X-Tool Cull System Modification

[motocross269]

I have been wrestling with this also...I am thinking about just using stringer clips with different color electrical tie wraps, That way they won't take up as much space as floats. (Co-Angler)..
Hopefully I get the opportunity to Cull alot..

[smbassman]

I bought the new Berkley kit this year knowing that the tags would not work.  I haven't used them yet though so maybe I am wrong.  I got it mainly for the scale and storing weights.

I use the Bag'em tags and after using them and learning where to attach them, they rarely fall off.  The biggest key is to not attach them to the bottom lip, but just off center on the top lip, so the clips are down on some thin skin but have to pull over a thick bone to pull off.  It's a little hard to describe without a fish in your hands....

One thing I learned is the berkley scale stores weights by color of tag and that doesn't match the Bag'em tags.  I will probably put some kind of stainless clip on the berkley tags.

[BASS FISHERMAN]

i makeup a nice setup todays 
firss i takes sume diepurr pins and i hook thems on sume weed trimmur plastic coord 
i then takes sume small plastic bobbores i buy to wally wurlds an i hook thems to the weed trimmur lines 
i then takes an i make a 1,2,3,4,5 ontoo eachs one 
now i reedie fur me fish cullin once the seesun getts heer 
sorry to says me setup looks micky mouse as hell butt i well be usein it thiss yeer fur sure 

SLOW GAMBLERS BOAT RULE 

[SethV]

I don't like poking holes in the fish or trying to get the clip through the gills.  I have been using these clips for years:

http://quik-cull.com/

They work great, even on big smallies.  They will not come off.  The ropes are also flexible, unlike the rod-like x tools system.  I don't think the guys at x-tools fish much.  Really poor product design.

Seth

[Revtro]

I was looking at those at Cabala's.  I wondered how well they hold on.  Might be worth a try next time I'm down there. 

One thing I do like about the x-cull floats though are the numbers.  Easy to see and easy to use with a Berkley scale that numbers the fish to easily cull out.  But I guess you could label any kind of float with numbers. 

I don't mind poking a hole in the fish's lower lip though because it doesn't really hurt them at all and when you remove the clip, it's hard to find the hole sometimes.  I'd guess it probably heals up rather quickly.  I'm not sure I would recommend putting the clip under the gill plate.  I have heard this can harm the fish, though I really don't know.  Maybe some of you biologist types can chime in on that.  I've always wondered.

Anyone ever wonder how the pros who don't use floats cull out there fish in a hurry?  I notice on the bassmaster shows that a lot of the pros just toss the smallest fish into one side of the livewell, but when they cull that one out, how in the heck to do they quickly find the next smallest one without using floats?  And is it me, or is it a pain to grab a slimy fish from a livewell with no float attached to it?  Maybe I'm just a clutz, but I am not good at grabbing them swimming critters from a full livewell.  It's like Rocky chasing the rooster around in Rocky 3. 

[SethV]

I switched to those clip-on quik-cull tags a few years ago.  Before that, I kept having the stringer type tags rip pretty big holes in the fish.  They would be small initially, but after a long run in rough water the banging in the livewell really did a number on them.  These quik-cull tags are strong enough that I can grab the rope to pull 6 lb smallmouth right to me and force their mouth open.  They are expensive, but worth it IMHO.

Seth V

[21XDC]

Using the clips properly solves this issue.... Watch this video.

[Team houston]

I use the Bag em clips too. They very seldom come off. I also  like not putting holes in the fish . The only problem is you cant lift the fish with them but you can pull them too you to grab. As a co angler I can only hope I have culling problems lol.