Conservation Series Landing Net
4.6(2,450)4.6 out of 5 stars, 2,450 reviews, on Amazon at the time this was writtenA knotless, rubber-coated net that does not strip slime or tangle trebles, in a hoop size that actually fits a Great Lakes fish.
Rapala
Rapala · Tools & Storage
Digital Scale and Lip Gripper
4.3(1,600)4.3 out of 5 stars, 1,600 reviews, on Amazon at the time this was writtenA gripper and scale in one tool, so a fish gets weighed and photographed in one handling instead of three, then goes back in the water.
Check price on Amazon$54— Digital Scale and Lip GripperPrice shown was accurate on 2026-09-01. Amazon sets the live price.
What's good
- Controls the fish's head, which stops the thrashing that throws hooks into hands
- Weighs to a tenth of a pound, which is enough precision for anything short of a record claim
- One tool instead of a gripper plus a separate scale means less fumbling at the gunwale
What isn't
- Hanging a heavy fish vertically by the jaw can injure it — anything over about ten pounds must be supported under the belly or not lifted at all
We list the drawbacks because a recommendation with no downside is a sales pitch. If a cheaper item does the job on your water, the write-up says so.
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