Since you’re here, chances are pretty good you already know what a fish stringer is. But let me tell you about it in brief anyway, just in case.
Fish stringers are used to string fish so they can be immersed and kept in the water. They usually have a line of rope or a chain that is passed through the fish in order to secure them to the stringer.
There is a wide range of fish stringers available in the market. The fact that their features and functionalities don’t vary much makes it quite a daunting task for one to pick the best fish stringer for themselves. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back.
In this article, I’m going to be talking about some of the best fishing stringers. No matter what criteria you have, I’m sure you’ll find at least one that will tick all the boxes.
Along with that, there’s also a FAQ section that covers some common questions regarding fish stringing that may help you.
Let’s get under way!
Best Fish Stringers of 2021
- Overall Best: Rogue Endeavor Fish Stringer
- Most Durable: Lazy River Road Outfitters
- Value for Money: Berkley 15 Feet Deluxe Cord Stringer
- Best Rope Stringer: 10 Foot 550lb Paracord Fishing Stringer
- Best Budget Option: Eagle Claw 04310-005 Chain Stringer
- Hurricane Stringer
6 Best Fish Stringers – Comparison Table
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Best non-metallic  
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6 Best Fish Stringers on the Market – Reviewed
1. Rogue Endeavor Fish Stringer – Overall Best
Specifications
- Construction Material: Corrosion-resistant stainless steel with mirror polish finish.
- Lanyard Length: 3 feet (fully extended)
- Maximum Weight Capacity: 60 lbs.
When I saw Rogue Endeavor Fish Stringer for the first time, I didn’t know anything about its specifications or the things it was capable of. Still, by the look of the stringer, I could tell the designers meant business. Happily, it did live up to my expectations.
To start with, how multifaceted this fish stringer is. Doesn’t matter whether you’re into spearfishing, scuba diving, or kayak fishing – Rogue Endeavor Fish Stringer’s design is so versatile that you can try out pretty much every single fishing style there is with it!
The build quality is superb. The maximum weight capacity allows you to use it with large fish as well.
Combined with the extensible TPU coated steel lanyard which has a bunch of very useful features like 360-degree swivel and quick release buckle, the integrated retention system makes using the stringer as simple as it can get.
Overall, Rogue Endeavor Fish Stringer is one of the best fish stringers you can get yourself. It’s definitely a bit on the expensive side, but the benefits it offers are well worth the extra few bucks.
Pros
- Excellent versatility, suitable for all fishing styles.
- Can be used in both freshwater and saltwater.
- Decent durability and sturdy construction.
- Easy fish retention system.
Cons
- The plastic clip (which is used to attach the stringer to the boat) may be a bit flimsy according to some users.
- Comparatively expensive.
2. Lazy River Road Outfitters – Most Durable
Specifications
- Construction Material: 550 paracord and stainless steel.
- Number of Hooks: Five
- Cord Length: 6 feet
When it comes to durability, Lazy River Road Outfitters undoubtedly takes the crown. Which is very important, by the way.
Why so? Picture this, you’ve just caught a trophy fish. You want it to stay alive till you make it to the shore, so you put the fish on your good old fish stringer. Then you look away.
You glance at the fish stringer a few minutes later, only to find it broken and your trophy fish are gone.
Do I need to say anything else about why durability matters?
Thanks to the two-tone paracord with wooden beads used as spacers, this fish stringer looks pretty appealing. The sturdy design allows you to put even the significantly large fish on it with zero hesitation.
If you’re someone who catches big fish like bass often, Lazy River Road Outfitters is what you’re looking for. This stringer does cost a tad bit more than other fish stringers, but the durability actually makes it a real bargain as a matter of fact.
Pros
- Rugged construction promises high durability.
- Attractive design.
- Can be used for large fish.
Cons
- Comparatively expensive.
- Doesn’t come with a needle.
3. Berkley 15 Feet Deluxe Cord Stringer – Value for Money
Specifications
- Construction Material: Braided polypropylene and stainless steel.
- Number of Hooks: nine.
- Cord Length: 15 feet.
Here’s to all the value shoppers out there, who are always on the hunt for the best possible value for the cost of the product. And that is something very admirable, for real.
While the perfect ratio of value to cost can be arguable, I made sure to take my time with the research, checked almost every single fish stringer available in the market, and finally ended up with the one that’d get you the most bang for your buck.
Which is none other than Berkley 15 Feet Deluxe Cord Stringer!
Braided polypropylene has been used in the construction so it won’t make much noise, but the manufacturer did include stainless steel snaps in order to not compromise durability. The cord length is ample for pretty much every angler, and you can put plenty of fish on the stringer as well.
Berkley 15 Feet Deluxe Cord Stringer definitely has some flaws. In spite of that, you can’t really go wrong with it given how much value the stringer provides for the price. If you’re someone who cares about that, do consider this fishing stringer from Berkley.
Pros
- Snaps are made of stainless steel, which allows them to hold fish securely.
- Tangle-free design lowers the chances of the cord getting twisted.
- Has a taper point needle for easy stringing.
Cons
- The clips aren’t long enough for large fish.
- Some users complained about the durability of the braid of the rope.
4. 10 Foot 550lb Paracord Fishing Stringer – Best non metallic option
Specifications
- Construction Material: 550 paracord.
- Cord Length: About 10 feet.
- Needle Length: 3.5 inches.
