Thoughts on Culling clips!!

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:54 am

It seems that every fish, that I have been catching on the Delta lately has a big hole in its face. This is caused by popping those stringer clips through their faces, and pulling them outta the live well by the cord right? Its pretty sad to see how messed up some of these fish are. I just use the clips, and don't poke any hole in the bass. Am I the only one that sees this or what?

mac (Doyle McEwen) · Post by **mac (Doyle McEwen)** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:58 am

Some of those holes are caused by TV style hooksets, you know the ones coming all the way from center field..No doubt a good many are also due to exactly what you describe..

mac

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:30 am

I prefer to use the LifeTags, so I don't have to poke any additional holes in their faces. They're reliable and harmless when used properly, and helps to preserve the resource.

I personally hate watching someone poke the clip on, but that may just be me.

Roger

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:03 am

I totally agree G-man, and just the other day I think I made a post about it. I actually wanted to kill some of the fish I was catching at the Delta because I felt so bad for them.

Thing I dont like, and Im not trying to diss anybody, is that many tournament anglers treat bass like a brick. I dont see any reason to use an intrusive clip, and I dont see any reason to fling the fish around by grabbing the buoy, and I dont see any reason to poke another hole in the lip to weigh, then poke another hole to put on the balance. I mean, it goes on and on.

Many tournament anglers do a great job of handling their catch with care, but many do not.

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:41 am

I think people use the stringer clips that you have to poke a hole through there lips, cause it makes it easier to handle the fish. But its tearing the crap outta there faces! Not hating on people that do, but I choose not to.

Blue_R70 · Post by **Blue_R70** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:03 am

Steve wrote:I actually wanted to kill some of the fish I was catching at the Delta because I felt so bad for them.

Thing I dont like, and Im not trying to diss anybody, is that many tournament anglers treat bass like a brick. I dont see any reason to use an intrusive clip, and I dont see any reason to fling the fish around by grabbing the buoy, and I dont see any reason to poke another hole in the lip to weigh, then poke another hole to put on the balance. I mean, it goes on and on.

In addition to the big holes there are the fish that have had their jaws broken in 2-3 pieces. Yea, they're just fish but it makes you wonder what kind of rough treatment/lipping resulted in getting their mandibles busted up like that...

Hipster · Post by **Hipster** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:27 am

I have posted this on this forum several times in the last six or seven years. I own them although I do not T-fish much any longer but They Work!!

Follow the link

http://quik-cull.com/

Hipster · Post by **Hipster** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:29 am

I have posted this on this forum several times in the last six or seven years. I own them although I do not T-fish much any longer but They Work!!

Follow the link

http://quik-cull.com/

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:58 am

Hipster wrote:...but They Work!!

seen the clips floating unattached in the livewell too many times to be able to agree with you, I disagree

but I do agree that there has to be better, less invasive/tramatic ways to mark the fish than those huge metal clips

I use them but I sharpen the ends so that they puncture cleanly, I keep the rust off of them, I try to pierce right next to the jaw, and I only use the clip to be able to get to the fishes mouth while the fish is still submerged in the livewell, and always try not to lift them by the clip

what about a thinner wire on the clip? there is no need for that thick wire. I've looked around and have not been able to find any viable alternatives. the commercial grade laundry bag clips were the closest I could find.

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:14 pm

MikeD wrote:
Hipster wrote:...but They Work!!
seen the clips floating unattached in the livewell too many times to be able to agree with you, I disagree

but I do agree that there has to be better, less invasive/tramatic ways to mark the fish than those huge metal clips

I use them but I sharpen the ends so that they puncture cleanly, I keep the rust off of them, I try to pierce right next to the jaw, and I only use the clip to be able to get to the fishes mouth while the fish is still submerged in the livewell, and always try not to lift them by the clip

what about a thinner wire on the clip? there is no need for that thick wire. I've looked around and have not been able to find any viable alternatives. the commercial grade laundry bag clips were the closest I could find.

MIKE; SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED TO GET BUSY AND INVENT SOMETHING AGAIN ????

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:22 pm

JIGS TACKLE wrote: MIKE; SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED TO GET BUSY AND INVENT SOMETHING AGAIN ????

sure, I'll get on it in all that spare time I have...

Dewayne · Post by **Dewayne** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:29 pm

I have used the quick clips for a few years. Then can come loose and it can be a pain if your on Shasta and 2-3 come loose. Attaching them to the lower lip keeps them on most of the time. Shortening the rope also helps. It is not always the culling floats though. I have seen fish get their mouth torn pretty bad from just a hook and a big hookset.

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:59 pm

I've also got the Quick-Cull ropes, and they stay on the smaller fish pretty well. I use them on fish up to about 2 1/2 pounds, and use the LifeTags on anything bigger. This works well for me, and makes it really easy to identify which fish are culling candidates. The LifeTags WILL NOT come off.

