Don't Boga that fish my friend, pass it over to me!

Wait, wrong song...

I'm interested in hearing from people on your views of these things.

Do you use it instead of a gaff, or situationally when you are looking to C&R?

There is a tremendous price gap out there on various models - from $20 to $200 it seems. Do the cheap versions to the job, or is there a clear difference?

As you note, a boga costs quite a bit, and I'll add that they won't float.

On the other hand, these cost $13, they float, and they work great:

I use mine when I'm looking to CPR, or if I have a toothy fish in my lap that I need to control.

BTW, I keep a rapala version of the Boga grip back in my truck just in case I have a fish I want to weigh. 

I second what Jay said. I'm a huge fan of the lip gripper for releasing fish. I also use mine just to pick up fish from the cooler, and they are a big help when filleting too. A great product IMHO.

Lip gripper all the way. My boga is probably still attached to a ling somewhere around Elk

I have the purty red/orangy one and I love it.Hasn't slipped a lip yet!!

Rich

Lip gripper all the way. My boga is probably still attached to a ling somewhere around Elk

That little puppy just wanted some stylish lip piercings 

Yep, love the plastic lip gripper. I've used it to hang onto kelp in a pinch, too.

One small warning - you can break a fishes jaw if you're holding a gripper rigidly & the fish tries to do a dance. I had a ling gripped in the water and it started to spin - crack - something broke. I'm sure he survived but the point with C&R is to do as little damage as possible. I also think it was kind of an unusual, freak thing to happen, & lings may be more prone to it because of the wide, thin shape if their mouths. Anyway, a lesson learned - give 'em a slack to wiggle.

I have one form cabelas that has a tape measure built in. So you can lip it and then measure. It was pretty cheap if I recall. But I added a chunk of pool noodle to it so it will float

 

  My Rapala (Heavy metal lip gripper) is still a virgin!

been using the gripper that glows in the dark.
good multi use tool.

I have a boga, and have used it - but they're $$$, heavy, and as others have noted, do not float.  

The only reason IMO to use a Boga is if you want an IGFA certifiable weighing device - otherwise, the cost and functionality of any number of "lipping" pliers seems like a far better idea for use on toothy critters.

BobV

I use a Boga and freaking love that thing.  I have a float for it as well as it is leashed to the yak.  Had it now for 5 years (4 years of serious surf fishing) and one year on the yak.  I let it sit in sea water and just rinse when I get home and it looks the same today as when I got it.