Speaking of weighing fish...

[Bob]

Alright, so I bought a scale. A Berkley FS50 Digital.

I caught a fish. Honest I did. It was relatively small, but alive, and seeming to be in good health. Maybe it weighed one lb or so.

I weighed the fish.

It weighed exactly 0 lbs. 0 oz. according to the scale.

(even I can guess better than that)

I'm not happy with this digi scale. I finally weighed a few items in my house, but the scale was fickle. It seems only work when it wants to, but not when it has to. I guess that's not much different than many people, in that regard.

I called Berkley and commented. They say right there on the package to call the 800 number for questions and comments, so I did. The girl I spoke to was very nice. They didn't offer to make up for my inconvenience of driving to the store specifically to buy the scale, and now having to drive back to return it. Perhaps I should have asked them to. I'll consider that the next time I'm shopping for fishing tackle. They certainly aren't the only company making fishing tackle these days.

I digress....

When I weigh a fish, should I just put that hook under the fish's gill? I'm not sure how to weigh a fish (but that's what I did), and I don't want to harm a fish unless I actually intend to kill it, in which case death will be caused as quickly and as painlessly as possible. I'm pretty good that way...

Also, any suggestions for a GOOD and ACCURATE scale, based on your personal experience?

Thanks again for all the help--I do sincerely appreciate it.  

[Jig Man]

I know what you mean.  I have never been able to get one of them to weigh a fish the same weight no matter how many times I weigh it.

I 86d mine and got a Boga.

[mikfort51]

Did you zero out the scale before you weighed the fish?  Or did you zero it out with the fish on the scale?

[NEBassMan]

I guess i would ask that too.  Did you turn it on so it said 0lbs - 0oz before putting the fish on it.  I know it sounds like a stupid question, but i've done it more than once.  I use a Rapala scale, haven't had a problem with it.  

Jason

[linesider7]

[Bob]

I tried everything short of replacing the batteries--all while I was talking to the Berkley CS/support tech on the phone. Zeroed it with the fish off, on, upside down and backwards. I hooked a 4.4 lb dumbell weight to it, and the closest I could get it to read was 3 lbs 14 oz--it just didn't do it all the time.

Bzzzzzzzzzt!

It's going back. I have no patience for gizmos that don't work as/when they're supposed to. I need simple--hook the fish on, needle points to "HAWG!". Done deal.  

That BogaGrip looks like something good for pulling out teeth! I might get one just for that! :-X

[SDoolittle]

The day I caught my PB my brother and I weighed it on two different scales that we each kept in our tackle boxes. His said 5 lbs, but the fish was obviously larger than that. So we used my scale and it read 10 lbs, but that seemed too heavy. Finally I just measured the length and girth and when I got home did the math. Turned out to be 8.5 lbs. I threw my scale away. Not sure about my Bro.

[BOOYAH]

I must have gotten a good one then, cuz mine is within 2 oz's of a cert scale when i tested it. Its the 15 lb berkeley scale.

[paulc]

What is the story on the Bogagrip.  Is it digital or mechanical?

How much does it set you back?

Where do you get it?

[linesider7]

What is the story on the Bogagrip. Is it digital or mechanical?

How much does it set you back?

Where do you get it?

You can buy them at the big names, but most good tackle shops carry them.  They are mechanical...  Spring scales, available in 15lb, 30lb, or 60lbs (massive)  I've got the 30lb, I do a lot of inshore fishing.  I don't see them mentioned much in bass circles really, seems like most consider them a saltwater tool.  They double as a landing tool for toothy fish.  Very high quality stuff.  the 15 and 30 set you back $100+, I think I paid $115 or so for mine.  The 60 is over $200 I believe.  If cared for it will last a lifetime, and they're also IGFA certifiable.

[Jig Man]

Boga is one of the very few scales which can be certified.  I bought mine at Bass Pro for $120.

[paulc]

Sounds like the 15lber would be good for a freshwater boat.

just checked it out on cabelas.  $120 for the 15lber

[Bob]

If I totaled up all the money I've spent on fishing gear in my entire life--bait included, probably--it would still be less then $100!

I think one of those high-falutin' scales are going to have to wait a little bit...

Back to the question:

Hook the fish under the gill?

(I guess not with one of those fancy lip-grabbers--but other than that...?)

[Matt Fly]

I have take the clips off a metal fish stringer.      I use the small clip to push a smaller hole in the bass' lip, then slip it on the scale hook.

A good golden rule is to never mess with a bass gills.     I have seen many attempts to weigh a fish by sliding a larger diametered hook up through the gills only to see the fish flop off on to the ground or hot boat deck.

Also seen some trying to push that dull, larger point of the scale into the skin of the fish mouth.

