Okuma lip grippers

Author: josh

Category: Kayak fishing accessories

Created on Friday, 01 April 2011 20:19

Written by Josh

Whilst the Shimano lip grips I've used for the past few years have served me pretty well, they haven't really always been terribly helpful in informing me how heavy a fish is because a lot of them have weighed more than the max weighing capacity of its scales (7kg). More than once even trying to weigh a big fish has resulting in the gippers jaws popping open and that experience has often deterred me using them since. They're getting on now, and given they cost me an arm and a leg from the outset, I started thinking about alternatives. Aware of my plight the good folks at okuma were kind enough to send along a couple of samples within their range of lip-gripping offerings to check out. There were 2 models I was interested in specifically - their new standard model for 2011 as well as their feature packed grips that includes a tape measure and thermometer. 

The standard model has the capacity to weigh up to 23kg, which is much more in the range of the fish I'm interested in weighing. Here's Okuma's take on it: 

New to the scene for the ’11 season comes a handy, easy to use fish lip gripper with built in scale. The Okuma Lip Gripper weighs fish up to 23kg and includes a non-slip rubber grip handle with tough ABS handles, a premium stainless spring, corrosion resistant construction and an adjustable nylon wrist strap. 

So it ticks all the boxes for my needs, including fitting neatly into the pocket of the 2011 AI. The slightly beefier model that includes the tape for measuring the fish, making it a pretty complete took for handling and examining weight and length of a fish. It includes a digital display that reveals weight in kg, offering a much more precise reading than the more common style seen on most lip grips. These, plus the thermometer were all very tempting features and I think most boaties, tournament pros and flat water kayak fishos might get more out of this model.  

That said, for my intended application I've decided to roll with the smaller 23kg grips for use on the AI. It fits into the storage pocket better and will survive the heavy abuse open-ocean AI usage dictates, whereas I'm not so certain the electronics in the other model will survive the constant submergings of walls of water that sometimes gush over the deck. I think this model might be much better suited to the Outback or Pro Angler yakker, due to their higher, drier and slower ride.  

However it is way too good for me to just leave lying around loved, but yet unused. No doubt it would start to feel neglected, with me constantly taking it's counterpart fishing, and it never getting a chance to come out with me. No... it just wouldn't be fair. So I have to find a new home for it. It's the right thing to do. And to that end, I will give it away as a prize in an upcoming competition, the details of which to be announced in a couple days time.