Your arsenal of fishing gear may be huge, but it’ll never be complete without a rope fishing stringer. And no, chain fishing stringer isn’t a substitute for that. Because, chain stringers produce a clacking sound when they’re being shaken, which can’t be avoided especially if you attach your stringer to your boat.
That sound is annoying as hell for one, but more importantly – it spooks fish out. You definitely don’t want that, do you?
If you do, steer clear from this fishing stringer.
Because it’s made of paracord that will never make any noise no matter how much it bounces around. Did I tell you the paracord is type III, by the way, nominally rated with a minimum breaking strength of 550 pounds-force? Now you know how strong this fishing stringer is.
And last but not the least, it can even be used as a fishing line in case you ever end up in a Swiss Family Robinson situation.
To wrap things up, this is a wonderful fishing stringer that’s packed with many useful features and great durability. If you’re looking for a rope stringer, you should strongly consider a 10 Foot 550lb Paracord Fishing Stringer.
Pros
- Simple, sturdy design.
- Rarely tangles.
- Comes in plenty of colors to meet all anglers’ criteria.
- Can be used for large fish.
- Has a removable inner seven-strand core that can be used as a fishing line in survival situations.
Cons
- The tip of the needle isn’t screwed in, so it may fall out under heavy pressure.
5. Eagle Claw 04310-005 Chain Stringer – Best Budget Option
Specifications
- Construction Material: Stainless steel.
- Cord Length: 3 feet 4 inches.
- Number of Hooks: Seven.
Eagle Claw 04310-005 Chain Stringer is for those who are on a tight budget, which is quite apparent in the design. They took a no-nonsense approach and excluded remotely all bells and whistles that can be found in the top-shelf stringers.
That leaves us with a bare-bones fishing stringer that can do only one thing, stringing fish with ease. And that’s enough, isn’t it? Combined with the stainless steel construction, it isn’t bad in terms of durability either.
If you don’t want to spend too much and don’t mind the lack of additional features and functionalities, Eagle Claw 04310-005 would be the perfect fishing stringer for you.
Pros
- Suitable for fishing in both freshwater and saltwater.
- Corrosion-resistant build material.
- Affordable.
Cons
- Can’t be used with larger fish.
- The noise, it’ll be creating can scare fish away.
6. Hurricane Stringer
Specifications
- Construction Material: Braided rope.
- Cord Length: 15 feet.
- Number of Hooks: Ten.
Hurricane Stringer is your typical standard rope stringer that comes with everything you would expect. The cord is long enough for almost everyone, the construction is rugged and yes, it does come with the needle too, to assist you in stringing fish.
It seems to be nothing special so far, so what is this doing on my list?
Firstly, I wanted to give you more options to choose from, of course. Secondly, it does have something that makes it noteworthy, which is its ability to accommodate more fish than its competitors.
That’s right, it comes with 10 stainless steel snaps to make sure you don’t run out of space even if you’re on a fishing spree! If you’re one of those go-big-or-go-home anglers who literally catch a boatload of fish on the daily, you absolutely should check Hurricane Stringer out.
Pros
- Heavy-duty construction combined with metal hardware easily holds medium and small fish.
- Steel snaps can be unhooked from the line individually.
- Holds comparatively more fish.
- Comes with a tapered needle.
Cons
- The clips lack any sort of locking mechanism, making it unsuitable for large fish.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to use a fishing stringer?
Using a fish stringer is fairly simple. If your stringer comes with a needle, use it to pierce a hole on the lower lip of the fish. Run the rope of the stringer through that hole and back through the ring of the stringer. That’s all, your fish is secured now!
If you still find it a bit confusing, this video may be of help.
In case your stringer doesn’t come with a needle, you can always use a sharp object to make the hole as well.
Do you keep fish alive on the stringer?
If you want to keep the catch fresh, there’s nothing wrong with putting them on the stringer alive.
Having said that, be noted that the fish will be struggling against the stringer and may injure itself. On top of that, most species release lactic acid when they get stressed out, which ruins the meat quality. So those are some downsides of keeping fish alive on the stringer.
However, water temperature also plays an important role here. If the water is somewhat warm, you should keep them alive on the stringer as the meat would turn mushy and gross otherwise.
Do you kill fish before putting them on the stringer?
If the water is cold enough, you should always kill the fish first.
As I was saying, keeping fish alive comes with the risk of them getting stressed out resulting in poor meat quality. And you should only be taking that risk if the water is warm. With cold water, the chance of the meat getting ruined due to water temperature is virtually zero.
So, you know what to do. Dispatch and bleed the catch before putting them on the stringer.
Do fish suffer on a stringer?
It depends on how it’s attached to the stringer. If you’ve put the stringer through the gills of the fish, the answer is yes, the fish does suffer. However, they don’t as much if it’s put through the lower lip or bottom of the mouth.
When the former method is used, the gills get injured and the breathing may get impeded. You shouldn’t put the clip through both lips for the same reason. So, as long as you’re not doing that, the fish is very less likely to suffer.
Final Words
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! Let’s have a recap.
We’ve read about the ins and outs of the eight best fish stringers in the market. The list has been curated carefully to meet everyone’s demands. Whether you’re looking for the most durable stringer, value for money, or the best budget option, the list has got you covered. In case you’re still not sure, my pick is Rogue Endeavor Fish Stringer by the way.
Along with the list, I’ve also answered some common questions in the FAQ section above, to clear up any confusion you may have regarding fish stringers.
Although I did try to recommend nothing but the best ones, make sure to do your own research as well to make sure you’re getting exactly what you need. Tight lines!