I'm trying to come up with a new stringer for the bwca. I am thinking about something light, strong, and has the ability to add fish without taking the other fish out of the water, or not having to even untie the stringer at all.

We have tried rope stringers, chain stringers (with the big metal snaps), and currently use a cable stringer. They are all functional, but leave something to be desired.

Any ideas or insight???

Forked Stick.

Snipit,

You fill all those requirements without a wand and I'll buy it at Bass Pro when it hits the shelf.I'm keen on the not taking the fish or stringer out of the water.

;-)

heck, they can make everything else wireless...why not a stringer? :)

Snipit,

This is a good idea, but it would result in more loose pieces in your tackle box. I envisage something simple like this.

Two rings, one able to fit through the other, the smaller of which has a carbiner type opener/closer connected by wire, filament, whatever. Or it could simply be a small enough carbiner that fits through the other ring. Pass one end through the gills, run the carbiner through the other ring, attach carbiner to a second wire/string that is holding your fish under the canoe.

The second wire length under the boat has something at the end that prevents the carbiner from slipping off. The downside to this I can see is everything becoming tangled together under the canoe. The fish would have free reign of the second wire length that is tied to the canoe.

Good idea!

Sorry about your big money patent dreams..it's already out there: very simple nylon rope with a dozen sliding plastic locking snaps. Been using one wader fishing for years. Regularly give them as Christmas presents to other wader fisherman friends looking for a silent solution that doesn't require untying or pulling other fish out of the water. Just do a search for plastic snap stringer or something like that. I got my latest bunch of them at Cabela's for about $6 apiece.

I like the idea Jimi... definately something to work on over the cold hard water days. I too have contemplated the idea of using carbiners like how you are suggesting.

Although I do like the idea of a stick. Great idea Trygve!! Two "attaboys" for the effort!!

man oh man....never stringer a fish thru the gills. talk about "dead man walking".

Oh, yes kanoes.. you are dead on, thanks for the correction. I too never go thru the gills, great point.

Have used the Sampo nylon fish stringer for years. Never lost a fish (except to an occasional otter or snapper). They are easy to use and you can put a fish on without pulling others out of the water. You can get them at Cabela's etc. and they are around 6 bucks.

Yeah, Sampo. That's the one. Great system and easy to use.

Ditto to Buzz and Schweady. I've never lost a fish off one of these. Easiest thing to do is always make sure you open the next clip after you string a fish so you don't have to mess with it when you catch another one.

thlipsis29

I think this is the Sampo stringer the guys are talking about. You can find it here at Cabela's.

That Sampo thingie just went on my new gear list!

Here's a a photo of what you want. The photo that comes up on the Cabela's site is not exactly it.

The orange sliders serve two purposes: slid toward the rope, they hold the clips up at the top - just by friction on the rope - and ready to use. Then, after the fish is hooked onto the bottom clip available, the orange slider is moved to cover the clip, and it snaps into place, locking the loop shut. Slip it down the rope and get back to fishing. There are also hard plastic separators between the clips to keep the fish from getting all mashed together. The one I use wading has been going strong for many years.

I've used the same one as Schweady for years. I always hook the last snap on the back of my canoe. I open the first snap and just hook it through the last snap so it's ready to go when I want to put one on the stringer. Always have the next one open at the ready. I don't trust the friction on the string to hold the next one in line, I always like to hook it into the last snap.

Another benefit of these stringers is you can easily take off or add additional snaps. I've taken them off (with fish attached) and restrung them on another, longer line so I could keep the fish alive at camp until dinner (or even the next day). The longer line allows the fish to get to deeper water. Works great.

This is the only type of stringer we use. When ever I bring someone new, it's always on their list of things to buy!

canoepaddle

I like it! Do guys just poke a hole through the fish's lips/chin with a knife (or some other sharp object) before stringing a fish? Or are the nylon clips strong enough to poke through?

Never had a problem just pushing the clip through, and mine is three or four years old and seen a number of fish on it.

thlipsis29

Why not through the gills? Once I keep a fish and put it on a stringer, I usually don't plan on releasing it.
. . I like the rope-style stringers that are coated with a clear plastic to slide through easily.

We do alot of fishing on our trips. In many cases, a fish might be on the stringer for hours before they are in the frying pan. I like to keep the fish as alive and as fresh as possible for shore lunch.

...what Snakecharmer said.

If you catch a fish at 9am and put it on a stringer and it dies at 1pm and you eat it at 2pm for shore lunch, it's very fresh.
---
If you catch a fish at 9am and put it on a stringer and it dies at 10:30am and you clean it at 1pm and eat it at 2pm for shore lunch, it's very fresh. And it was a little easier to clean.

a rope type stringer is fine too. just pierce both lips. plus, they tow a bit easier that way.

I'm going to order a couple today. thanks for the insight.

Okay, I am going to go into overkill on this one with another image just because it's fun to share how well this thing works.



1) The loop on the left has the orange slider snugged up on the line, holding it from slipping down into the water. Its point is held in a little recessed spot to keep it out of the way and so all of the loops don't wind up all tangled together just when you need to get the next one open to secure your catch.

2) The middle loop shows the plastic loop's pointed end which can be easily pushed through your walleye's lower jaw.

3) Imagine the loop on the right holding your fish. After impaling him, you snap the point back into its little recessed spot and slide the orange slider over that point until it clicks into place. Then, the whole thing is free to slide down the line into the water and you can get back to fishing.

Best part is how quiet it is compared to metal chain stringers. Most times, it's even quieter than that forked stick... :)

Howard - you asked a question and I answered it. I've cleaned and eaten plenty of floaters. But on a canoe trip, when I clean a fish for the frying pan, I prefer it to be alive and even a little feisty. As fresh as possible. That's just my preference. A dead floating fish with glazed eyes isn't as fresh. That's just my opinion.

Understood. :)

I dunno schweady, you a company rep for that contraption by any chance? Pimpin' it pretty hard!

;) lol!

Jimi- I just can't seem to walk by a dead horse...

AND here's the other shoe dropping: As much as I'm sold on this gadget, I don't bother bringing one into the BW... A plain ol' rope stringer takes up less room in my flat Plano box!

Guess I just was just having fun being back on the site again and looking for an excuse to practice uploading some photos. :)

"Never had a problem just pushing the clip through, and mine is three or four years old and seen a number of fish on it."

thlipsis29

Yeah, most of the fish were mine ;-)