In Oklahoma I learned a big thrashing striped bass is the best way to get a hook buried into my hand.  The do not stay still ever.  A friend loaned me an extra fish clamp and it was a game changer with respect to safety.  
 

largemouth bass are not much problem, but stripers are and I hook into them on occasion.  
 

You like the clamp type or the ones that are more like locking pliers?  

Mine lock similar to vise grips.

I have them beside me everytime I throw baits with treble hooks.

Very handy tool. Especially for Pike.

I use the Rapala fish gripper, both to keep hold of unruly fish and to safely weigh them on my scale without jamming a hook up in their gills (just have to make sure to zero your scale to account for the extra weight). I've been very happy with the product given how inexpensive it is.

If you fish ALONE ????   I would say BUY a jaw grabber of some type. I have pulled 5 of 9 hooks of a big lure out of my right hand. I could have cut nerves. tore open a VEIN or ARTERY .  While driving 20 miles to a E R   ALONE.......... Dumb stupid luck prevented me loosing enough blood to pass out & die at 55 mph.

 

Buy those gripping tools !!!!!!!!

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

In Oklahoma I learned a big thrashing striped bass is the best way to get a hook buried into my hand.  The do not stay still ever.  A friend loaned me an extra fish clamp and it was a game changer with respect to safety.  
 

largemouth bass are not much problem, but stripers are and I hook into them on occasion.  
 

You like the clamp type or the ones that are more like locking pliers?  

Yes. Hybrids are just as bad.

BIG Hybrid striper in the Delaware sucks my 1 1/2 floating Rapala 8" down into his throat !!

 Alone under a lighted bridge................. Reach way into the throat.  Some how it stayed still & I unhooked each treble quickly............ Another dumb luck move.

I've got a rapala fish gripper too.  I also have a pair of fillet gloves that are supposed to be hook proof.  With trebles I usually put a glove on my left hand and use pliers with my ungloved right hand.   

Cut a 1/2" v notch on something, hold the line about a foot away and pull the lure tight against the notch, most times the fish will fall right off, or you might need to shake it a bit, we use olive barrels, cause they is going to market...

I prefer Boca Grips. They've served me well for many years. I tried a pair of the Rapala vice grip types. I had a 3' musky shake right out of 'em. They do work well for weighing bass though.

I like keeping both large and small Rapala grippers with me. Totally worth it. Largemouth and smallmouth bass can ruin your day, especially the small ones. Believe that.

 

Tie a cord to them that you can hook to your boat or something so if you lose your grip when they thrash you don't send a fish swimming off with a pair of grippers attached to their face. 

I have both, But the Berkley 9" is good one for you.

https://www.amazon.com/Rapala-RFFG9-Floating-Fish-Gripper/dp/B00YHZG57Q/ref=asc_df_B00YHZG57Q/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=311998322334&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8155934164415294480&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031112&hvtargid=pla-439828830386&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=62421706072&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=311998322334&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8155934164415294480&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031112&hvtargid=pla-439828830386

I use The Fish Grip. It’s made in the USA.

 

https://www.thefishgrip.net/

I have the Rapala, and the Fish Grip. Those go with me in the kayak as they float.

 

Lately for Trout and Pickerel fishing I have been using the Night Cat fish lip gripper I got off of Amazon. It’s been a nice surprise, sturdy and the scale works. It’s a poor man’s Boga Grip.

If I don’t have fish grip I don’t fish treble hook even it’s just a bass, period. I have 6” Rapala ready in a car, 9” attract to my kayak.

On 5/10/2022 at 6:17 PM, cyclops2 said:

If you fish ALONE ????   I would say BUY a jaw grabber of some type. I have pulled 5 of 9 hooks of a big lure out of my right hand. I could have cut nerves. tore open a VEIN or ARTERY .  While driving 20 miles to a E R   ALONE.......... Dumb stupid luck prevented me loosing enough blood to pass out & die at 55 mph.

 

Buy those gripping tools !!!!!!!!

Woah, glad you made it.  After that I hate to ask why you are called cyclops.

I use Rapala fish grippers. You can be careful all you want, but all it takes is one fish shake and you have an unwanted body piercing.

 

But there's another reason you should use a fish gripper as well, especially if you're fishing smaller bodies of water in warm weather climates. If you lip enough fish during the day, you can tear up your thumb and end up with cuts and abrasions.  If you've paid attention to the news the last few years, there have been a number of people infected with bacteria or amoeba that can do considerable damage or even kill you if they get in your bloodstream.  Grippers can help mitigate that risk.

Thank you Koz !!   ?

 

 I have done that problem / risk 70 years ago. . I was 14 & catching hundreds of all typs of fish in stagnant water.   PARK WATER  everyday........... Dumb luck back then. I fished with taped over right hand fingers.

 

  Who said we are doing a harmless sport to ourselves.

 

Only when you reach old age do you realize the things you have done to yourself being active.

 

  Oh well        

My father would get long infections from opening oysters up. The knife or sharp shell edges would cause a small open wound that could take days to stop oozing fluid..