Weighing Bass

[Alex21]

I just dont like the idea of poking another hole through the bass's mouth for weight. I like to keep things as simple as possible and get them in the water with best chances of survival. With that being said whats the best way to weigh a bass. I heard of puting them in a bag then hooking the handles but wouldnt that remove alot of their coat?

[senile1]

Buy a scale that doesn't require a hole such as a Boga Grip.

http://www.alltackle.com/boga_grip_tool.htm

[jslacker]

Couldn't you use a traditional style scale with the hook and just hook it behind the gills? that's how I weigh my carp...

[Alex21]

Buy a scale that doesn't require a hole such as a Boga Grip.

http://www.alltackle...a_grip_tool.htm

Ya but cant that still damage the jaw if its a big enough fish

[joefish]

these work great.

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Grip-Master-with-Scale/product/93413/111891

[Alex21]

Couldn't you use a traditional style scale with the hook and just hook it behind the gills? that's how I weigh my carp...

Ya you could but the thing with that is if the fih flops it could tear its gills which is almost always fatal.

[00 mod]

Buy a scale that doesn't require a hole such as a Boga Grip.

http://www.alltackle...a_grip_tool.htm

Couldn't you use a traditional style scale with the hook and just hook it behind the gills? that's how I weigh my carp...

I use a 15lb Boga for mine, but in the past have used a Berkley scale with a hook. If you are going to hook them under the gill plate, make sure to not get a gill in the way. No sense in causing harm this way. Best bet is a boga style scale.

Jeff

[00 mod]

Alex, If you are that worried, the best way is a bag with water in it. Place fish in, weigh, remove fish, weigh again and do the math.

Jeff

[ClackerBuzz]

you sound careful and won't cause damage with the hook scale. you will get bored weighing 90% of the fish you catch and save it for lunkers

[JunkYard814]

I had a similar thought process to you when I first thought about using a scale. I went out and bought the Berkley version like the one joefish suggested and I have yet to harm a fish with it. Granted it hasn't held anything over 5 pounds but I seems just as safe as grabbing a fish's lip and ripping it out of the water.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

just put your scale hook through you lures o ring and do it like that

[Loop_Dad]

Hello folks! First post here.

After I injured a fish when I used the hook kind of scale, I started to carry a plastic bag to weigh. The problem I had with this was the plastic bag became very stinky quickly, especially in a hot weather.

I am back to using the hook kind of scale for now. Like ClackerBuzz said, you get bored weighing the fish. I only weigh bigger ones. So this might be okay.

I learned to look inside the gill cavity before sticking the hook in there and make sure not to pinch the gill. Then weigh quickly. It is kind of awkward because you have a thumb of one hand in the mouth while trying to hold the fish higher so that you can see the fish from behind the gill.

I am considering buying lip-grip kind of scale, but those jaws look very small, a lot smaller than my thumb, and not so gentle on the fish, no?

[senile1]

Ya but cant that still damage the jaw if its a big enough fish

I thought the same thing but I think the jury is still out on that one. Read the following thread on how to hold a bass and make note of what Fish Chris has to say. Chris is a trophy hunter and has caught quite a few bass well over 10 lbs. There are quite a few others who think that a vertical hold is fine as long as it is a short length of time.

http://www.bassresou...by lip__st__15

[Texfisherman]

I've thought about getting some type of fish netting, maybe a 2'-0" x 2'-0" piece.

Put the bass in it and then hook the fish netting onto the weight scale. The netting is too light to affect the weight and the bass would remain safe.

To create a visual of this, imagine taking the net on your boat (that you use to pull bass out of the water) and cutting off the 'net' part of it. Then, permanently attach a weight scale to the top part of that.

-- You don't have to worry about fish fighting you while being weighed

-- No extra damage to them

-- No 'hooking' the bass in any way, shape or form

-- No new holes in his lip

I haven't actually tried this yet, but intend to.

EDIT: I've edited this thing like 5 times now; my apologies

[Sam]

Buy a scale that doesn't require a hole such as a Boga Grip.

http://www.alltackle.com/boga_grip_tool.htm

X2

[ClackerBuzz]

I think one of the biggest factors is how much you played the fish. if you didn't have a chance to play it long and it still has a lot of fight left when you boat it..there is a good chance it will still jump/kick in ur hands and on the scale. that would be bad. if they have any energy left they will usually jump when you touch the scale hook to their jaw so do a trial run first. if you can touch the hook to their jaw w/o having them kick they usually have submitted. should be save then.

The same will hole true weighing with bags. They will put up a hell'a fight going into the bag if they haven't submitted yet. So hold them another 30 sec till they've calmed down. Same principle no matter if its a hook scale, boga, stringer etc.

Edited July 13, 2012 by ClackerBuzz

[BassAssassin726]

Why would you make another hole for the scale? Just slide the hook up under its gill and make sure its through. No hole.

[tomustang]

Why would you make another hole for the scale? Just slide the hook up under its gill and make sure its through. No hole.

I agree. Scales don't have piercing hooks on them, they have hanging hooks. I think you have a misconception on scales

[jeb2]

Another vote for the Boga. I bought the 15lb one a few months ago, and love it. Had fish up to 7lbs on it so far. Like someone else said, it's no harder than lipping the fish to pull it out of the water or putting it back in the water.

Just make sure you buy some kind of bright colored floaty for it. Kind of pricey to kick overboard and not get back!

[joeshmoe916]

I typically use the existing hole from the hook as a pilot hole. I also ground down the hook on my scale to a smaller size for ease of entry and to reduce hole size. If the hook spot is not a good spot, I go through the thin part of their under jaw, between gills and a inch or two back from the lip.. this shouldnt effect eating or swimming, it has never bled at all when I puncture it.

[CybrSlydr]

Holy Jesus - that Boga scale is $125!!!

That's almost what I spent on my rod/reel!

[A-Jay]

A-Jay

[Goose52]

2012 thread...a blast from the past....

[CybrSlydr]

Just now, Goose52 said:

2012 thread...a blast from the past....

As a moderator for another forum, I'm familiar with the use of the search feature and the desire to resurrect threads rather than start another. 

[scaleface]

Use a large ice bag .