Berkeley Lip Grip w/ Scale

[wolfe]

This question may have been asked here before, but if it was, I missed it.

Does anyone put any stock in the Berkeley Lip Grip (with digital scale) for a reliable weight for fish? I like that you don't have to slip any hook into the the fish and hang them off of that area. Not big on the whole hanging them at all, but I figure this device is less invasive than the traditional ones.

Thanks for the input...

I'm so kicking myself that I never weighed my biggest fish (in my avatar) and there have been a few other exceptionally heavy fish we probably should have weighed. I still don't think I would have taken even a spare moment to weigh Ty's trophy bass from 2 summers back because that fish was so spent, but maybe I should get over my phobia of weighing them.

[cprince]

I had the Rapala one... WORST POS I ever had. It fell apart almost instantly.

Never again.

The meat-grinder like lip grippers were more like a wood chipper than a lip grip.

Never again.

No idea if the Berkley would be any better. While it did look better designed, but after having a close look at them, the lip grip part looks similar... not so gentle on the mouths of fish.

Just my 2¢ CAN (About 1.78¢US )

Craig

[RJ]

You should get over that phobia.....

Poking a hole in their thin skin under the chin to put your scales hook thru is harmless.....as long as you dont hang em in the gill area you'll do minimal damage....likely less than a hook can do....

If it really bugs ya...buy a weigh bag that they make for tournament guys to use.....place it in and weigh the bag....

Knowing the real weight of fish is handy.....but I bet Ty's fish is 9 pounds if he ever meets a young lady who likes to fish...

RJ

[wolfe]

Knowing the real weight of fish is handy.....but I bet Ty's fish is 9 pounds if he ever meets a young lady who likes to fish...

RJ

Don't you know it, RJ. You've got him pegged!

RJ, you know I'm all about the successful release of the fish. To me, it's more important than anything. So I don't want to weigh them just to pump myself up, unless I know it is truly not harmful to them. But of course there's that part of me that would genuinely like to know the weight! I like the tourn'y bag idea. Is there a reinforced spot or something on the top of the bag where you poke the scale hook through?

Thx for the comments, Cprince. I wouldn't have figured the lip grip to be a mangling device, but having heard your feedback would make me question the product.

W.

[RJ]

This is your answer....no cheating and leaving water in there...

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... 0_100-11-0

[cprince]

... I wouldn't have figured the lip grip to be a mangling device,

Keep in mind... this is just my personal experience... I kept thinking that I might have been doing it wrong or something.... I mean... I am the same guy who cant control a foot pedal for a trolling motor!!!

Craig

[beachburger]

I weight fish in a soft nylon mesh bag that I bought at a dollar store.

[Basshole]

Funny how you will bury a 5/0 gamakatsu in there jaw...but you wont grip a lip??? I have a berkley lip-grip/scale and it is excellent for the quick weight and fast release!(and the price is right too!)

[wolfe]

Funny how you will bury a 5/0 gamakatsu in there jaw...but you wont grip a lip???

Well, not funny, actually. But anyway, Basshole, I guess I don't prefer to add insult to injury and put them through anything more for vanity's sake. That's my point. And the reason I'm asking about the lip grip scale is because I thought it might be a good alternative. Since I'm not familiar with the product, I'm asking others for their input. Cprince advises it's not particularly fish friendly. It's one person's opinion. You like yours. I'm reading and taking in anything people have to say.

I still like the bag idea. Why not? Seems pretty simple.

W.

[JustinHoffman]

Hey Wolfe,

I have an XTOOLS Lip Grip digital (which was quite expensive I might add) that has been relegated to the bottom of my closet. I find it very awkward to "open" the grip with one hand while holding the fish in the other, and securing the fish solidly was always a concern of mine. It is very much like the Berkley model, so you might run into the same issues.

I stick with my Berkley or Mustad digital scale now - the non lip-grip varieties.

Just my thoughts.

Good Fishing,
Justin

[wolfe]

Thx for your thoughts, Justin. I was hoping I'd hear from you on this question.

W.

[CNs]

What you want is a cull bag.

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/live-nets- ... 01014.aspx

Its good for weighing a fish has grommets at the top where you put the scale hook.

The bag RJ showed is for bringing all your fish to the weigh scales

[Raminator]

Those bass pro bags leak badly, from the corners after relatively few uses,they are ok to transport fish to a holding tank for weighing, in your case, I would just use a mesh divers bag,lightweight, easy to stow, and many other uses, other than weighing the occasional fish. A bass will live long enough out of water to weigh the bag and snap a pic. Fish are cold blooded ,a 5/0 hook is nothing compared to stuff that they live thru in their natural environment. They don't experience pain like humans and mammals.If they did they would be screaming and cussin' you thru the whole experience

[Trophymuskie]

I know quite a few guys who use the Boga grip, it's quite expensive but the scale is accurate and the lip grig part never lets go once locked in place as well it has a swivel so if the fish spins the head of the boga will as well. You can actually use it as a landing tool as well saving your hand from the hooks and your thumb from all those big fish you catch.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... rchResults

[Tim Carmichael]

Hello Wolfe,

The cull bag that CN recomends is the way to go. The fish slips in easily and no putting extra holes in the fish. The fish does not fall off the scale and get banged around on the boat floor either.

Good fishing,

Tim