Ethical Musky?

[TheWoz]

Ok so I have heard countless back & forths about fish grips. Lots love them and a lot hate them.

A site I read on a lot had an awesome article (entertaining too) on all arguments debunked.
There's a lot of guys who say they kill fish and are unethical.

Any of you guys use grips regularly? What are your thoughts.
Here was the article and video I saw.
[url "http://www.brookfieldangler.com/2013/12/fishing-grips-are-they-really-that-bad.html"]http://www.brookfieldangler.com/...really-that-bad.html[/url]
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[flygoddess]

Nice rods and reels.
I cringe when I see them NEEDLESSLY used on Trout.
It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to see that can be damaging. I used them one trip on Carp and I was literally ripping their mouths to shreds. I know they are just Carp, but if it does it to them it does it to all fish.
Add to that, the users usually pick the fish up with them letting them dangle. I could understand cradling them with the other hand, but letting them hang from their jaw is going to up the mortality big time. Bigger the fish, worse damage displacing all the organs.
You plan on keeping every fish you use them on, then by all means, go for it.
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[wiperhunter2]

They are the best thing since sliced bread[], imo, especially on big fish. I don't see how they would hurt a fish unless they are used wrong and clamp goes in the wrong place on the mouth. IMO they likely help grab, lift and get the photo and the fish back in the water better than any other method. The location of where the clamp goes in the mouth is key, it has to go where the skin is the thinest inside the lip of the fish. Anytime a big fish is allowed the thrash around inside a boat is not good, so the more control you have the better. I agree it is never a good idea to hold a big fish in a vertical position but it looks like the guy in your video did it right with a quick lift to the horizonal postion and a quick release. I bet he was stoked, catching a big fish like that on a fly rod.[cool]
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[TheWoz]

[quote flygoddess]Nice rods and reels.
I cringe when I see them NEEDLESSLY used on Trout.
It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to see that can be damaging. I used them one trip on Carp and I was literally ripping their mouths to shreds. I know they are just Carp, but if it does it to them it does it to all fish.
Add to that, the users usually pick the fish up with them letting them dangle. I could understand cradling them with the other hand, but letting them hang from their jaw is going to up the mortality big time. Bigger the fish, worse damage displacing all the organs.
You plan on keeping every fish you use them on, then by all means, go for it.[/quote]

ha those would be some monster rods for trout! I typically use a 2wt or a 4wt for them. Unless we are talking steelhead...then I move up to an 8wt.

Yea it seems that the tool still requires responsibility. As I suppose angling in general does.
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