Thread: Special request from a friend wanting me to post pictures of my stump grabbers.

Some folks might have a better idea but this is what I have used for several years and they have worked great for me.



What I use is 1 inch schedule 40 plastic pipe. I currently have 2 of them that are 5 feet in length that way if needed the guy in the front of the boat and the guy in the back of the boat can grab onto the same stump or tree top. This way it gives you a V pattern that holds your boat enough away from the stump so both guys can fish around the same stump. I really need to make another one that is 3 to 4 feet in length so that when I am in the boat by myself I can fish up close to the stump.



What I do is use a small dia cable and I drill at a angle so its easier to thread thru the pipe. Then I use a small cable clamp to attach the end of the cable to the one end of the plastic pipe. Then I get some rope and thread the rope thru the pipe and tie a knot in the end of it. Then I use two more small cable clamps to attach the rope to the cable. Then I grind off any extra threads on the cable clamp. Then I wrap it in black electrical tape and then pull the cable back up thru the pipe past the original loop that is already in the pipe. This way your loop of cable will only be so large.



I have seen some folks make them out of rope before. But rope gets wet and won't hold a loop! And when your in a lot of wind and trying to grab a stump a cable loop works the best. And its really nice to have the 5 foot length if the stump is a couple of feet below the water depth. And as far as the strength of these they hold my 175 Lowes boat just fine even in large white cap conditions!

And when you want to release the clamp from the stump just untie the rope from the boat and grab the pipe and flip it off the stump. You will want to play with the length of your rope. I may have mine a little long but its always better to have extra in my book than not enough! Many times when I have been by myself its sometimes hard to grab a stump in windy conditions. Buy having the longer rope you just have your hands on the pipe grab a stump and then just let the rope run thru your hands. Then you can use the rope to pull your boat back up towards the stump.

Special thanks to Ray Wise, Buffalo, MO for teaching me how to make these! RIP my friend! You taught me so much about crappie fishing and even sold me my first fishing boat!

I use the brush grabber and PVC pipe. Here it is "cocked":



Then I twist it and the spring lets the jaws close down on the limb. This is the other end:

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I have since put a leather glove on the boat end to keep the PVC from scratching the boat up when the rope is ties to a cleat.