H2O Precision Jigs are Tough

Caught this big ‘ol flattie today on a H2O Precision Jig & Gulp Alive 4″ emerald shiner minnow. Any guesses as to how big?

29 lbs.

Nice fish! I bet she was a battle on a jiggin rod.

32 pounds and gawd I hate those fish gripers.

Catch any eyes?

Caught 7 saugers, one walleye, and about a 7 lb channel cat in addition while jigging. The gripper gizmo was passed to me from another boat to try and weigh the fish before it was released. I still don’t really know because it bottomed it out. You deal with these things often so if you say 32lb it should be fairly close.

Sounds like you had an awesome day on the water!

Those scales should have instruction printed on them. It would be better for the fish to put it in the net and then weigh the net-subtracting out the weight of the net.

On a side note, my first flathead was held by the gill covers.

I’m thinking after a day like that you might want to check your mono to see if it’s stretched!

Great catch and one I’m sure you’ll remember for a long time!

I appreciate the constructive criticism and you make a good point on weighing the fish in the net. I don’t own one of those “lip pinchers” but I’ll be aware of that if I luck up and ever get another one. I’ve handled a couple hundred muskies and a few big sturgeon but never a cat that big. I did keep her in the water until the other boat was situated to take a couple pics. Their heads are huge! Can’t imagine what it feels like to get the first look at a true 50lber as it comes up burping bubbles…

I “get it” now why you do what you do!

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32 pounds and gawd I hate those fish gripers.

Catch any eyes?

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There is nothing wrong with using a Fish Gripper as a matter of fact I would recommend it. I’ve watched a lot of people try to handle a large fish with just their hand and the fish will twist and get dropped and all banged up. A gripper helps you to control the fish especially if you use your other hand to steady it. The Gripper is the best way to handle a channel cat and works great of Flatheads too.

When taking photos by yourself I would also recommend a gripper because it steadies the fish and the photos are quicker and easier to take. I lock up the Gripper on the fish and then hit the timer and just run into the frame and grab the Gripper with the fish and I’m ready in plenty of time for the photos and I have the fish well under control.

I use a gripper for weighing large fish too – that net business is a pain in the buttocks and not very accurate. Slap a gripper on the fish and hang the gripper on a scale – subtract five ounces for the weight of the gripper and there is your accurate weight. A lot faster and easier than trying to use a net and easier on the fish too. That net rubs off a lot of slime that the fish needs. I net the fish and then dump them out of the net as quickly as possible – dragging them around the boat while they are in the net is not a good thing in my opinion. The less handling the better and the better control of the fish the better too.