Handheld Scale Question

[bsquared33]

Just a quick question, which shows how new I am to this. I'd like to get a hand held scale to see how heavy the fish I (hopefully) catch weigh. I don't really want to have to put another hole in the fish's mouth to do it though. Do you have to "rehook" the fish to the scale in order to weigh it or is there another option?

Thanks!

[mattm]

Two ways that I know of.  Put the fish in a plastic grocery bag and hang the bag on the scale.  Get one of those "hooks" that are on a metal stringer and attach it to your scale.  The wire diameter of the metal stringer hook is much smaller than the scales hook.  It won't leave as big as hole in the fishes mouth and is much easier to get through than the scales hook.  I prefer this option b/c it doesn't remove any protective slime from the fish.

[Taliesin]

My solution was a mechanical fish grabber. It holds the fish at the lip just like we do and mine weighs 5 oz.

Use the grabber and stick the scale's hook through the wrist strap.

Works for me.

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

Get a Boga Grip ($120) or if that's more than you want to spend, the BPS knock-off ($30).

Boga Grip:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=20679&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

BPS:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=93413&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

[Marty]

Here's another alternative, $13 from Cabela's. The jaws are pretty wide so they don't cut the fish. There's also a pre-drilled scale hole in one of the handles and I drilled a hole in the other handle as well.

[Clayton]

I dont use a scale much I like to look at em and then over estimate as much as possible!!  But I have also seen guys carefully slip the hook under the gills.  Just be careful to not injure the fish.  If this is incorrect I am sure someone will be along shortly to correct me.

[roadwarrior]

I dont use a scale much I like to look at em and then over estimate as much as possible!! But I have also seen guys carefully slip the hook under the gills. Just be careful to not injure the fish. If this is incorrect I am sure someone will be along shortly to correct me.

Man, I'm with you!

"About 6 or 7" sounds a lot better than four.

[Red]

I dont use a scale much I like to look at em and then over estimate as much as possible!! But I have also seen guys carefully slip the hook under the gills. Just be careful to not injure the fish. If this is incorrect I am sure someone will be along shortly to correct me.

i do this too, it dosent seem to hurt the fish if your careful and you dont have to poke a hole in its face ;D

[Clayton]

Whew,  I am glad to see I didnt get run over on my last comment.  I wasnt sure how that one was going to be taken.

[Jeff_NHBA]

Berkley has a culling system that includes a digital scale and color-coded culling tags.  The tags have pinchers instead of the large safetypin type hooks (No need to punch another hole in the fish's mouth.)  You just pinch the clip on the lower lip of the bass and hang the fish onto the scale.  Since this is also a culling system, it will store the weights of each fish according to the color of the tag.  It will give you total weight, avg. weight, and smallest fish (the one to cull).

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_89091_100011004_100000000_100011000_100-11-4  

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[Jig Man]

I spent quite a bit of time trying to find a scale that would do a good job of weighing fish.  I tried 2 Rapala and 3 Berkley scales.  They weren't consistant at all.  They would give me 4 or 5 different weights on the same fish.  I finally bit the bullet and bought the Boga.  It is a great, accurate scale and also serves as a landing device for fish with multiple treble hooks in their mouths.

[Fish Chris]

Several thoughts come to mind.....

First, I do put another small puncture right behind the tip of the lip, (careful not to puncture further back, or it will rip a larger hole when you hang the fishes weight on it). Also, I puncture just slightly off to the left or right of the very tip, as their is too much connective tissue right in the center.

The tissue under the jaw heals very quickly (I know from catches, and then "re-catches").

I do have "experienced" buddies who hook the scale under the gill, being careful not to get it around any gill rakers..... but I just have a mental block with that. I can just imagine the fish unexpectedly kicking, and doing instant, fatal damage to its gill structure.

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As far as not weighing a fish, because you want to be able to stretch it later, that's all fine, but you should know that because their are so many BS'ers out there, it won't do you much good. On the contrary, if you don't show good evidence, with photos, measurements (although I often slack on those myself) and actual weights, >>> "Your claims themselves will begin to lose weight" !

I know of guys that will say, "I caught one that weighed X lbs" and instantly, people start rolling their eyes, and adopt the "what ev" attitude. I don't want to be in that same boat.

Of course I understand that if a guy is not fishing specifically for big fish, and rarely, if ever, catches big fish, then the actual weight might not be as important to that guy, as it is to me. But I think even someone like that should know that whenever he puts a line in the water, ANYTHING can happen !

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Interestingly, just yesterday a guy caught a nice catfish. He asked me, "What do you think, 3 or 4 lbs" ? I told him, "Buddy, that fish is a minimum 6 lbs, but I'd give it 7 and change ! In fact, I have a scale right here.... Would you like to weigh it" ? So the guy says, "No. That's okay". Huh ??? I could see if the guy had bveen exagerating the heck out of the weight..... But I promised him it would be over 6, and maybe a little over 7, then offered again, "Are you sure you don't want a quick weighing" ? No... That's okay'.

I guess he didn't want to weigh it, because he wanted to call it the "smallest weight possible" ! That's a new one for me....

Peace,

Fish

[Fish Chris]

that's interesting. I have had a whole bunch of (probably 10) different digital scales, and while a couple were way off (like an old Normark that weighed 4 oz light) they ALL always weighed consistently.

Only once, I had a Berkely that weighed spot on, for a long time, then suddenly it just got whacked out. It would say a 20 lb Catfish was 3.4 lbs.... then 27.1 lb... then 1.9 lbs.... So I tossed it, and never looked back.

Now days for "average" big fish, I use a Berkeley 50 lb digital, which I have checked against certified scales, and found to be spot on. Sometimes I will weigh a fish, and be like, "Ah come on... can't I get 1 or 2 more tenths" ? So I will zero it and try again.... and often, after the fish has dripped off for a few more seconds, it will go down to the next 10th" ! Doh ! Why didn't I just trust it the first time ? Maybe if I dip her again. :-)

In any case, for really big fish, I use my Salter 55 lb digital, which has been certfied by the Dept. of Weights and Measures.

Peace,

Fish