Trick I did at willard to handle the wipers

[Sotally__Tober]

So I may have about everything a person could imagine on my boat but I don't have some of those fancy fish grabbers and don't know which ones are good ones to get. And when you get one of Psyco flippin floppin wipers it is a pain to get the fish grabbers in the mouth. I just pin them suckers and go from there. So out of 5 trips to Willard this year and catching wipers the last 4 trips, there has been a bloody finger or hand issue each trip.

I grabbed a pair of old leather gloves that I had used whitebass fishing a few years ago when we were catching 100's per trip and the gloves were kinda dried up so a got them wet and would put them on when it was fish on time. I don't usually reel in the fish anyways when I have people along and this trip I was on netting duty. So the point I am getting at here is that I will wear a left handed leather glove when I am on net duty since it is very slick. No cut fingers. Usually cut up on the gill plates on the bigger wipers that are the ones that get ya.

Harbor Freight leather gloves with the cloth back. I want to say they are red or blue. I bigger size than I would normally get is going to be the trick for me.

Cheers.
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[wagdog]

I think this a good suggestion. I remember those 100+ white bass days and man, your hands would get tore up. I started carrying a pair of gloves then too. All those dad gum temperate basses are sharp fish. Spines in the fins, scales feel sharp,and you gotta watch out for the gill plate too. Good grief!
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]I learned a long time ago about "fish rash". Any time you are handling fish with the sharp potential of puncturing or slicing your delicate flesh you will benefit from having some protection.

During colder times I wear fingerless neoprene or fleece gloves anyway. But during warmer months I wear an inexpensive white cotton gardening glove...with the raised black dots...left hand only. I cut the fingers out for increased ability to tie knots, remove hooks, etc. Since most of the hand damage is in the lower part of the hand or along the thumb or forefinger, these gloves catch most of the problem.

Also, if you are looking for a good fish gripper, I use the floating plastic orange ones. But when on the ice or in a boat I sometimes keep a pair of long handled reach tool. Good for helping an old guy pick up stuff he dropped...as well as fish.
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[Wasatch801]

I think I was right there when you snapped a shot of that bow at Starvation. I was impressed with your modded extendogripper!
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[HD7000]

I too am usually the netter while I let the kids/guests do the reeling on my boat. Good suggestion on the gloves, I used to use this technique in saltwater while lobster fishing, or for handling the poisonous (but very tasty) Sculpin. My problem was that after a few trips, they either became very "fishy" or I would forget to stow them away and they would fly out of the boat during the freeway tow back home.
So I have a couple tricks that I use because I always forget gloves and don't use the grabbers either.
With wipers, I usually firmly grab the jerkbait/crankbait so it wont slip and hook my hand when the fish flops. Then with some needlenose or my leatherman, grab the shaft of the treble hook and let go of the bait with my bare hand. If releasing, hold fish and hook over the side, with the pliers, and shake the hook upside down. If keeping, do this right over the bucket or cooler. The fish always pops right off when the hook is upside down.
Then there is the method used with a poisonous spiny fish flopping around on the deck of the boat (also works for walleye, wipers, pike etc). Place one booted foot on the fish to prevent a violent flop, then firmly pinch the cartilage between their eyeballs and pick up the fish! Yes, sounds weird, but it works well for toothy, spiny fish, and wipers too. You actually pinch their eyeballs really hard with your thumb and middle finger and can safely lift potentially dangerous fish!
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Yes, I think you were there.

I have been carrying and using that little tool for several years. Really helps an old fat guy to pick up things he dropped on the ice...and to load up the fish scattered around too. That is, on days when there are fish to pick up.

In another month or so I will be hitting that spot from the tube. You?
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[Sotally__Tober]

I see you suggestions HD. But buy boat is different or must be. I deal with all the fish while trolling on top of my engine cover. With my feel usually and hopefully standing down below. I don't want to end up on the news after drowning. My good friend lost his brother in the gorge in cold water and when water temp is cold to cool I try to stay down in my boat. I from time to time might be a little un stabled balance and staying with my feet down in the boat is very much more better. I do grab northerns that way with the eyeball squeezing thing. I have to say tgat I have not tried it on wipers.

I too firm grip the lure and grab the needle nose to grab the treble. BUT, 4+ pounds wiper are psychotic sometimes. Like cuts at strawberry which I used to troll a lot for, not so much anymore, I used to always do that. I had a stupid A** cut flip the wrong way about 6-8 years ago and sunk a rapala treble hook into my thumb tight against my thumbnail. Yep. Dr and had to have it cut out and a couple stitches and of course my left thumb which always ends up being the fish grabbing hand.

Thanks for the thought and suggestion.

And TD you are fricken styling with your Michael Jackson gloves and your old man teacher sticks. Funny funny made me laugh but smart smart. You are a wise fisherman that has tried it all. I am sure when I am your age I will have tried and failed a million ideas and have all my stuff figured out too. I'm not there yet as far as having all my stuff mfigured out yet.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Nay. Don't got it all figgered out yet. Been around a while and picked up a few things from others...and actually developed a few new tricks my own self. But I can truthfully say that I learn something new on almost every trip. Keeps it fun and interesting.


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[Old_Coot]

Here's something that I keep wanting to try but have never remembere to ... gently hold the caught fish with a small towell. I seen that done on an Adam Eakle show last year when they were catching hundreds of striper at Lake Powell. They made it look reall easy. I think I'll give that a try this weekend.
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[Sotally__Tober]

Old Coot, I hope you catch hundreds this weekend. let me know how the towel trick works.

I am looking at the weather. 60% chance of rain on Saturday and 70% on Sunday. if the walleyes were on fire I would be up there in a second. with the wipers being better right now I may have to stay home and plant my first ever garden. WTF am I thinking....
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[Wasatch801]

I will be in Maui a month from now for about a week. But I definitely would like to get up there this spring.
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