Comments on: Study Shows Lip-Gripping Devices (Boga Grips) Damaged 80% of Bonefish

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:21:13 +0000

WindKnot: aka Bonehead aka Flatswalker aka Mr. Fish Bones

Mr. Bones (if that is your *real* name); I'm always fine and dandy with guesstimates on fish ("long as the net plus one inch" is an accepted form of bragging right around here). Keep spreading the word on the Boga...

By: WindKnot

WindKnot — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:57:24 +0000

Seems a little late to chime in on this, but I’d have to agree with the comments above. As a professional guide of over 9 years, I have to admit to using a boga grip… all of about 3 times. Even before reading studies on the damage to fish (which I completely believe) I realized that there was simply no good reason to use Boga Grips on most any fish.

Almost all fish have a “correct” way of being handled that minimizes damage to the fish and angler. For bonefish all you have to do is reach down the leader and cover their head with your hand. This immediately calms the fish and then you can back out your (naturally barbless) fly. If the hook is really in there – as can happen with big bones that pull that fly into the corner of their mouths and into the jaw bone (ouch!) – you can lightly grab the fish by the base of the tail to get the necessary leverage to remove the hook. Most of my fish nowadays are released with almost no human contact at all following the above instructions.

So, why did I ever use a Boga Grip at all? Well, to see if my guesses on fish weights was anything near accurate. The first fish I used it on I guessed at 5 pounds; Boga Grip: 5.25 pounds. After a couple more experiences like that – guessing within a quarter pound – I put it away and frankly have no earthly idea where the dang thing even is now.

Kudos to publishing this article and hopefully more folks will read it.

Tight lines,
WindKnot
aka Bonehead
aka Flatswalker
aka Mr. Fish Bones

By: Don’t Boga that Bone, Please « Bonefish on the Brain

Don’t Boga that Bone, Please « Bonefish on the Brain — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:43:39 +0000

[...] of my favorite fishing blogs, The Trout Underground, covered the issue some time back. The Bad Idea Jeans [...]

By: patterman

patterman — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:45:54 +0000

great site!! i agree 100% about bogas damaging effects on fish something has to be done about this device ..i believe it has its place in the angling world .but extreme care and caution MUST dictate how its used…please read article @ weresthefish.com “no more boga grips-stop lynching our fish” tell us your view…. by the way great site you have here!!! thanks again..patterman!

By: Cesar

Cesar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:46:41 +0000

Every experience fishermen should have already know bonefish has delicate mouth. I strongly againts using a lip grip on them. There are other effective ways to weigh a fish than hooking it from their mouth. For catch and release, thats cruel.

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:52:41 +0000

Philip: I wouldn’t assume a Boga wouldn’t hurt bigger, more predatory fish. After all, it’s the weight and the thrashing against a relatively small point of contact that seems to cause injury.

I think people are using the Bogas on fish like bones to get a weight.

By: Philip

Philip — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:22:08 +0000

What imbecile would use a Boca grip on a bonefish? As others have pointed out, the gnarly predator fish have much stronger mouths (all the better to eat you with) and are probably not hurt by the device at all.

By: David Knapp

David Knapp — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:13:47 +0000

I have no idea why people use them on trout. Perhaps because they think that it limits touching the fish and don’t realize the damage it can cause. Ever since I got into this sport I’ve heard how a trout’s jaw is not as strong as that of a bass and that one should never lip a trout. That’s probably why it is always difficult when I see these pictures of a trout on a Boga…

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:03:59 +0000

Shannon: The new rubberized nets aren’t too bad (and hooks don’t get tangled either), though nets can split/fray fins.

Still, you can largely keep the fish in the water with a net, which is a nice touch.

And all are better than shooting fish. I feel safe in saying that.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:43:32 +0000

I am completely on board. Toothy types seem more resilient. I have not done this (or had the need to do this), but if one is determined to weigh a fish, there’s the option of weighing a fish in a net. But there’s the downside of what a net does as well? shannon

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:24:30 +0000

Shannon: You make a good point, and the study wasn’t designed to compare hook injuries to Boga grips. Still, I would disagree that a hook is more damaging than a Boga, especially if the fish was lifted by a Boga for a weight.

Since hooks are usually lodged in the lips instead of the tongue or the floor of the mouth, it seems possible (even likely) that hooks cause less damage than a Boga, especially if someone lifts the bone out of the water with the Boga to get a weight.

Michael: I agree – in light of this information, they really shouldn’t be used on anything but the toothy types, and frankly, I’d look hard for an alternative before using one there.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:07:52 +0000

Kind of ridiculous if you ask me, and I applaud the study. Plain and simply, Boga-grips are purposed for toothy fish and/or those with sharp jaws and/or gill plates – the kind of fish you don’t want your fingers near. The scales are hardly accurate either, particularly on a heavier fish in a bobbing boat.

Anyone who can’t reach over the edge of a skiff and tail an exhausted bone should be brought back to the dock.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:56:51 +0000

I guess what I was trying to say is – In general don’t we think a fish hook does more damage on average than a Boga? I guess, all things being “equal” (the key word), and seeing today’s penchant for piercing, I would rather have my lip pierced than be lifted fifty feet in the air by my lip. Now if I were pierced in the lung or gizzard …. shannon

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:48:19 +0000

Trout? Really?

Is it because they want to weigh the things?

By: David Knapp

David Knapp — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:02:05 +0000

I’ve had some doubts about a boga grip for many species. It seems that people are using them on trout as well. I can only imagine what one would do to a trout’s jaw if the fish thrashed at all…