? on Lip Grippers

[dogsbody]

Gday Viewers I'm going to get myself a pair of lip grippers. So what's good and whats crap? How much?

Help appreciated.

I won't be getting Boga grips,,,, way to $$$$ for what I need.

Dave

[Didley]

Not judging anyone here, I could be wrong, but if U release fish, I can't see that they are a good thing for the fish. A good landing net has gota be a better investment.


Comments please.

[ffejsmada]

I've got a set of Berkley lip grippers. Only cheap about $25-$30 I think from memory.

Don't use them that often but when I do they work fine.

I spray them with lanolin now and then to keep the rust out and to keep the spring in good nick...............no worries.

Jeff.

[ffejsmada]

Not judging anyone here, I could be wrong, but if U release fish, I can't see that they are a good thing for the fish. A good landing net has gota be a better investment.


Comments please.

There's nothing wrong with lip gripping the fish if you keep a hand under their belly taking most of the weight.

Sometimes you see clowns holding fish up by the grippers putting the full weight of the fish on it's jaw.
Now that couldn't be good for the fish.
One can only presume that these fish are being kept.
One would like to think so anyway.

Cheers.

[bassfan]

If you want quality invest in a Boga grip. The other brands are just cheap imitations & won't last wheras the Boga is well designed and made of quality materials. Also the inbuilt scale is calibrated and accurate for weighing your catch.
Buy quality and it will last a lifetime...!
I use mine regularly, and if you grip the fish & leave it in the water while you release the hooks it is a good catch & release strategy for the fishes survival.

Bassfan

[dogsbody]

Dids and Jeff I'm aware of supporting the weight of a fish if being released tho not many get to fight another day as I don't catch huge amounts of fish. It's more of a case of holding the jaws open when getting hooks out eg: sharks and other toothies.

Bassfan I know the Bogas are the ducks nuts just I can't justify the cost of em. Hence the ? of what else is good enough.

Dave

[Jeremy87]

The berkley ones represent the best value per $ imo. Lip grips can be a valueable tool when used appropriatley. I use them when walking the bank where carrying a net is not appropriate, similarly i carry one in the canoe. They also make handling fish when removing hooks easier and for difficult fish to handle like toga and flathead are invalueble when taking photos so long as the angler is aware of the necessity of supporting the fishes weight.

[ronnien]

berkley lip grips, had them for about 2 years now. like what has been said... just give a spray now & than they will last for ages.

ron.

[Steve B]

I am with Jeremy on this one. Berkley lip grips are the best $ for $ value. I have been thru a few pairs of cheaper versions and on barra and they have done OK for a few fish then spread the grips under a bit of pressure. Berkleys have survived. Bogas are the top line, but a good landing net and a set of berkley lip grips would still come in well under the cost of a set of Bogas.

Steve

[Dan5]

Berkley's are fine .......for the price ,

I have a set of 30lb Boga's that are about 11 or 12 years old now,they have lived in my tackle box all of their live's and have been dunked in saltwater 100's of time's and still look like new (nearly) and i've never sprayed them with anything yet..........surgical stainless.

Dan,

[Nic]

Shimano has middle-of-the-range grips, they're meant to be more reliable and corrosion resistant than the cheaper grips on the market.

I saved my pennies for months to get Bogas... seeing as the warranty lasts several generations I see it as a cost-saving investment.

[kevvie]

Berkleys are fine...had mine for 3 years, i spray with inox every 3 to 6 months and are as good as new. Apart from the build quality and durability of the materials lip grips are all based on the same idea...obviously to help handle fish. I must agree in some part that lip grips can cause some damage to a fish's mouth even if supported by the belly...I have seen first hand the grips tearing through a fish's mouth as the spring holds fairly tight. Its not a common thing but something that should be kept in the back of your mind. If the species or situation doesnt require lip grips try not to use em, an enviro net will always be the best option.

[NAGG]

Yeh Berkleys are good for the coin ....... they do the job ( controlling a fishes head)
Just give em a spray of Lanox / Inox / tackle guard ....... & they will last a while ( mine are 3 years old)

The Shimano ones are good because like the Bogas the handle rotates ...... which can save damaging a fish if it decides to play up once lipped ...... but you are paying above $100 compared to $30ish.

Chris

[Jeremy87]

Shimano has middle-of-the-range grips, they're meant to be more reliable and corrosion resistant than the cheaper grips on the market.

I saved my pennies for months to get Bogas... seeing as the warranty lasts several generations I see it as a cost-saving investment.

Getting something that lasts for ever works in theory. I was glad i just had berkley lip grips instead of bogas when at lenthals a couple of years ago when Matt was releasing a 45cm bass (another situation when lip grips are useful is if you are just catching and releasing and not taking photo's you can lip grip the fish keep it in the water, remove the hooks and let it go. In the scheme of things this is probably better for the fish than using a landing net) without the safety lanyard around his wrist. The fish kicked just after the the hooks had been removed and earn't is freedom with the grips still attached to its lower jaw.

[reidy]

There's nothing wrong with lip gripping the fish if you keep a hand under their belly taking most of the weight.

Sometimes you see clowns holding fish up by the grippers putting the full weight of the fish on it's jaw.
Now that couldn't be good for the fish.
One can only presume that these fish are being kept.
One would like to think so anyway.

Cheers.

I believe they can also snap the spine of larger fish when you pull them out of the water (gravity, weight and bit of a flap and snap goes the spine)
Cheers
Reidy