|
|
Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Here's the article:
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/articles/08.19.2009/2549/An.evaluat...
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 87
Location: Minnesota Metro | The boga have been a very valuable tool for me and my wife. I personally just grap the fish, but my wife simply lacks the strength to hold a muskie, especially a decent one without help. She is barely 5 feet tall and weights all of 90 pounds, so she just can't get a good grip on a muskie, just not strong enough.
We will still net the fish at boatside and unhook it there, but to hoist it up for the picture she will use the boga while still supporting the fish's belly. It actually works out pretty well and is safer for her and the fish that way. |
|
| |
|
| In the last 3 years, I can think of at least 2 big fish that were saved because of the lip grip. I'm sure there have been others. A fish 3 years ago in the 53"-54" range had a double ten deep in the throat area. While keeping the fish in the net/water I was able to get a good grip on the fish in a fast manner. When a fish is hooked that deep you don't have very much time to get those hooks cut/out or it will die. Anyways, I was able to get it unhooked and kept it in the water the whole time and she swam away. She was bleeding a little, but being in the fall the cold water had a lot to do with her survival. The other one was this year on a 52" fish that totally swallowed a pounder where you coudn't see the bait. I held the fish with the lip grip and my buddy was able to use a 10" knipex that he slid through the gills to cut the hooks. Not easy, but she did swim away. I use the lip grip as a release tool on deeply hooked fish while the fish is in the water. As far as reputable fishermen using these tools, watch "Go Fish", Jerrys buddy uses one effectively on a fish that was hooked pretty good. I think it's important that when these fish have been hooked badly or it took someone longer than it should to get it unhooked, to forget the ego and not take the fish out of the water for pics.
Edited by Baby Mallard 8/19/2009 12:22 PM
|
|
| |
|
| Quit fishin 'em - 8/18/2009 4:14 PM
The guys out East will do the Boga one better — they'll gaff the musky through the lower jaw and pin the fish to the side of their boat to unhook it. They think the guys in the Midwest kill fish with their nets. Meanwhile, the guys in the Midwest use nets and think the guys out East are killing fish with their gaffs.
But the muskies keep getting bigger out East and in the Midwest.
I agree, I grew up using Beckman nets and still have one in the boat, but having learned how to use a gaff from some of the most responsible Muskie fishermen out there it is the way I use most. I think the gaff is easiest on the fish and much easier when fishing alone. The technique falls on deaf ears for the most part, but quality of the fisheries and the dedication of the anglers out east that use the methods, speak for themselves. Ben |
|
| |
|
Posts: 90
Location: Ohio | PamuskEhunt - 8/18/2009 2:36 PM The study also states that they are testing on bonefish, a soft mouthed gamefish where the boga is damaging the mouth of the fish when thrashing occurs. I'm sure there is damage done to a musky and I don't support the use of them, but when you're stating the facts make sure everyone knows the whole story. Anytime you vertically lift a fish, whether it's by the gill, by the lip, by the eye sockets, or by the tail, you're going to do damage to it. link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T6N-... Jesus, do people actually lift Pike & Muskie by the eyes still? I was told years ago that lifting by the eyes is a certain death for the fish |
|
| |
