One of my best inexpensive things added to my kayak.

[Darth-Baiter]

It’s the DONKEY LEASH. it takes a regular sized bass to get my adrenaline up.  A whopper?  Forget it.  If I hook up a decent fish I want to photograph this tool is an essential item for me. It allows me to secure my fish and let it swim beneath my kayak while I gather myself.  The tiny clip is robust enough. It feels whimsical, but it’s strong. I’ve lost one fish, and that’s because I clipped it on the corner of the mouth. It slipped free. If you clip it in the front, in the bony area, it won’t come off.  If anything, sometimes it’s a fumble to remove. It’s like I wished the jaws opened up wider.  I’ve never clipped a double digit so I don’t know how big the bones get. I aim to try.   I secure my rod, get camera ready, or scale , or measure-board, bring in fish - do my thing and let it go.  Last Christmas, I gave them to my friends as gifts. We love them.  They sell the clip separately, and I changed out the hook on my scale with it.   I hate those hooks on scales. 
 

just a thought. 
 

 

[Scott F]

I fish from a personal pontoon and had been using a landing net perched between my knees. I really like this device. I just ordered one 

[gim]

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I hate those hooks on scales.

Those metal j hooks are the worst. Luckily most scales come with a clip now.

[MN Fisher]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

Those metal j hooks are the worst. Luckily most scales come with a clip now.

It's pretty easy to replace a J-Hook with a clip...I did it with my cheap scale.

[Darth-Baiter]

5 hours ago, Scott F said:

I fish from a personal pontoon and had been using a landing net perched between my knees. I really like this device. I just ordered one 

game changer for me.  cool.  glad I could help.

[FishTax]

I need to try this. Didn't know it was a thing, I made a redneck version myself last year but it's clumsy and I don't trust the grip. I hate having the fish out of water while I gather myself. I never have my scale and phone ready for some reason when I catch a good one. 

[Darth-Baiter]

40 minutes ago, FishTax said:

I need to try this. Didn't know it was a thing, I made a redneck version myself last year but it's clumsy and I don't trust the grip. I hate having the fish out of water while I gather myself. I never have my scale and phone ready for some reason when I catch a good one. 

Im Never ready. Ever

[flyfisher]

I have heard way too many stories of those coming undone on tournament fishing to use one myself.  I just use my fish grips and zero out my scale and weigh the fish if needed and getting a length takes all of 20 seconds.  The key is having everything ready to go and where you need it to be.  I don't weigh anything that is under 20" or so usually anyways.  

[FishTax]

9 hours ago, flyfisher said:

The key is having everything ready to go and where you need it to be.  I don't weigh anything that is under 20" or so usually anyways.  

Exactly. I think what I'm saying and @Darth-Baiter seems to also feel is that I'm totally incapable of being ready for some reason lol. When I get a big one my mind goes blank, I don't know where the scale is, my rod is in the way and I'm trying to keep it from falling in and sinking, I can't get my phone out of my pocket, etc. 

[Smirak]

I just bought a donkey leash as well. Haven’t used it yet, but will (hopefully) use it this afternoon. For its intended purpose, I’m sure it’s awesome..but, I would almost recommend buying it on name alone…Coke on, donkey leash in fishing? Must have!!

[Darth-Baiter]

19 hours ago, flyfisher said:

I have heard way too many stories of those coming undone on tournament fishing to use one myself.  I just use my fish grips and zero out my scale and weigh the fish if needed and getting a length takes all of 20 seconds.  The key is having everything ready to go and where you need it to be.  I don't weigh anything that is under 20" or so usually anyways.  

"ready" is relative.  my phone alone is buried in myPFD, and my selfies i use a GoPro.  and i have to set that up.  

 

i dont fish tourneys, and if i did...i would hone my craft.  but i dont, and i havent.  it is all for fun a this point, so the Donkey Leash is really for the fish's benefit.  not mine.

[Choporoz]

I have a Donkey Leash as a backup always attached to my seat.  But I lost a fish the second time I used it, so only use FishGrips in tournaments.

[flyfisher]

2 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

"ready" is relative.  my phone alone is buried in myPFD, and my selfies i use a GoPro.  and i have to set that up.  

 

i dont fish tourneys, and if i did...i would hone my craft.  but i dont, and i havent.  it is all for fun a this point, so the Donkey Leash is really for the fish's benefit.  not mine.

Still for the benefit of the fish to have your systems down so they can be back in the water on their own accord as quickly as possible.

[gim]

10 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

Still for the benefit of the fish to have your systems down so they can be back in the water on their own accord as quickly as possible.

Do they permit the use of these leashes in kayak tournaments?  Its seems kind of like a stringer to me.  And when you put a fish on a stringer, you intend to keep it, not release it.

[flyfisher]

8 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Do they permit the use of these leashes in kayak tournaments?  Its seems kind of like a stringer to me.  And when you put a fish on a stringer, you intend to keep it, not release it.

Yeah they have a provision that you can put them on a stringer or even a livewell to revive or to allow time to set up for a picture.

[PaulVE64]

Because my river smallies swim with pike and walleye I carry a gripper all the time. 

Kinda scary when a gar pike gets hooked

[Darth-Baiter]

57 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

Still for the benefit of the fish to have your systems down so they can be back in the water on their own accord as quickly as possible.

I don’t disagree.  And this is my system. 

[Scott F]

I got mine delivered from Amazon yesterday. It is less “substantial”  than I thought it might be. I can see why others have said they’ve lost fish on it.

[Darth-Baiter]

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

I got mine delivered from Amazon yesterday. It is less “substantial”  than I thought it might be. I can see why others have said they’ve lost fish on it.

You have to clip in the fish on the lower jaw up front where the jaw bone meets with those bones radiating away.  No way a fish gets loose. The clip doesn’t need to be that strong.  It’s nit trying to open the jaws. Just pull thru them which is impossible. 

Here. 
 

 

[Scott F]

33 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

You have to clip in the fish on the lower jaw up front where the jaw bone meets with those bones radiating away.  No way a fish gets loose. The clip doesn’t need to be that strong.  It’s nit trying to open the jaws. Just pull thru them which is impossible. 

Here. 
 

 

I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. Thanks.

[king fisher]

I have used this for over a year now.  Works well for me.  First time I put a DD. back in the water while I got my camera ready was a little nerve racking, but now It is simply part of my routine.

 

[Darth-Baiter]

Kinda heavy for the fish, no?