Plastic Fish Grips For Bass

[hoosierbass07]

 I recently bought some plastic fish grips.  They are made by United Plastic Molders.  Cost around $14 or so from Amazon.  Anyway, got a pair in the mail today.  I bought them for when I catch a bass on a crankbait or any other lure with treble hooks (not often), I can use them in case there is a danger my fingers might get hooked with a treble hook.  

 

 Anyway, I've noticed these grips have a rather strong grip.  I wanted to see how strong so I stuck my finger in between and clamped down and it hurt.  

 

 I'm wondering, are these things going to hurt the bass when I use them on them?  I only do catch and release.  I'm not planning on using them on every bass.  Only the ones I catch on treble hooks (not very many).  Iv'e read it might not be a good idea to lift a big bass out of the water with the grips alone.  If I do use them I'm willing to pull the bass out of the water with them but also support the bass underneath with my other hand.   I'm more concerned about the griping/clamping part.  If I clamp down on my finger and it hurts, what about the mouth/jaw of the bass?  

[BassnChris]

You could always net the bass to get them in the boat..........I would think that would be better than 'grippin' them to lift them into the boat.

Just my .02 cents........I would only grip catfish maybe....actually have a glove I use for catfish though.

[hookset on 3]

I don't mean to sound crass, but when you're driving a jig or worm hook through the roof of the Bass' mouth and into his skull or even brain cavity .....you know what I'm getting at.

[everythingthatswims]

Whenever I see people using fish grips it just looks clumsy and gives the fish a huge opportunity to shake loose. Get a rubber mesh net, trebles won't get stuck in it, and you can land the fish FAST. If a fish has trebles in his mouth, grab him behind the head while you unhook him.

[Driftb]

The Ranger net company make a great rubber net with a handle that extends to about 6'. I'ts about all you'll need for bass and walleye fishing and runs about $50 at Dick's.  If you are really concerned about getting hooked, you might try a Boca grip, but I have only been hooked badly by a fish once in the past forty five years or so.

[Bluebasser86]

I've used those fish grips on bass and they work just fine and going to hurt them a lot less than bouncing them off the front deck of the boat or dragging them up the bank. The biggest issue will often be actually getting them in the fish's mouth. 

[Oregon Native]

_{You could always put your hand under the belly of the fish and lift....works pretty good.  Then you can be more selective about where placing you hand.  This is if price is an issue.  Net is you other choice.}

[OkobojiEagle]

OP, your concern for the welfare of the fish is admirable.  Perhaps you should consider fishing barbless and reduce the stress for both the bass and yourself.

 

 

oe

[shanksmare]

I recently purchased a pair of the fish grips mentioned in the original post. I fish from the bank. I haven't used it on a bass yet since I generally use single hooked lures and simply lip them.

My main reason for getting them was to deal with snook found in freshwater. I got tired of losing chatterbaits, spinnerbaits and swim jigs to these saltwater interlopers. The typical scenario finds said snook hammering a chatterbait (especially the white ones) and putting up a heck of a fight. I would slide the 10 to 20# fish part way up the bank. I'd try lipping the snook, the snook would thrash violently and I would wind up with a bloody thumb and no chatterbait. The snook usually hit the lure from the front and just from the strike will fray 6" of line. Sometimes this fraying is so severe that it snaps the 20# mono on the hit.

Using the fish grips I'm able to save my thumb and the lure if the snook makes it to the bank.

 

I certainly won't hesitate to use it to land bass caught on treble hooked lures or single hooked lures for that matter. As Bluebasser stated, a lot more damage is done to the fish scooting it up the bank or letting it bounce around the deck of a boat. The grip quickly subdues the fish.

 

By the way, these grips pretty much function the same as a Boga Grip (no weighing feature however) but are over $100 cheaper for those that things of this nature matter.

[flyfisher]

Fish grips work well.  I have been using them for about 3 years or so in my kayak and have never had an issue.  The grip is even strong enough that if you tie it off, you can let the fish swim around the side of the boat if you are wanting to take a picture.  I use them on bass with crank baits sometimes but i have found that it is still easier to just grab the bass and hold on...you can't be soft about it when there are hooks flying around it so go for it and grab the lip and hold on tight.  Now if there is no place to grab, that is when i use them and for any toothy fish i may catch as well.

[BassinLou]

The fish grip is awesome. As far as hurting fish, as long as you place the grip in the proper location which is immediately behind the lip, it secures the bass pretty well and the bass is not going anywhere. As far as putting your finger between the grip.... i wouldn't advice you to do that again.

[F14A-B]

The grip will work. Now maybe we should have a scientific discussion on how Bass fishes, or any fish feels...

[BassinLou]

The grip will work. Now maybe we should have a scientific discussion on how Bass fishes, or any fish feels...

Well... since you asked i feel that bass ...... lol!! I couldn't resist.

[A-Jay]

 

 

Double Duty ~

 

A-Jay

[BassinLou]

Thanks for that pic AJ, that is one of the exact reasons why i own the fish grip. It serves has a double duty with the scale. I don't run the risk of really hurting a fish with the scale hook. The fish remains secure on the grip while its being weighed. If it wiggles its not going anywhere.

Double Duty ~

A-Jay

[hoosierbass07]

 So when you use a fish grip on bass, how far do you stick the top grip in the mouth?  Do you put it over the teeth, the same way your put thumb over the teeth area of the bass?  Or do you grip it before the teeth area?  

[BassinLou]

So when you use a fish grip on bass, how far do you stick the top grip in the mouth? Do you put it over the teeth, the same way your put thumb over the teeth area of the bass? Or do you grip it before the teeth area?

You place it right after the lip of the lower jaw. The fish grip pinches and hooks on to the bottom lip.

[BassinLou]

 

This is the quickest example i can provide utilizing the fish grip. I know its a peacock bass, but the placement is relatively the same.

[Angry John]

These grips are great for yakers as stated previously.  The only time i use them is when trebble fishing as i dont own a net.  I fish a jig or single hook far more often and it keeps the amount of gear storage down.  I lived on the east cost for a while and i used them mostly for pickeral and pike.  They are a great tool and worth the price IMO.

[RSM789]

The grip will work. Now maybe we should have a scientific discussion on how Bass fishes, or any fish feels...

I know your comment was dripping in sarcasm, however I have a quick response that I give to PETA people who claim that fish feel pain when caught.

 

If you had a hook in you and someone pulled it, what would you do?  Well, after you threw something & cursed at the person pulling the line, you would go towards them.  The last thing you would do is fight back, that hurts too much. 

 

Now, when a bass or other game fish is hooked in the mouth, it fights back.  It pulls against the line as hard as it can.  Only when you foul hook the same fish does he usually stop fighting or swim towards the boat, trying to eliminate the pull of the line & hook.

 

I believe this to be proof that a fish hooked in the mouth may feel some pressure, but does not feel pain.  If he did, his reaction would be the same as when foul hooked.

[Goose52]

Another pic of the fish grip clamped on the lower lip.  

 

 

Couldn't have got the fish in the boat without it...

 

[boostr]

Also works great for grabbing those toothy critters.

[boostr]

Same here double duty. Always had a problem with the fish wiggling off the scale hook, and doing a face plant. Now I take my Lip Grip, hang it on the hook, and the fish sits there nice and quite.

Double Duty ~

A-Jay