GilliganJR

BeenThereDoneThat.
 
 
In my book, the Boga Grips are the best possible means to prevent injury to both fish and angler.
 
Thank-you.

Haven't read that book.  The Boga Grips: A gathering of short stories by BeenThereDoneThat
It's not on Amazon.  is this an April Fools?  not cool man.

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April fools joke is on me............  but, no problem, I've been wrong about people before.
 
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[/quote=D-nymph]
Nobody carries gaffs in freshwater, don't be ridiculous. 
 
"The best possible means of being returned to the water in a timely manner without injury", as you say, is with single hooked barbless baits/lures/flies and without a boga.


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Maybe in your dream world D-nymph nobody carries gaffs in fresh water and, if they did stop, it's because they bought a Boga Grip.  Again, the majority of the anglers do not target Musky and catch the fish entirely from luck.  When they do, the fish will most likely be taken into the boat or, taken to shore before being returned  to the water (hopefully) unharmed.  As far as being ridiculous, see how far you get with the barb less hook suggestion or, leaving the fish in the water idea.
 
 
 
 

GilliganJR
say something useful.  please.  

 
Practice what you preach..........  like I said the joke is on me, my bad; serves me right for making a wrong evaluation, of someones character.

anzomcik
Musky fishing is a blood sport, plain and simple. D-nymph I think you understand what my examples are ment to show. Your right any vertical hold can be damaging. But I do not know any other way to lift a fish into a boat than with some amount of vertical lift.

Have you ever seen a gill plate get ripped out from a hand lift? I have, and have it happen to myself as well with a fish thrashing in the net I'm about to lift. Fish was calm until I got it about half out then head shaked till I dropped it back in net. She swam away but not sure if she made it.

Is the boga perfect, nope nothing is. But if you know how to use it, it's the best method of safely releasing musky for both fish and angler. Education is key to teach people proper way to use a boga.

The only way to protect musky 100% is to not fish for them.

I know it's a blood sport, we're in the same game, and I'm sure you do your best.  And your last sentence is correct.  That's why we just do the best we can and make choices we think are best for us & the fish.  Nothing illegal with your boga, but you'll never catch me with one, nor anyone in my boat.  Personal preference & choice because I believe they are used improper and lazily a lot more often than not (not saying you do, just that a lot do).

A grand total of 0 PA anglers carry a friggin' gaff in their boats.

Summary of Pennsylvania Fishing Laws and Regulations ...fishandboat.com/.../equipment.h... 
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission


RODS, LINES, AND HOOKS – An angler may use a maximum of three lines fished ...GAFF OR LANDING NET – A gaff or landing net is permitted to assist in ...

BeenThereDoneThat.
Summary of Pennsylvania Fishing Laws and Regulations ...fishandboat.com/.../equipment.h... 
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission


RODS, LINES, AND HOOKS – An angler may use a maximum of three lines fished ...GAFF OR LANDING NET – A gaff or landing net is permitted to assist in ...

Never said it was illegal, but rather that nobody does it. 

I'm not picking sides here but really, a gaff ! In the 60's & 70's yea.....but a net is just so much better all the way around for both. Sorry I'm not a fan of single hooks for Musky lures......barbless too ? I've lost enough without giving them more advantages.......10,000 casts is enough ! 

what is their reasoning for using a gaff?  do they lose a lot of 16'' walleye at the boat?  and are they worried about losing hammer handle pike?  

Some people should heed their own advice. Say something useful please.  Nowhere was it stated that a gaff should be used on a hammer handle pike or 16 inch walleye. Nor would anyone i know say that it should be used on such fish. On a larger fish that you know you are going to keep (such as a 22 inch walleye or 30 inch pike, figured i had better put some numbers in to keep the peanut gallery happy) a well placed gaff put through the soft part of the lower jaw as anzo stated can be a very useful tool. The 2 guys i know that use them the most often both fish from pontoons and have on some occasions even put the gaff through the inside of the gills to lift the fish up into the boat.

Watch they don't put it through the pontoons. They do make great long handled nets in a variety of sizes.... I know I own about 10 different nets for fishing on boats and shore .....but I really don't need em !!! 
 

BTDT, would a gaff be ok to use in a rubber fishing raft or float tube ?  LOL.....I just had to ask!
 
Too cold for me to fish, it's all yours boys !

 
Barbless single hooked fly.  No gaff, no boga grip, just a cradle with a tape measure in it & the hook slid right out.  Keep em tight & fight em right.
 
 

Great fish! Congrats.

How long for the photo op?  Fish looks dry?
 
 
 
Nice catch "D".

 
 
 I equate this to hunting.....most guys have no problem blowing out bambi's brains while trotting through a field, but get so mad over someone taking a photo of a fish. At least you have given the fish a chance. The big difference is that Bambi is already dead, whereas the fish will probably swim away. Why don't you just take a leg shot on Bambi, take it to the "car dealership" for the annual "contest", get your "hero shot" for the local paper..... then bandage it up and release it back to the wild. Oh wait, the perspective is different, right ?
 
 A musky, for being as you say, a "majestic beast".....it is quite the puss. Tell me again, how does it differ from a bluegill ? Your kid eye hooks a gill and you rip the hook out and toss it back into he water. Does the size of a musky make it more precious. If you want to be a fish hugger, you might want to focus on fish as a whole and join a PETA group.      
 
 People take eggs from a chicken, which is a product of a chicken that can actually product another chicken, and throw it in a boiling water....yet everyone is OK with it. We take a picture of a COMMON fish and we are beneath you.
 
 For C&R fishing, it is the obligation of the sportsman to do his best to avoid hurting the fish, but I know of no law that states if a fish is accidently hurt I am in violation. The law does not say I can't accidently hook into a fish (even if out of season), it just says I can not be in possession of it out of season.  
 
 I use my gaff on walleye, drum (yes, we eat them), pike and catfish....even lake trout. Usually if I trying to get dinner in the boat. With a growing family to feed I relay heavily on fish as a consumable product for us. I eat a musky now and again.....it taste just like pike. If I were to choose to let my family starve I would be a bad father, but if I choose to follow the law and harvest ONLY what I am allowed by law, I am a bastard.