Scales, Electronic Or Manual?

[tbone1993]

Does anyone have a preferred scale? I want something that can fit in my tackle bag without taking up too much room. I also do not want to spend a fortune but also do not want to get a scale that does no work. I have read reviews in which some smaller electronic scales are off by 3 or 4 ounces. Would a manual scale be better than an electronic? What are your opinions?

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Ive personally never used a digital but I have a cheap manual (mechanical) one that I dont really care for. Its got a hook that you put the fish on and if the fish doesn't wanna cooperate, it ends up flopping off and onto the ground. Since thats bad for a fish that your about to release, I very rarely use it. If I had the money to spare, Id go for one of the lip grippers with the built in digital but sorry, I can't reccomend a brand or model.

[Topwaterspook]

I have two older Berkley digital scales. The worst one is almost 5 oz. light when compared to the test weight. I'd be interested in one that's accurate as well.

[Jig Man]

I have owned most of the digitals and found them to be inconsistant with readings so I bit the bullet and bought a Boga Grip.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Does anyone have a preferred scale? I want something that can fit in my tackle bag without taking up too much room. I also do not want to spend a fortune but also do not want to get a scale that does no work. I have read reviews in which some smaller electronic scales are off by 3 or 4 ounces. Would a manual scale be better than an electronic? What are your opinions?

How precise are the Boca?? I looked for info and seems they only go in increments of 1/4pound thats 4oz. From description of Boca off BPS "15-lb. model weighs in 1/4-lb. increments and 30- and 60-lb. models weigh in 1/2-lb. increments". So they arent going to give 4.12 or 5.06 or 2.73 readings or 3# 3oz, 6# 2oz. You are going to be guessing between 4-1/4 and 4-1/2.

[jeb2]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/109344-good-scale

[scaleface]

Ive personally never used a digital but I have a cheap manual (mechanical) one that I dont really care for. Its got a hook that you put the fish on and if the fish doesn't wanna cooperate, it ends up flopping off and onto the ground. Since thats bad for a fish that your about to release, I very rarely use it. If I had the money to spare, Id go for one of the lip grippers with the built in digital but sorry, I can't reccomend a brand or model.

Put the fish in a plastic grocery bag. I think I got that tip from RoadWarrior.

[Darren.]

Boga grips can be sent in to IGFA and rated for accuracy.

While they may rate, as mentioned above, in 1/4 oz, or 1/2 oz increments, they are the best for lip gripping. I still don't have one, is on my Christmas list. I use a knock-off which I periodically test with different dumbbell weights in plastic bags and it has proven very accurate so far.

I used to have a digital scale until it went down to Davy Jones' Locker. I liked it a fair amount, but it was not as easy to use as a lip-gripper/scale. The Berkeley lip-gripper/digiscale is attractive, but I've seen some negative reviews on them which has kept me away.

I've dropped my current gripper in the drink a number of times, but thanks to my float attachment and the lack of digital circuitry, it has remained undamaged.

But I'm also a kayak fisherman, so a little "closer" to the water than bass boaters, with no deck to speak of. I'd probably have both if I were a bass boater.

[Goose52]

Spring scales are more robust - electronic scales are often more compact. There are spring scales that would fit in a tackle bag easy enough but the lip-gripper scales might be a bit large to fit.

For me, I wanted something reasonably accurate that would fit in a waist pack, so I went the digital route. Since I have the opportunity to catch fish as heavy as 50 pounds, I also needed a scale with a weight rating that high. I have been having outstanding results with the mini-Rapala scales - others have had problems with this brand. I can only speak for the two units that I have - on pull tests with known weights, they have been accurate to around .05lb (1 oz) at weights under 10 pounds, within .1 pound at 15 pounds, and within .2 pounds on one pull test at 38 pounds. Accurate enough for talking purposes. I perform pull tests periodically, and always after a new PB. This past August, I upped my LMB PB with a (measured at the lake) 9.56. Got home and immediately did a pull test - the prepared known weight was 9.574 pounds - the scale read 9.59 - the scale was .016 pounds heavy. So, I call my PB a 9.54.

Some folks don't like digitals, and it's true that they can crap-out without notice. But, so far, I've done well with these. If one or both eventually break, I'll get a couple more - they are not expensive and do exactly what I need them to do.

Regarding the ability to have a scale that can be IGFA (or state weights & measures) certified, it's not a factor for me since I think it's highly unlikely that my little lakes harbor any record fish....

[Bankbeater]

I like the electronic ones. The only real problem I have ever had is when they get wet. Once wet there days are numbered.

[Darren.]

Regarding the ability to have a scale that can be IGFA (or state weights & measures) certified, it's not a factor for me since I think it's highly unlikely that my little lakes harbor any record fish....

Quite true. I mentioned it for the "hey you never know" factor . It doesn't really matter to me, personally. I just want something that is accurate and water proof. But I would like to know how close to x pounds a bass is, though, which is not as easy to read on lip-grip scales -- at least not mine.

[Goose52]

Darren - you bet - that's important for some folks. For instance, Fish Chris has mentioned that he has several scales in his boat that he has certified by the California state weights & measures outfit - important for him because he has the ability and water to catch lake record (or state or world record) fish. Just not a factor for me when in my little lakes we get jazzed with 3 pounders and a 14.5 to break the Tennessee state record is not a high probability...

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Put the fish in a plastic grocery bag. I think I got that tip from RoadWarrior.