When I tournament fish, I just use the cull markers that are attached to weigh a bass if needed.  

Matt

[Garnet]

All these digital scales work with a pressure switch so you need to hook the fish in the same spot and hold very straight and zero everytime bassically a pain.

Chatillon Scales makes a very high quality spring scale for fish it's the very best and about $50 look them up. And very repeatable.

Garnet

[Pond-Pro]

I posted a topic about how to weugh a fish not to long ago.  Here is the link:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1179616609/6#6

[.dsaavedra.]

right now ive got a rapala 15lb digital scale. the measurement it gives is light. i weighed a 5lb freeweight on it and it came up about half to a pound short. so i caught a bass that read 6lb4oz, and it was probably 7. i really want one of the rapala lock n' weigh scales (same thing as a boga). but the thing is, i like to get a reading down to the ounce, but i also like for it to be reliable. o and i dont have alot of money. what should i do?

[linesider7]

right now ive got a rapala 15lb digital scale. the measurement it gives is light. i weighed a 5lb freeweight on it and it came up about half to a pound short. so i caught a bass that read 6lb4oz, and it was probably 7. i really want one of the rapala lock n' weigh scales (same thing as a boga). but the thing is, i like to get a reading down to the ounce, but i also like for it to be reliable. o and i dont have alot of money. what should i do?

The rapala lock n weigh is not in the same class as the boga, put it on your hand one time, you'll see.  It feels like a meat tenderizer.  I have a buddy that used it in the salt, and it was history in about a year.  My boga is as smooth as the day I bought it.  It's often said, but you get what you pay for.

[.dsaavedra.]

what do you mean its like a meat tenderizer.....r u saying it sucks or its heavy or what? and i wont be using it in salt ever. so it should hold up in fresh water.

[Guest avid]

I have to agree with the Boga grip guys.

I wasted alot of money on several different brands and models of digital scales.  They were all inconsistant.  

In some ways this can be cool.  If your scale says your 6 lber is an 8 lber you have a new PB  ;D

but I can get really fussy about some things, and accurate weight is one of them.  I want my PB to be actually heavier than my previous mark.

My boga is dead on.  I have the 15 lb model.  I can weigh a 5 lb bag of sugar, or a 10 lb barbell weight and it will read dead on.  I bring it to wal mart sometimes (they don't sell them) and weigh different items.  It has never been off.  Now it does not give individual ounce readings, but I can live with that.  It's enough to know that what the boga says is right on, is right on.

[linesider7]

what do you mean its like a meat tenderizer.....r u saying it sucks or its heavy or what? and i wont be using it in salt ever. so it should hold up in fresh water.

The surface of the little grabber things...  the pinchers if you will, they are textured, almost sharp.  If you put in on your hand, it hurts, not going peta or anything, just feels like they could do damage to a fish.

[.dsaavedra.]

what do you mean its like a meat tenderizer.....r u saying it sucks or its heavy or what? and i wont be using it in salt ever. so it should hold up in fresh water.

The surface of the little grabber things... the pinchers if you will, they are textured, almost sharp. If you put in on your hand, it hurts, not going peta or anything, just feels like they could do damage to a fish.

oooo yeah i know what you mean now. i kinda like the fact that they are textured. i feel it gives a better grip on the fish. plus they dont even have nerves in their lips/mouth so it doesnt matter. but do you know if they are very accurate?

[the ohh face]

I have heard good things about the X-tools scale from a couple different people.  I have no personal experience with the scale but have heard it is very accurate from a few friends and i think a couple people recommended it in posts i have read.

[linesider7]

what do you mean its like a meat tenderizer.....r u saying it sucks or its heavy or what? and i wont be using it in salt ever. so it should hold up in fresh water.

The surface of the little grabber things... the pinchers if you will, they are textured, almost sharp. If you put in on your hand, it hurts, not going peta or anything, just feels like they could do damage to a fish.

oooo yeah i know what you mean now. i kinda like the fact that they are textured. i feel it gives a better grip on the fish. plus they dont even have nerves in their lips/mouth so it doesnt matter. but do you know if they are very accurate?

I've never had a fish flip off the boga, it gets behind the bone I guess, I'm pretty sure that I've caught some big bass before. that the rapala's jaws would NOT have fit around.  Maybe not though.  Can't speak for the accuracy.

[linesider7]

I have heard good things about the X-tools scale from a couple different people. I have no personal experience with the scale but have heard it is very accurate from a few friends and i think a couple people recommended it in posts i have read.

Here's my personal experience, both of the first TWO I tried both wouldn't even turn on a second time after first use.  Left a bad taste in my mouth, again, can't speak for accuracy.