THE BEST FISHHOOK REMOVER EVER

Why the GripFlip is the best de-hooker ever:

          1) The GripFlip is the first grip-type de-hooker with a j-shaped end that is stationary relative to the body. Fishhooks are secured by positioning them at the product’s fixed securing point and then squeezing its trigger. The shaft extends outward from the body and presses the fishhook against the jay. With other grip-type de-hookers with j-shaped ends, the jay moves inward, making it necessary to adjust the de-hooker for the jay's inward movement.

            2) The Gripflip’s trigger mechanism eliminates the need for arm movement after a fishhook is positioned at the fixed securing point. This in turn increases the odds that the fishhook will be properly secured.

            3) The fixed securing point is easy to see because of the space between it and the shaft and body.

            4) The GripFlip is the first de-hooker to combine three leverage systems together, two of which increase leverage as the shaft extends outward. By applying 10 pounds of force to the trigger, a fishhook can be pushed against the jay by more than 35 pounds of force. Once the trigger is fully depressed, enough force to keep the spring from pushing the trigger back out is all that is required.

            5) I have found that it becomes difficult to remove a fishhook when it is secured and the opening (the minimum distance between barb and shank) is reduced by more than one third. The skin, tissue, and skeleton inside the hook must pass back through the opening in order for a successful removal. If this opening is reduced by more than the volume of the fish inside the hook, the skin and other parts will be compressed against the bar as it is forced out of the hook. The additional compression against the bar increases the amount of cutting and tearing the barb will do in the removal process, thus making it more difficult to remove the fishhook. The additional compression against the bar may also straighten the fishhook. I have begun to refer to this common situation as hook-lock.

            To minimize hook-lock, the GripFlip's jay and shaft front were made as small as possible, but still structurally sound for the type of fishhooks they were designed to remove. Both are made out of heat-treated 630 stainless steel (also called 17-4 PH). This type of stainless steel is often used in medical products because of its strength and corrosion resistance.

 

GripFlip versus pliers:

            1) Both pliers and the GripFlip do a good job of minimizing hook-lock, yet unlike pliers, the GripFlip secures the fishhook at the same place every time. You do not have to worry about securing the fishhook too far from the tip, where additional hook-locking will occur.

            2) The GripFlip's longer length makes it much safer to remove fishhooks, especially from larger fish or fish rigs with multiple hooks, such as ribbon fish rigs.

            3) While sight alone is used to position pliers, due to the Gripflip’s j-shaped end, both sight and feel are used for positioning, making its securing process easier and faster.

            4) The GripFlip's favorable leverage ratio increases as the shaft approaches the fishhook and hook-lock remains constant. With pliers, the favorable leverage ratio increases as the fishhook moves away from the tip. Hook-locking also increases.

 

GripFlip versus line tension de-hookers:

           1) The j-shaped end allows the GripFlip and line tension de-hookers to use line tension to position a fishhook.

            2) Unlike a line tension de-hooker, you do not have to maintain line tension so the fishhook is properly positioned for removal. You do not have to wrap the fish line around your hand in order to generate enough tension to correctly position a fishhook. This is especially beneficial if you fish with a braid line, as the small diameter line will cut into your hand.

            3) Unlike a line tension de-hooker, you do not have to worry about the fishing line being too weak to position the fishhook.

            4) Unlike a line tension de-hooker, the GripFlip is able to twist fishhooks out. Not having to use a flipping or jerking motion to remove the fishhook makes it safer with multiple hook rigs, such as a ribbon fish rig.

            5) Much like a line tension de-hooker, the GripFlip is able to use a flipping motion to unhook a fish.