Thanks man. I actually think I heard that before. I usually don't bother though. Haven't got anything out of my lake bigger than about 3lbs and I just figure Im not too concerned about weight unless its a significantly larger fish. Like a new PB or something.

[tbone1993]

http://www.bassresou...9344-good-scale

Saw this post in a different section after I posted this. Do you like the rapala digital scales ? t

[tbone1993]

Spring scales are more robust - electronic scales are often more compact. There are spring scales that would fit in a tackle bag easy enough but the lip-gripper scales might be a bit large to fit.

For me, I wanted something reasonably accurate that would fit in a waist pack, so I went the digital route. Since I have the opportunity to catch fish as heavy as 50 pounds, I also needed a scale with a weight rating that high. I have been having outstanding results with the mini-Rapala scales - others have had problems with this brand. I can only speak for the two units that I have - on pull tests with known weights, they have been accurate to around .05lb (1 oz) at weights under 10 pounds, within .1 pound at 15 pounds, and within .2 pounds on one pull test at 38 pounds. Accurate enough for talking purposes. I perform pull tests periodically, and always after a new PB. This past August, I upped my LMB PB with a (measured at the lake) 9.56. Got home and immediately did a pull test - the prepared known weight was 9.574 pounds - the scale read 9.59 - the scale was .016 pounds heavy. So, I call my PB a 9.54.

Some folks don't like digitals, and it's true that they can crap-out without notice. But, so far, I've done well with these. If one or both eventually break, I'll get a couple more - they are not expensive and do exactly what I need them to do.

Regarding the ability to have a scale that can be IGFA (or state weights & measures) certified, it's not a factor for me since I think it's highly unlikely that my little lakes harbor any record fish....

Do you have experience with the rapala mini digital scale, seems like it might be off for how little it costs.

[Goose52]

Do you have experience with the rapala mini digital scale, seems like it might be off for how little it costs.

Rapala has two digital scales that they call "mini" - one that goes to 50lbs (the ones I have) and another smaller scale that goes to 25lbs. If you're asking about the 25lb capacity scale, I have no experience with that one. Since I occasionally catch fish over 25 pounds, I've never considered getting that smaller scale. However, if it has similar quality strain gages/load cell, it may very well be as accurate as the 50lb units I have...but I can't say for sure.

[LgMouthGambler]

Used the Rapala for a month, it broke. Traded in for another, lasted 3 months. If your not tourney fishing, then just get a cheap BPS brand non digital one. If its for tourney use then spend the dough. For fun fishing I use the yellow $5 BPS scale, it has retractable tape measure too. Its good for est weights.

[tbone1993]

Used the Rapala for a month, it broke. Traded in for another, lasted 3 months. If your not tourney fishing, then just get a cheap BPS brand non digital one. If its for tourney use then spend the dough. For fun fishing I use the yellow $5 BPS scale, it has retractable tape measure too. Its good for est weights.

I tournament fish but most of our boaters have pretty good scales. This is more for fun fishing.

[jeb2]

Saw this post in a different section after I posted this. Do you like the rapala digital scales ? t

No. I have one, but it has been nothing but trouble really, and I never really trusted it. I like my Boga grip much better.

[tbone1993]

No. I have one, but it has been nothing but trouble really, and I never really trusted it. I like my Boga grip much better.

Yeah, I am a broke college student so I would rather get another reel for that price than a grip/scale at the moment

[jeb2]

Yeah, I am a broke college student so I would rather get another reel for that price than a grip/scale at the moment

I absolutely agree with you.

[Goose52]

Too bad some folks have problems with the Rapala digital scales. My primary unit has now recorded 477 LMB weights, plus some weights on other fish including carp up to 48 pounds, over the past three years - a new battery every year and it keeps on tickin'.

This thread reminded me that I should do another pull test on both my primary, and back-up unit. My 9.574lb test weight was still on my workbench from when I prepared it for the pull test right after my new PB on August 28. Back then, Unit 1 (the primary) read that 9.574 as 9.59. Today, nearly 3 months later, Unit 1 still reads 9.59. Unit 2 (the back-up) reads the test weight at 9.54.

Unit 1 reads a little heavy, Unit 2 reads a little light, but both units are less than 1/2 ounce off the test weight and within one ounce of each other. Good enough for me....

[tbone1993]

Too bad some folks have problems with the Rapala digital scales. My primary unit has now recorded 477 LMB weights, plus some weights on other fish including carp up to 48 pounds, over the past three years - a new battery every year and it keeps on tickin'.

This thread reminded me that I should do another pull test on both my primary, and back-up unit. My 9.574lb test weight was still on my workbench from when I prepared it for the pull test right after my new PB on August 28. Back then, Unit 1 (the primary) read that 9.574 as 9.59. Today, nearly 3 months later, Unit 1 still reads 9.59. Unit 2 (the back-up) reads the test weight at 9.54.

Unit 1 reads a little heavy, Unit 2 reads a little light, but both units are less than 1/2 ounce off the test weight and within one ounce of each other. Good enough for me....

Sounds like your units work pretty well for you. It is not necessary for me to have a scale , it would just be nice to know the weight of the fish for future reference.

[jeb2]

On the Rapala scales I've seen and own, you can re-weigh the same fish over and over and get big differences each time, often times more than several ounces. Even with fresh batteries. I do not trust any weight I read about when one of those scales is used.

[Dwight Hottle]

Digital scales are affected by moisture. Spring scales are affected by extreme cold, below 32 degrees based on personal experience. But any scale weight is better than no scale at all & guessing it is bigger than what it actually is.