While you may fight a bass of a decent size to the boat, you may also find yourself watching as the bass performs one last violent head shake that return your lure to you. The fish may slip from your wet hands and dissapear into the depths of the water. This sinking feeling after dropping a fish is a feeling that is familiar to every fisherman who has gone fishing.
A good fish gripper can help to prevent this sinking feeling, but a fish gripper too often fails to prevent it from occurring altogether. Fish grippers may have a simplistic design, but create more frustration for the fisherman than any other fishing tools. A fish gripper may fail to grasp the prize fish that you have managed to catch.
Understanding the problems that are common with fish grippers will help you to make informed decisions about purchasing new fishing gear, as well as maximize the effectiveness of the tools that you does possess.
Common Problems With Your Fish Grippers
1. Jaw Type and Fish Mouth Health
One of the first problems that a fisherman may encounter with a fish gripper is the wrong type of jaw for the type of fish that he target. Many fish grippers have narrow metal jaws that are appropriate for catching species with strong, pointed teeth, such as bass or trout.
These narrow jaws will damage the soft mouth of these fish, and create a poor grip on the caught prize. Switching to a model fish gripper with wider rubber or plastic jaws will prevent these issues and allow for a better grip on the fish.
2. Locking Mechanism and Spring Failure
Another problem with fish grippers is with the locking mechanism. Many fish grippers have spring mechanism within the grip that can fail with increased use of the product. The spring can fatique, or the teeth of the ratchet mechanism can wear smooth with the use of the product over time. Additionally, these spring mechanisms can corrode if the product is used in saltwater environments.
Eventually, the fish will get released from the fish gripper. These components can be replaced over time, but better purchasing options will be fish grippers with stainless steel components or cam locks rather then spring locks.
3. Slippery Handle Control
Another problem fishermen may experience with budget fish grippers is slippery handles. With heavy water and fish scales covering the fisherman hands, the smooth plastic handles of budget fish grippers can become slick as an ice. These slippery handles prevent proper control of the fish gripper. Look for fish grippers with textured handles or a full rubber coating on the handles to avoid this problem.
Once used, the fisherman with the budget for better products cant easily replace fish grippers with textured handles.
4. Weight and Material Fatigue
Finally, the weight of the fish gripper may become an issue during long fishing trips. Metal fish grippers may seem heavy when the fisherman holds them when purchasing the product. However, worn into the fisherman’s hip after four hours of wearing the metal fish gripper, the heavy metal tool may become uncomfortably. Tournament anglers who weigh dozens of fish in a single day will notice the fatigue even more. Lighter composite models solve this problem, but some composite models sacrifice jaw strength during the process.
The best option is a fish gripper that uses aircraft grade aluminum for the frame and tough polymer for the jaws. This particular model of fish gripper is light enough that you will forget that you even have this tool in your hand. Yet, the fish gripper is strong enough to hold the fish that weigh up to twenty pound. Finding that perfect balance between weight and strength takes trial and error in the water. Yet, once you find the perfect fit for your hand, you will find that this tool disappears in your hand until you need to use the tool.
5. Tether Length and Obstructions
The next most common complaint regarding fish grippers is the tether. Many anglers like to clip the coiled tether to their vest or belt so that they do not drop the tool if the fish makes a last second surge for the water. The problem with this is that the tether may get in the way of the angler’s arm or may catch on the net. Some fish grippers have a shorter tether so that they are less likely to fall out of the angler’s hand when they are measuring the fish.
Yet, these short teth may also eventually fall out of the angler’s hand. On the other hand, some teth stretch so much that they may get in the way of the trolling motor’s propeller. To avoid these issues, choose a fish gripper that has an adjustable length tether or a detachable tether. Even better is the model that floats so that you can skip use the tether altogether when the water is calm.
6. Built in Ruler Accuracy
Another issue that angers many fish tournament anglers is the built in ruler that some models have. The ruler is useful for quickly measuring the length of the fish so that the angler can properly record their catch. Yet, the scale is often too small for easy reading or may start in the wrong number. Additionally, the ruler may be placed on a curved handle so that it does not properly reflect the length of the fish. A better tool does not come with a ruler yet provides a separate measuring board for the angler to use.
The measuring board has one specific job, to measure fish perfectly. Using this tool will remove all the guesswork for the angler when measuring fish. If you choose to use a fish gripper with a built in ruler make sure that the ruler is large, straight, and easy to read at a glance.
7. Tool Maintenance and Cleaning
Finally, the reason that most fish grippers eventually break down is due to neglect in the maintenance of the tool. Most anglers like to rinse their rods and reels but will toss the fish gripper into the tackle box while the tool is still covered in slime and scales from their fish catch. Over time the fish slime sets into the tool, causing the tool to break down.
Saltwater anglers will notice the effect even faster if they do not rinse their fish gripper with fresh water after they use it. The remedy for this problem requires almost no effort on the angler. Rinsing the tool with fresh water for thirty seconds after each fishing trip and wiping it down with a dry cloth will keep the tool in excellent condition for many years. Additionally, a few drop of silicone spray every month will prevent the tool from getting corroded and will keep the spring that holds the tool in place lively. Getting a handle on these problems with fish grippers will transform the experience of landing your fish. You will no longer be hoping that your fish gripper will work but will expect it to work every single time you use it.
Your fish will be safer, your hands will stay dry and you will no longer lose your catch to a broken tool. The next time you are at the tackle shop, take a closer look at the different models of fish grippers. Test the lock on the tool, feel the handle and the width of the jaws. These few minutes in the store will save you hours of frustration when you are on the water and you will have one less thing to worry about when you spot your trophy fish hitting the water.