Gosh, I'm late jumping in this thread. Some good thoughts and I'm not going to elaborate. Yet, I think the "grippers," even the really good ones like Boga, are hard on fish and heavy.

In Quetico, I've landed 15-pound lakers, 18-pound pike, 12-pound walleyes, 6-pound smallies by hand. (And I don't lip the pike or walleyes). Some who do not know me (maybe those who do as well) will think I'm just bragging, but I've got pictures as well.

Bottom line, grabbers and nets are simply one more thing to carry.

Tim