Under $100 lip gripper opinions

[SirWinston]

Sorry Paul: I have had a different experience with mine. I have a berkley and it has done me well for three - four seasons.
That said, the pin does slip out slightly (never actually fell out), and I had to glue the grip after it slipped, but I haven't had a fish get out of it once gripped. Reasonably rust resistant, too.

I know that the newer ones have better grip and lanyard.

Personal use - bass to 26 lb, seriously pissed off blues to 12 lb, no problems either time. Plenty of saltwater exposure over the seasons.

Against the Boga, the Scotsman in me cannot justify $100 against $30 for the same use (granted it hasn't go the scale on it, but I have a decent small 50 lb one for $10 vs the extra $70 on the Boga) - and if I do lose it, the replacement cost is a hell of a lot less...

my 2c.

[HOCKEYCOACH]

I agree with SW I bought the Berkley last summer for bluefish on the boat. Mech it's work ok(keapt the hooks out of my fingers) The landyard did come loose but it was an easy fix. For me as long as it holds the lips I would rather save the extra money for something else.

[Pete_G]

If not new then maybe a used Boga?

I've never shopped the used market and maybe there isn't one, but the Boga's construction is more then slightly ahead of some of the copies and a used one, even if it's been beat will still be fully functional. Worth it in my opinion.

It's made of stainless steel that doesn't rust and has jaws that don't drop fish. Some copies are marginal when it comes to holding onto a fish, although many have tweaked their design over time and now hold as well as the boga.

Might be worth shopping around for one.

[fishaholic18]

I have a Rapala with the wide jaws, like $80 or so. I don't use it much but it works fine when I do, always have it with me on the boat, good for Blues and a Bass with a mouth full of hooks...Saved my fingers more than a few times..LOL.. I've had it 4 or 5 years and used it in surf and boat. The scale is pretty accurate too, usually right on or within a #... I usually hose it off after each use and hit it with some oil a few times a season..

[reebok]

I don't like carrying a lot of weight so I'm trying the economy version of the lipper gripper. It's less than $30 and extremely light compared to the others. Of course it might not last but time will tell.

I really can't see how the shore guys lug around that 60lb boga.

[ThrowingTimber]

Ive got the berkley that will run you about 28-35 dollars. Use it mostly when Im deep wading or pigeon toed on rocks and I hook a bluefish. I cant personally justify spending more than that for something i mostly just use to deal with bluefish.

[Pete F.]

Well I bought an econoscale, so far it's weighed a ten # pike. It does'nt have a lanyard yet but I need one almost lost it on the pike when I slipped in the mud and it was attached to the fish and no longer attached to me.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by SirWinston

Sorry Paul: I have had a different experience with mine. I have a berkley and it has done me well for three - four seasons.
That said, the pin does slip out slightly (never actually fell out), and I had to glue the grip after it slipped, but I haven't had a fish get out of it once gripped. Reasonably rust resistant, too.

I know that the newer ones have better grip and lanyard.

Personal use - bass to 26 lb, seriously pissed off blues to 12 lb, no problems either time. Plenty of saltwater exposure over the seasons.

Against the Boga, the Scotsman in me cannot justify $100 against $30 for the same use (granted it hasn't go the scale on it, but I have a decent small 50 lb one for $10 vs the extra $70 on the Boga) - and if I do lose it, the replacement cost is a hell of a lot less...

my 2c.

The one I have is quite old. probably the first year Berkley came out with it.

I would imaging they have made considerable progress in the design process.