Roger

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:08 pm

Bass Pro Shops has some culling clips that are big enough that you never have to make a hole in a fish's jaw. The come with little crankbait-style floats in different colors. I put numbers on them with a black marker, and it hasn't come off yet.
Oh, yeah, did I mention they're cheap?

350V RGR · Post by **350V RGR** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:33 pm

I have "Life Tags" from cul m rite. They cost about same as 1 moderate dinner for 2.

I have heard guys say they cost to much. I dont understand that thinking. Just save the money, its easy.

Broken jaws?? man that just plain sucks!!!!

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:50 am

Its funny how quick this topic dropped on the page. Must mean alot of guys use those type of clips! its not about the clip, its about the way you use it, and I have seen alot of guys yanking fish outta the live well by the cords! Outta the five fish I weighed in at the 100% Delta tourney last weekend, only one was not beat up. The two seven pounders were messed up pretty bad. One had only one eye, and a hole in its jaw, the other had a busted jaw! Two of the 3plus pounders were all banged up too. One of them was missing a huge part of the top of its jaw! Its pretty sad, I felt kinda bad weighing them in. Take care of your fish, so we will continue to have them for the future!!

Hollywood · Post by **Hollywood** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:52 am

Whatever you do, don't use the Xtools cull clips, they just clip on without the hole. Looked like a good idea, I have used them for the last two tournaments and each time I went back to cull a fish I would pull up the number I was culling and only get the clip, every time I made it back to the weigh in and time to unload and bag my fish, id reach for a number and to my belief there was no bass on the end of them so back to diggin in the livewell for them again...

gotta find me another way, but i too dont like puttin new holes in there face.

JRock · Post by **JRock** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:37 am

Here's the answer to your problems with culling clips, I believe Tom Leogrand mentioned these in a previous post?

http://www.glorybag.com/

Jrock

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:41 am

the cul-m-rite life clips look interesting, but at $40 they are very pricey

anybody using them with success? can't find pics or instructions on how they work, looks like they attach thru the gill plate with the clip outside the mouth

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:44 am

As I've said, I've had them for quite some time now and they work flawlessly. The surgical tubing slips between the gill plate and the first gill, and clips using a plastic mechanism which is pretty solid. I've never had a fish hurt by this, nor have I had any spit the tag. Very well-made solution, and worth the price IMHO.

Roger

350V RGR · Post by **350V RGR** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:22 am

MikeD,

Check out Oroville Outdoors, thet have them in the "Scales" page.

Yea I agree they are pricey, I am one of those guys that think "you get what you paid for" But more important then that is they are the kindest through the gills tags out there, IMHO of course

Take care,

Gator · Post by **Gator** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:33 am

I am right there with you Hollywood. I am discussing this with X-Tools now. When I was at Clearlake, I had 5 fish in the well (fun friends fishing) and went to pull the fish out and 3 of the 5 were unclipped. I modified mine with the regular poke through clips. I may go look into the Life Tags. I like the fact that I can use them with no damage to the fish.

Hollywood · Post by **Hollywood** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:36 am

yeah i was very disapointed in the xtools clips. When im up in norcal maybe i can find me some of them new clips you are talking about or if you see them pick me up a set and when you come to cooch's for the shindig make a drug deal like trade. HAR

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:42 am

I use to use XTools too, but they came off on me too! I use a different brand now, I forgot what they are called, but you don't have to poke the fish to stay on! They come off once in a while, but I would rather have that happen then to hurt the fish!

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:42 am

cul-m-rite life tags:

Hollywood · Post by **Hollywood** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:49 am

mike,

do these come off with ease and go on with ease or is it a pain in the rear to get them on? just wondering as i don't like to waste anytime when fishing. i prefer not to cull, just catch 5 big ones, ha ha

MikeD wrote:cul-m-rite life tags:

tunaman · Post by **tunaman** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:12 am

It doesn't sound like Mike has them, but I can answer... they are very easy to put on, and very easy to remove. Lip you fish, use your free hand to feed the end of the surgical tubing up between the gill plate and the first gill raker, use a free finger to hold the end against their jaw and use your free hand to attach the end onto the clip. Harder to write it up than it is to do it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:15 am

JROCK -

Thanks for mentioning that... These bags rock, I use them and love them. Touch the fish once and never touch them again.

Balance beaming them, Weighing them, Culling them, putting them in the weigh in bags etc.

They won't hold fish bigger than 8 or so pounds.. but, those aren't the fish you are pulling in and out of the livewell much. Its the 2's and 3's that your a pulling in and out to weigh and cull and for that the GloryBags system is the best hands down!

Besides that, they are great for the fish!

www.GloryBag.com for more information or to buy them. BassTackleDepot/Oroville Outdoors is getting them in soon!

