I got the xtools a couple of years ago and had the same problem with the clips coming off the fish in the well. Did what flippinstick is going to do. Bought a cheap wire stringer, took the clips off the stringer and put them on the xtools and have had no problems with them. But I would suggest a better quality wire clips as the cheaper ones will rust really quickly. Also, if you do this, make sure that you crimp them a little tighter so that they don't come off on their own.