lip gripper for pike?

[Chrisper4694]

i had to make this a new thread because i really have to disagree. I used a boga grip on a pike once and it instantly spun faster than the thing could go with it and ripped it's jaw...that was the last time i used a lip grip!

If i made a little gaff with a big fresh water sized hook and hit the fish in the mouth with it to pull him out of the ice hole how would that be different than throwing a pike/musky sized lure in open water and sinking a big trebble hook randomly into it's face maybe hitting it's gill? I would think the little gaff would be safer for the fish than that or anything else. one hook aimed right at the lip, out the hole done (no barb obviously either)

[saxmatt]

I haven't had any problems holding pike and muskie in the hole with a boga. I like keeping the fish in the hole while I'm unhooking them so their eyes and gills don't freeze and it also keeps the fish from thrashing around on the ice causing damage. Lip grippers that don't spin are the ones that can cause damage to the jaw. Those ones are no good.

[Esox Luciano]

Those fish grippers definitly hurt these fish!!! I've actually tried out the boga gripper that gyrated as well so the clamp spins with the fish, but still no good. Like you said, it just tests the durabilty of the fish's jaw. Plus, ripps at the inner and outer skin wherever your clamp lands. To me, it sounds like the right barbless gaff would def work better for the ice, given it takes only 1-2Sec for the fish to be landed with no thrashing. I always keep the bogs at home and just bring my big boy pants to grab them, hahaa! Hoping to put em' on this weekend for some ice, so much work I still didn't even get to step foot on any.

[saxmatt]

Forgot to say- never hold a pike or ski vertically with a boga or lip gripper. I just use the boga for holding the fish in the water.

[Gatto1227]

The real boga grips are better than all the other cheap brands you see. I have a $20 pair of lip grips that I only used once and will prob never use again.

[DRiverRat]

A friend of mine caught his first decent channel cat a while back (7-8lb). He asked me if they had teeth and how to grab it... I said to grab the lower jaw so he stuck his thumb in it's mouth before I could explain how they clamp down and spin. I nearly fell out of the boat laughing while being called every name in the book Absolutely hilarious. Glad it wasn't a toothy critter

[Chrisper4694]

i actually thought of just bringing my filleting glove and lip the pike out of the hole like a bass! is that man enough for you!!

seriously though, that might work no?

[Jigman13]

Filleting glove? Boo this man! Jk...

[Chrisper4694]

I'll just barehand lip them like a bass to prove my manhood

[Jigman13]

Hahaha... I think the boga is the best way to go. I bought a lil lip gripper that I'm yet to use, but it looks like it'll work... Keeping the fish in the water when gripped is key as Matt stated. The one I picked up prob wouldn't be the best once an esox started twisting but the wrist strap would allow it to roll unharmed.