In our last tournament my partner got all excited because I placed the cull buoy through the gill flap of the fish instead of puntching a hole in the fishes mouth.  I am curious how you guys use your cull buoys.  It seemed logical to me that a hole in the mouth is most likely unwanted by the fish.  The  end which attaches to the fish is just like the stringers I used as a kid and it never seemed to hurt the fish, what do you think?

I wouldn't put anything around the gills of a bass, too much potential for injury!!!! The last thing you want is a dead bass!!!!!!!  

I use the X-tools cull buoys, they clip to the fishes lip so you don't have to punch a hole.

I never want to put things in the gills because like DDbasser said it seems like too much potential for injury. I also never liked the idea of putting another hole in the fish or tearing up the one that it already had from the hook. I also have the XTools set. Easy to use and make it easier for me to find the fish in the livewell.

bassdocktor

The clips on the stringer are only -not supposed to kill the fish before you get done fishing so you can then fillet them!  

I think your better off with a small hole than a letting a metal clip bang around the gills all day before weigh in.  In the grand scheme of things, what's a small hole going to hurt... it's not like the fish have to hold their breath under water!  ....lol  

I like DD's idea the best though.