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:15 am

Hollywood wrote:mike,

do these come off with ease and go on with ease or is it a pain in the rear to get them on?

no idea, not an owner of this product - yet.

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:19 am

If you modify the Xtools clips with Weed eater string. And you make sure that the clip is in the groove on the bottom of the fishes jaw, then the Xtools clip will stay on just fine. Just make sure it is in that groove.

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:25 am

SET OF 8 BERKLEY COLOR CODED CULLING CLIPS, SPRING LOADED PLASTIC CLIP NO METAL SPRING ITS PLASTIC SPRING LOADED FROM BERKLEY CALL 1-800-237-5539 COST IS $ 14.95 THEY ARE STRONG AND CLIP ON THE FISHES JAW APPROX 12" LONG COLORED NYLON ROPE TO GRAP ON TO WHEN YOU NEED TO GET YOUR FISH AND SNAP OFF THE CLIP........NEVER HAD ONE COME OFF YET .
OR GO TO WWW.BERKLEY-FISHING.COM
JIGS

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:06 am

Good to see you guys putting some thought into it! cause this topic is way more important then who won what tourney, or what kinda bait to use! We need to take care of our resources, but at the same time have a safe clip for the fish that won't come off!!

If you choose to use the clips that you have to poke it through the fish, at least us it the right way. Don't pick your fish up by the cord, and poke it in a safe place!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:37 pm

I wasn't going to release this video... (it didn't turn out as well as I hoped) but, for the sake of how much I really think this product will help both fisherman and fish... here it is

Zack Schmidt (12 years old) Powell Rod Pro Staffer shows how to put a fish in a Glory Bag!

[url]
http://link7.streamhoster.com/?u=basswe ... odaid=4222

And Yes this fish was and still is Alive and well !!!

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:03 pm

http://link7.streamhoster.com/?u=basswe ... odaid=4222

some formatting problems with the URL in Tom's post caused it to fail, the above will work mo'betta to get you there

its actually a pretty spot on video, the kid does a good job

but $80... ouch ("the cost of the set is $69.95 plus $9.00 S/H")

MIKE TREMONT · Post by **MIKE TREMONT** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:21 pm

I use the cord with the clip. I too sharpen the clip so if I have to stick the fish it's much easier on the fish.
I don't pin a fish unless I have to, and if I do I always try to use an exsisting hole.
I've used a few of the other systems and they just didn't work.
I like a lot of you care about the catch. We are using these animals for our enjoyment. I try my best to treat them well. There's a lot of guys out there that don't see it that way, and it bothers me, but who is right? We'll find out in the end I'm sure.
Don't want to hijack the thread, but... Make sure and use an additive like Rejuvenate in your live well, it really helps.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:46 pm

One set is all you need... it is a one time purchase and the lifetags cost $40 + Shipping and handling!

BTW - I have nothing to do with the company - just really like their product. I have used them for many tournaments now... and every time I break them out I get a kick out of thinking how much easier they are on me AND the fish!

By the way - Thanks for fixing the link!

That kid is one heck of a good stick as well!

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:45 pm

I use the lifetags and they are great. I hated the big holes also. $40 is nothing if you think about it. You pay $16 for rip bait etc.... which you can lose, whens the last time you lost a culling clip??

jiggin_pimpin · Post by **jiggin_pimpin** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:48 pm

I have clip cull tags and I used to poke through other holes rather than make new hole. But I've since switched to putting it through the gill and out the mouth. Does this cause any harm to the fish?

I do this for all fish 4lbs and under. If it gets any bigger then I just throw the bad boy into the livewell b/c if I cull a 5+, then I'm having a banner day anyways and will deal w/ it later.

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:56 pm

jiggin_pimpin wrote:Does this cause any harm to the fish?

I'd say yes, but thats just my opinion - I'm not a biologist (insert joke about staying at a holiday inn express here)

that metal thru the gill plate is not flexible or forgiving, and the clip now located at the teeth could contribute to broken teeth/jaws depending on how much banging around the fish do in the livewell

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:35 am

Hollywood wrote:Whatever you do, don't use the Xtools cull clips, they just clip on without the hole. Looked like a good idea, I have used them for the last two tournaments and each time I went back to cull a fish I would pull up the number I was culling and only get the clip, every time I made it back to the weigh in and time to unload and bag my fish, id reach for a number and to my belief there was no bass on the end of them so back to diggin in the livewell for them again...

gotta find me another way, but i too dont like puttin new holes in there face.

If you clip them like the picture show's with the small side under the mouth they will hold pretty good. You can pull them to the top of the livewell and lip them. I dont ever have them come off. I did cut off the stiff part and replace it with weedeater line.

<img src="/shared/photos/photoother/resized/352_resized.jpg">

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