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| Hello~
Can someone please explain to me the proper way to use a boga grip when landing a muskie?
I've heard of several different methods and seen other fishermen chastised for holding the fish vertically and not supporting the body. In addition to that I've seen countless photographs of the boga being used differently. I figured the best place to go would be straight to the source, so I went to boga grip's website to see what they had to say about proper use - as my boga grip did not come with landing instructions.
I went to the boga grip website http://www.eastabogatackle.com and to my surprise the photo on the front page shows a fish being held exactly the way these other anglers were being chided for.
I've been told: Don't net, use a boga grip. Don't touch the fish because you'll remove the protective slime. Support the fish's body when you boga it. Don't hold the fish vertically or it will die.
You can see why I'm confused!
I've come to learn that there are a vast amount of opinionated anglers out there who feel they use the best landing techniques. I'm confident that this is the right place to have this cleared up. The last thing I want to do is injure a fish.
Thanks a lot!
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| In my opinion the worst thing you can do to a big Muskie is to hold it up out of the water vertically.(Whether using a Gripper or by hand doesn't make a difference) Muskies are use to having their body weight supported by the water. The spinal connection between the head and the rest of the body can't support all the weight of the body in the air. If the spinal cord seperates the fish will be paralyzed from the head back. Make sense? (I'm not even going to discuss holding them up by the eyesockets, anyone with a brain should know that is insane and if you see someone doing that, kick them in the a** for me) The second worst thing is to bring a big Muskie into the boat and lose control of it. It loses slime protection and can get eye damage, fin damage, and internal organ damage thrushing around in the bottom of the boat.
New nets are now designed with coatings to protect the fish. Muskie cradles are also an option. Cradles are however a two man operation. Because I fish alone most of the time and netting a big fish alone isn't easy, I use a gripper. I have a longer rope attached to it with a loop on the end. I grip the fish in the lower jaw and connect the longer line to one of the tie downs on the boat. The fish is then still in the water, can breathe and is in control. I then cut the fishing line and get the hooks out. If the hooks don't come out easily I have hook cutter and cut them. (Always use bronze hooks when Muskie fishing, plated saltwater hooks take for ever to dissolve in a fish's mouth, while bronze hooks dissolve very quickly.) If someone is nearby, I disengage the gripper and hold the Muskie by the tail root, slide my hand under the fish and lift it up a little above the water line for a picture. If it takes off, so what. I remember what it looked like and so will you.
Edited by muskiemachinery 9/5/2004 12:53 PM
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Posts: 71
Location: Waukesha, WI | Hooks left in a fish don't dissolve. It is nice to think that, but research shows otherwise. From a common sense point of view, think about that hook dissolving in your body.
Don't be confused that the boga grip website shows photos of fish hung vertically. The boga grip is a scale and is sold as a scale. They are in the business to make money. Unfortunetly, their product can be misused. Use the boga grip to take the fish out of the water anytime you plan on killing the fish. | |
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Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | The boga grip should be used to control the fish in the water and never at any time should it be used to lift the fish no mater how much you support the fish.
So basicly it is a water release tool, you lip the fish in the water, take out or cut hooks and then if a picture is required you can remove the boga and lift the fish with a gill plate hold as well as suporting it's body. | |
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| Exactly what research states bronze hooks do not dissolved in a fish? Ever bit of research I've ever read stated bronze hooks dissolve within a short period by the acids in the fish's system. Common sense says our systems are much different than a fish's. Plated hooks must dissolve from the point the hook is cut and then degrade from that point internally, leaving basily the plating which collapses eventually. Obviously when compared to a totally exposed bronze hook, plated hooks would take infinitely longer to degrade.
Also, misuse of the Boga Grip is obviously a problem, but so is shoving your hand into the gill rakers of a Muskie. (Read Rod Ramsell's article in Esox Angler Fall issue) Also no one has addressed the safety issues on hand grabbing a Muskie tp the fisherman. I'm not going to argue about it. But it is a concern. I will repeat however, that holding a Muskie (especially a big one) vertically with a Boga Grip or by hand without supporting the body of the fish can kill it.
Edited by muskiemachinery 9/6/2004 12:31 PM
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| Thanks for the input! | |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | Before we got a net we used the boga to land fish. It is a great tool but in landing a fish you have to fight it more, the fish will make a couple passes that you could have netted it.
I use the boga now to control the fish in the net and lift(body supported) for a quick photo if needed, otherwise to just put back into the lake. It's great for those smaller pike you catch, that want to jump everywhere. I am not overly fong of gill holding, it is fine for some but any fish I grab onto go nuts on me, they don't hold still like you see the musky guys on TV. I have dropped musky and I know somebody who dropped on that killed the fish in the past but not with a boga. | |
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Using a Boga Grip