Improving the fishing experience...one fish at a time
(continued)
Applications:
Interestingly during our field tests we found that one of the best uses for the
tool was not just control of our catch during the de-hooking process but also landing
the fish as well. Rather than use a net to land larger fish we were able to lip them
on the side of the boat just as you would do so with your hand. The only
difference was the L4L affords you an extended reach and helps put some distance
between you and your lure's hooks should the fish decide to resist during the
grab. Once dehooked you can simply lower your catch back in the water, open the
jaws of the L4L and release the fish.
Holding a striper securely as we
remove our broken off Streamer
This entire process takes no more than a few
seconds, drastically improving chances of survival for the fish since there was
no direct, physical contact between the angler's hands and the fish's mucus
membranes. The L4L is great for fly fisherman that prefer to hold trout securely
in the stream while they retrieve their delicate flies. The L4L is also a
excellent tool to have when dealing with toothy gamefish like Barracuda where
retrieving flies and lures can be perilous if the fish is not properly
controlled.
Release fish just as easy with the
Lippa4Life
Durability & Maintenance: After three
months of intensive use and over 20 bass and 80 plus stripers, the L4L
looks just about as good as new. If you drop the L4L on the ground it will
suffer cosmetic damage in the form of scratches but performance and operation
are unaffected. We liked the optional holster, and recommend keeping the tool
buckled to the lanyard when on the water.
In terms of maintenance, a simple rinse and wipe
with freshwater after each use will keep the tool clean. For smooth operation,
apply a minute drop of to the connection point beneath the jaws once each month.
We tested both ReelX and Quantum Hot Sauce and both were excellent lubricants.
CPR (Catch, Picture, Release) has
never been easier, the Lippa4 Life makes the entire landing and de-hooking
procedure painless for you and the fish
Price: Quality craftsmanship has a price, and in the case of the Lippa4Life
that price is 70 dollars per copy. The L4L is not a cheap tool, but it is a very
nice one. While just a bit pricey for a bass tool the L4L is priced reasonably
for a fly fishing tool. But for those anglers that enjoy bass fishing in the
summer and fly fishing for steelhead in the cooler months the L4L is a brilliant
crossover tool, and certainly worth the investment. Those anglers that love the
overall design of the L4L but still find it too expensive for their tastes can
also consider the stainless steel version of the tool. The main differences
between the two are that the stainless version does not have the knuckle guard,
has rubber handles for increased grip, obviously weighs quite a bit more
(22.83oz), and costs only $25.00, which is within reach of all anglers.
Ratings:
|
Lippa 4 Life
60361
Ratings (?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
The
L4L features excellent materials and build quality |
9 |
| Performance |
This tool is easy to use, and does exactly what it is supposed to...it helps
control and protect fish making the entire encounter safer for both the
angler and the fish. Bonus points for so much consideration put into the
design to help preserve the health of the fish. Unlike most vertical gripper
tools you still feel very connected to the fish when using this tool |
9.5 |
| Price |
I
was a bit torn here. I was going to give the L4L a 7 in this category but
the overall build quality won me over, in addition to the fact that in terms
of fly fishing tools the L4L is appropriately priced |
8 |
| Features |
The
main feature of the L4L is the unique design and exceptional weight. The
tool loses points in comparison to other grippers because they have built in
scales and can hold fish without constant pressure |
8 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
Ergonomically the L4L is excellent. It is comfortable to use by anglers with
just about any size hands, and is extremely easy to operate |
9 |
| Application |
The L4L is a tool that can serve just about any freshwater and light
offshore angler. Whether you pursue trout, bass, or barracuda the L4L will
serve you well |
9.5 |
|
Total Score |
8.83 |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus |
| J
Excellent ergonomic design |
L
Requires constant pressure from angler to
operate |
| J
Beautiful build quality |
L
Cost may be slightly high for bass
anglers |
| J
Many applications for fly or bass |
|
| J
Unique tool designed to protect fish just
as much as anglers |
|
| J
Cost reasonable for a fly tool |
|
Conclusion: Rising should be
commended not only for designing and bringing to market a quality tool, but for
designing it with the fish in mind. The more fish that survive the healthier the
sport, and that kind of forward thinking is what helped Rising create this
unique tool. The name Lippa4Life says it all...while there are a lot of tools
out there, many of them do quite a bit of damage to fish in the process. The
Lippa4Life is one of the first tools we have seen that is designed to allow
anglers to remain closely in connection with the fish, enabling them to sense and react
to the fish during the de-hooking process, ultimately making the entire
encounter as quick and painless as possible for both you and your catch.
For anglers that may shy away from the 70 dollar price point the company's 25.00
stainless steel version is functionally similar but not as refined in terms of
design and ergonomics. The L4L is a great tool if you dabble in both fly fishing
and conventional angling, and also a excellent tool when you want to stay out of
harms way when dealing with toothy fish. The one thing that is for certain is
that the Lippa4Life will improve your fishing experience, as well as the
experience of all the fish that you catch.
For
more information, or to order check out
Rising.net
