I bought a bunch and gave them out as Christmas gifts.  
 

I love the thing.  The CalCoast Donkey Leash.  I’m frazzled mentally on pretty much any fish I catch.  A big one?  I’m way excited. I love focusing on the fish.  Quick hook removal and clip on the donkeyL and put the fish back the water to stay cool and wet. THHHENNN! I gather myself.  Untangle stuff, toss lure back into water, tuck rod away ,get a firm grip on my iPhone etc. 

Maybe even get the fish scale turned on and off metric mode. (“2lbs?  That can’t be right…”)

 

it’s a great way to take care of a fish. 
 

just a thought. My opinion only.
 

 

I agree, a real handy tool during tournaments to prepare for the for the picture and let the fish calm down. I need to order a couple more, thank you for the reminder.

How big would the fish be that you wouldn't be comfortable using that? 

This is an old post but it saves me from creating a new one.

 

Anyone have this?

 

Or anything similar?

 

Recommend?

33 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

This is an old post but it saves me from creating a new one.

 

Anyone have this?

 

Or anything similar?

 

Recommend?

you know I'm a fan.   it even more important now that summer is here.  i keep the fish in the water, while I gather my "S".   I have it permanently tied to my kayak, and I just roll it up and stuff it into a side pocket.    I haven't found any comparable substitute.  the OG version is the way to go.  it is fairly long.  I can stand up and still have the fish attached.  I also ordered an extra clip, and use it on my fish scale.  I'm on my third kayak, and the leash is the same one..gets moved to the new boat.

Just now, Darth-Baiter said:

you know I'm a fan.   it even more important now that summer is here.  i keep the fish in the water, while I gather my "S".   I have it permanently tied to my kayak, and I just roll it up and stuff it into a side pocket.    I haven't found any comparable substitute.  the OG version is the way to go.  it is fairly long.  I can stand up and still have the fish attached.  I also ordered an extra clip, and use it on my fish scale.  

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Now, the most important question.

 

Has a fish ever gotten off in the water?

Such a Great idea. 

I use something very similar. 

Called the donkey pool.

Some may know it as a live well.

A-Jay 

^^^. well, you do eat higher off the hog with your fancy boat.  

Ive been using this tool as well when I’m fishing from my personal pontoon. I can keep the fish in the water, unharmed, while I set my camera up for a selfie. I highly recommend it. 

Agreed... 

deleted

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

^^^. well, you do eat higher off the hog with your fancy boat.  

Perhaps but it's a small hog at best.

My reply here was in response to the multiple remarks all over this forum where some can't understand why bass that are C P and R ever end up on a live well in the first place.  The consensus in this thread may help explain it.

YMMV

A-Jay

^^^ This

 

There's a difference between putting a Bass in a live well for a few minutes while you set up the hero shot and carting 5 bass round in a live well for hours, banging them around for dozens of miles in the chop and releasing them miles from where they were caught.

 

 

I have said donkey leash. I can attest to its ability to hold onto a 7lber while paddling (slowly) back to bank (about 100 yds) to change batteries out on a scale. The entire paddle time took like 20 mins because it was dictated by his swimming with a gentle persuasion here or there for direction. At no time did I “drag” the fish just to get a weight. (Just cutting that off in preparation in case I did something wrong)

13 minutes ago, Smirak said:

I have said donkey leash. I can attest to its ability to hold onto a 7lber while paddling (slowly) back to bank (about 100 yds) to change batteries out on a scale. The entire paddle time took like 20 mins because it was dictated by his swimming with a gentle persuasion here or there for direction. At no time did I “drag” the fish just to get a weight. (Just cutting that off in preparation in case I did something wrong)

 

I had something similar last night which is how I started this search.

 

I was out fishing and it got dark. My wife decided she was done and headed to the truck.

 

Of course, 15 minutes after she left I caught a really nice bass and wanted her to take some pics/video.

 

I called her and asked her to drive over and meet me at the beach.

 

While paddling to said beach, I was trying to keep her in the water in the net the majority of the time. That wasn't the easiest so I'd put her in the kayak for a bit and paddle faster. Then put her back in the water. Back and forth, back and forth.

 

It all worked out. I got some pics and she swam off good.

 

Just has to be a better way. 

I have the donkey leash, because of this post. I have it permanently tied to my kayak. I love it. Used it yesterday! 

 

I will say I struggle to release it from the fish mouth, but that's clearly because I'm an idiot because I think it's really easy to use for someone who isn't a troglodyte. I just can't figure out the release mechanism. 

 

As far as a fish getting off, anything is possible but it seems pretty unlikely to me. I think a small fish would get off easier as a big fish has a bigger lip to latch onto so less likely to slip. I highly doubt this thing would break though, it's very well made. 

2 hours ago, FishTax said:

troglodyte. 

It’s rare; but I love hearing/reading words for the first time.  
 

(now off to look that up) 

I'll be ordering one of these. Ty

Have one in my shopping cart at the moment.

 

Just trying to figure out what else to get to make the $50 for free shipping. LOL

For tournaments, I had a donkey leash on one side and a FishGrips tethered on the other.  I did lose one fish from the donkey leash early on, so I only used the FishGrips from then on. Kept the donkey leash as a backup

On 7/3/2025 at 7:34 AM, FishTax said:

I have the donkey leash, because of this post. I have it permanently tied to my kayak. I love it. Used it yesterday! 

 

I will say I struggle to release it from the fish mouth, but that's clearly because I'm an idiot because I think it's really easy to use for someone who isn't a troglodyte. I just can't figure out the release mechanism. 

 

As far as a fish getting off, anything is possible but it seems pretty unlikely to me. I think a small fish would get off easier as a big fish has a bigger lip to latch onto so less likely to slip. I highly doubt this thing would break though, it's very well made. 

Took me forever to figure it out too. I was like “I know I’m not this much of an idiot”.  See pics. Squeeze fingers toward thumb. 

On 7/3/2025 at 11:14 AM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Have one in my shopping cart at the moment.

 

Just trying to figure out what else to get to make the $50 for free shipping. LOL

Need help?   I know a primate….

2 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Need help?   I know a primate….

Oh I figured it out.

 

Already arrived and used it.

 

Love it.

I use a fish grip attached to a T-Reign retractor. Any fish getting its portrait taken will be big enough to stay under water.