloves
Wet performance✓ Bonds tighter in water✗ DissolvesN/AVaries
Line cut protection✓ Cotton catches line edges✗ Line cuts through adhesive✗ Direct cuts✓ Cut resistant
Knot-tying dexterity✓ Feel line, thread eyes✗ Adhesive sticks to line✓ Maximum✗ Can't tie knots
All-day hold✓ Full day on the water✗ 30 min in waterN/A✓ Durable
Removal✓ Zero residue✗ Gummy residueN/APull off

How to Tape for Fishing

1

Tape at the Dock

Index finger and thumb on the casting hand. Fingertips on the fish-handling hand. Two passes each. Apply on dry hands.

Pro tip: Bond strengthens once you get wet. Apply dry, and the tape sets stronger as you fish.
2

Fish All Day

Guard-Tex holds through a full day of wet-dry cycling — saltwater spray, fish slime, bait juice, rain. One application lasts from launch to dock.

Pro tip: For multi-day trips, rewrap each morning with fresh tape.
3

Handle Fish Safely

Guard-Tex on the handling hand reduces fin-spine punctures and gill-plate cuts during unhooking and release.

Pro tip: For toothy species, tape is not sufficient — use proper lip grippers. Guard-Tex is for everyday fin and hook protection.
4

Remove at the Dock

Peel off — fish slime, salt, and bait stay on the tape. Your fingers underneath are uncut and clean.

Pro tip: Every mark on the tape is a cut that didn't happen to your finger.
White Guard-Tex

Most Popular

Guard-Tex White — 3/4" Width

Self-adhering, non-stretch cotton. Zero adhesive on skin or equipment. One roll lasts weeks of use.

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What Fishing People Are Saying

"Braided line was slicing my casting finger on every hookset. Guard-Tex on that one finger — zero cuts in three months of tournament fishing."
— Bass Tournament Angler
"Offshore saltwater — my hands were cracked and bleeding by day two. Guard-Tex keeps salt out of my cracks and I can fish all week."
— Offshore Angler, Sailfish
"Fly fishing in rain. Every adhesive tape I've tried falls off in 30 minutes. Guard-Tex holds all day and actually grips better wet."
— Fly Fisher, Steelhead
"Catfish fin spines were putting me in the first aid kit every trip. Guard-Tex on my handling hand and I haven't been spiked since."
— Catfish Guide, River

Frequently Asked Questions

Does finger tape work in water?

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Guard-Tex bonds tighter in wet conditions. It holds through full days of fishing in rain, spray, and submersion — the opposite of adhesive tape.

Can you tie knots with finger tape?

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Yes. Guard-Tex is thin enough to feel line, thread hook eyes, and cinch knots with full dexterity.

How do you prevent line cuts from braided line?

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Wrap the casting finger and fighting finger with Guard-Tex. Cotton catches line edges during casting, retrieving, and fighting fish.

Does Guard-Tex work in saltwater?

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Yes. The cohesive bond holds through salt spray and submersion. Cotton also protects against salt-cracked skin.

How long does tape last while fishing?

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One application lasts a full day on the water through all conditions.

Is this better than fishing finger guards?

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Guard-Tex provides similar cut protection with better wet grip and full knot-tying dexterity. It's also usable on any finger combination, not just pre-made sizes.

Get Guard-Tex

Protect Your Hands. Do Your Best Work.

Self-adhering tape. No adhesive on skin or gear. Made in Elk Grove Village, IL since 1935.

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