weighing a fish

[crankbait2009]

Hey guys

i have seen a number of digital scales for weighing fish.  to be more specific, i have seen the digital rapalas that come with a hook at the end and i have also seen the rapala scales taht have a clamp at the end that is controlled by the handle.

1.  is one more accurate than the other?

2. what is the best way to attach the fish to the hook scale?  through the gill or do you guys actually go back through the lip?

3. on the claw scale, do you clamp that down on the lip as well?

trying to figure out which one is best to use and the most accurate.

any help would be appreciated

[SBM-RL]

I have a Berkley one and my friend has a Rapala both with the hook, both have been accurate. I would assume the reason that some are more expensive are are because they may have better warranty's, last longer or have extra features. as far as using them i just use the gill i believe that is the way you are supposed to.

[crankbait2009]

using the gill....................this wont effect the fish's mouth at all will it?  how fragile is the gill area?

[Georgia Jeff]

I stick the scales hook back through the hole in the jaw that the fish hook made.  The Boga grip type of scales usually only weight down to 1/2 pound incriments where as the standard type of scales with a hook haning out the bottom weigh down to the 1/10 ounce. 

I have only owned the later type and it is pretty accurate when I weigh a 5 pound of sugar.  It is an old Normark that pegs out at 15 pounds.  I figured if it weighed more than that I would sure as heck be keeping the fish and weighing it on something super accurate.  I am going to cry when this scale finally dies as I have had it for about 5 years.

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

my problem is that too many times the fish takes it through the top and has no other holes to use, but so far have not seen any problems temporarily using the gills... now anything over 7 or 8 pounds it will be better to use a normal flat scale instead of a hanging scale as any single area holding their entire weight can dislocate or break their jaw or tear the gills.

[Josh Bassman]

I use a plastic grocery bag. It works good. You can give the fish a little bounce to get the scale weighing "correct"... the harder the bounce the better the fish looks.

[Big Bait Fishing]

when placing it in the gills , only place it in the part that is closest to the tip of his mouth , meaning don't put it in where the red part of the gils as you can make the fish bleed out and cause serious damage . think of the red part of the fishes gills as their lungs , they are sensitive , and release the fish quickly after you weigh it and take a picture .... 

[MALTESE FALCON]

Plastic bag!! That's a great idea Josh.

Falcon

[TommyBass]

Plastic bag!! That's a great idea Josh.

Falcon

Bye Slimecoat...

[Smart Journal]

Most digital scales I've used are off if not caliberated correctly.

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

Most digital scales I've used are off if not caliberated correctly.

NOTE: press the "calibrate" button before weighing anything... thanks for the reminder 

[Big Bait Fishing]

Plastic bag!! That's a great idea Josh.

Falcon

Bye Slimecoat...

that is true about their slime coat , if you were to use a plastic bag to weigh them , put water in it , zero out the scale , then put the fish into the bag ..

[J Francho]

Mass is soooo 2003.  Use displacement. 

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

good idea with the plastic bag.  you could get a tournament weigh bag, put water in it with the fish, and weigh it. then take the fish out and re-weigh the bag, and subtract the difference

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

good idea with the plastic bag. you could get a tournament weigh bag, put water in it with the fish, and weigh it. then take the fish out and re-weigh the bag, and subtract the difference

That is making it more complicated than it needs to be: just take the fish out of the livewell or where ever you have it, put it in the plastic bag and weight it.. the fish is not going to die in the 2-3 minutes you take to weigh it.

[Josh Bassman]

"that is true about their slime coat , if you were to use a plastic bag to weigh them , put water in it , zero out the scale , then put the fish into the bag .."

I love the fish and want to protect them, but I'm not that concerned with them being comfortable.

I saw a bass that looked like it had healed from being hit with a boat prop. I couldn't believe that it's spine wasn't severed, but it was still alive and put up a good fight. They are tougher then most people believe.