If you are fishing from shore, a bridge, or a dock and plan on keeping what you catch, then get a fish stringer. (unless you are like me, then you might not need one…LOL) You can also use them if you are fishing from a boat that doesn’t have a live well. You can purchase or make them yourself. We will give you some background on fish stringers, what they are, where to buy them, and supplies you need to make them on your own. Let’s get started!
“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles,” Doug Larson.
Types of fishing stringers
According to Wikipedia, the definition of a fish stringer is; a line of rope or chain along which a fisherman can string fish so they can be kept alive in water. There are 2 general types of fish stringers; a rope stringer or a chain stringer. Which type is best for your stringer of fish?
Chain Stringer
A chain stringer has safety-pin type snaps along the length of the chain and are used to clip onto the fish. The fish stay immersed in the water until you are done for the day. We will cover a little more on chain stringers in a little bit.
Rope Stringer
A rope stringer is the easiest type or form. It is made from rope or wire with a stringing needle made of metal or hardwood at one end. (these are the type I use now cause they are easy. When I wasyounger I used the chain ones.) You use the needle to thread the stringer through the gills of the fish. The other end usually has a wire ring that secures the stringer in the dirt.
How many times we took off in the boat only to remember the stringer dangling overboard..FishinMoney
There are hundreds of styles of fish stringers on the market. Some of them are simple and affordable and some of them are fairly expensive. It all depends on the types of materials used to construct the fish stringer. The heavier weight stringers are going to be more expensive. We are going to take a look at a couple fish stringers that you can purchase from several online stores.
“Early to bed…early to rise…fish all day…make up lies,” Author Unknown.
Paracord stringer
Made by Paracord Planet; 10 foot, 550 pound Paracord Stringer Fish Holder. Very affordable with a metal ring and metal threading needle. It is available in 12 colors and is under ten dollars. The needle has a blunt sharp eds, making it easier to stick into the ground or thread through the fish. With the paracord fish stringer you won’t have to worry about any metal clanking on the side of the boat and scaring away the other fish. It is perfect for shore fishing, wading, or fishing from the dock.
Also available online is the JSHANMEI Clip Lock Fish Stringer. This one is made with metal wire and has 5 clips/snaps. It also has a stainless steel fish buckle, fish barrel swivel, superior quality stainless steel rubber covered soft steel wire, alloy ground support stand, and a mountaineering buckle. The snaps on the fish stringer are 5.5 inches long and the widest point is 1.8 inches. The wire rope length is 19.6 feet and also comes in at under $10.
Heavy Duty Fish Stringers
On the more expensive side of fish stringers, there is the RLQ Heavy Duty Fish Stringer. This comes in 2 colors and 2 sizes; silver or green and 60# or 70#. The 60# stringer is 6 meters in length and the 70# is 7 meters in length. This stringer has 5 clips, a hollow reel, and is easy to handle and store. Use the fish block on this stringer with clams, this helps to keep the fish alive while you continue fishing. The hollow reel reduces the drag and is flexible and smooth. This particular fish stringer comes in at over fifty dollars.
“I spent most of my money on fishing. The rest I wasted,” Author Unknown.
If you are a DIY type of person, then there are plenty of options out there for you as well. You can use metal, paracord, rope (nylon) or even an old dog leash to make a homemade fish stringer. These DIY fish stringers were found by doing an internet search. These are not our creations or projects, but the ones we found and thought that you may want to try.
DIY Fish Stringers
This first DIY project was found on spearboard.com. It seems pretty easy, but not sure if the directions are as clear as they could be. Drill a hold in a piece of metal, about 6-8 inches long. If you know how to rig a speargun then you know what to do with this. Get some wire and a crimping tool and crimp it up. Otherwise you could get a beat up wire hanger, make an eye in the middle and tie off to it.
“You say I`m a compulsive fishing freak like it’s a bad thing,” Author Unknown.
As I said, not super explanatory, but if you know what a speargun is and does, then you are going to be able to create this fish stringer fairly easy.
The next one seems easy enough, only containing 8 steps to complete. It was discovered on tackleunderground.com.
- Get cord and wire that is 16-18 gauge
- Find a nail or something that is just a touch smaller than the cord or wire
- Wrap the wire around the nail 5-10 times, try to make it as uniform as you can
- Feed the cord through the wire loops that you just made
- Cut the rope diagonally to create a sharp point
- Push the sharp point through the cord from the bottom up
- Burn the cord on each end and squash it flat
- Crimp the last wrap on the cord.
There are also hundreds of videos on YouTube that will walk you through, step by step, on how to make a fish stringer. Some of the videos are by professional or very seasoned anglers and some of them are produced by everyday people like you and I who love to share their ideas and insights with the world.
As stated before, you can use paracord, wire, rope, and other materials. You can make them as easy and light or as heavy as you wish, depending on what kind of fish you are going to be catching and stringing. The videos are very easy to follow and when you are done you will have the perfect fish stringer and it will be time to hit the lake and catch some fish.
I hope you have provided you with the information that you desire in order to purchase or DIY your own fish stringer. You can use these to keep fish immersed in water, until you are ready to let them go or take them home and fry them up for dinner. There are tons out there to purchase, a bunch of DIY projects all over the internet, and many materials that you can use to make the fish stringers, even recycled materials that you may have laying around your home.
So, lets get those materials and get to making a fish stringer! Happy Fishing and Be Safe.