Quality fish scale

[Jim Levite]

Looking to finally invest in a decent fishing scale basically for bass fishing only. I still have a few of those old black rapala ones with the hook and the actual spring. Looking to upgrade to something a little more modern. Nothing that'll break the bank. But something that's of decent quality. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Jig Man]

Boga grip

 

[gim]

Regardless of which one you use, I highly recommend the ones with a clamp instead of a metal hook.  The hook can damage the fish and they can wiggle off easily and then flop onto the ground or floor and die.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

Regardless of which one you use, I highly recommend the ones with a clamp instead of a metal hook. 

Or mod it into a clamp instead of a hook.

 

That's what I did with the ReelSonar unit I got. Removed the hook, installed a carabiner, then a ring on the Rapala grip...voila - inexpensive scale with a grip instead of a hook.

 

Definitely go to a grip...the hook can also damage the gills if you don't put the fish on correctly.

[A-Jay]

I use an Accu Cull Digital scale with a 6 inch Rapala Fish Gripper.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Accu_Cull_Digital_Scale_55lb/descpage-ACCUSCALE.html

Seems Very Decent

A-Jay

[Bankc]

What's your budget?  On the cheap end of the scale, you have a bunch of digital luggage scales on Amazon.  They're as accurate as any fish scales, but a whole lot cheaper.  Replacing the hook with fish grips would be a good idea, but that does eat into your savings or a real fish scale.  The downside is, they're not nearly as water-resistant as some of the nicer ones made for fishing.  So you have to be careful when using and storing them.  But replacements are cheap.  

 

Then, at the top of the line, you have the Brecknell MLF tournament scale.  It's what the pros use.  And you can probably find one for under $100, so they're not crazy expensive.  But they take up a lot of room and aren't the easiest to use if you're by yourself.  

 

In the middle, there are a whole lot of options available.  I don't know if one is considerably better than any other.  I use a Rapala RHCDS50.  It's supposed to have a high contrast screen, but I can't read it if the sun is shining directly on it, like all digital fish scales I've used.  And while it seems to be accurate and consistent enough, I sometimes have problems with the power button not registering.  

[NavyToad]

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/T-H_Marine_Digital_Scale_with_Measuring_Tape_55lb/descpage-THDS.html

Same scale as the Accu-Cull at half the price. Just rebranded.

Drill a hole in a $12 fish gripper and you’re good to go.

[gim]

You could a.ways just measure the fish instead. That’s primarily what I do. Whole lot easier to get a measurement than a weight, and quicker too so the fish isn’t out of water as long.

[throttleplate]

17 hours ago, NavyToad said:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/T-H_Marine_Digital_Scale_with_Measuring_Tape_55lb/descpage-THDS.html

Same scale as the Accu-Cull at half the price. Just rebranded.

Drill a hole in a $12 fish gripper and you’re good to go.

 

Amazing how many products are made by one company and rebranded to fit a need.

The price points can very pending on the gullability of fisherman compared to some schmo weighing his carry on luggage for boarding a plane.

[MN Fisher]

34 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

Amazing how many products are made by one company and rebranded to fit a need.

Yep - the Reel Sonar scale I have is also sold under the Rapala and I-Bobber names...same exact scale.

[Tennessee Boy]

Chatillion IN series.   IFGA certifiable,  don’t need batteries  and they will last 1000 years.   Just think how much you will save on batteries over 1000 years ?.  New ones are pricey but you can buy an old one on eBay for $20 - $30 bucks.

 

https://www.chatillon-scales.com/products/handheld-scales/in-series-fish-and-game-linear-handheld-scales
 

[RDB]

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Or mod it into a clamp instead of a hook.

I replaced the hook with a heavy steel clamp.  My fish consistently weigh a pound more now.

[Jim Levite]

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Yep - the Reel Sonar scale I have is also sold under the Rapala and I-Bobber names...same exact scale.

Many products are just rebranded. Im going to grab one of these mentioned. ?

[Dwight Hottle]

16 hours ago, gimruis said:

You could a.ways just measure the fish instead. That’s primarily what I do. Whole lot easier to get a measurement than a weight, and quicker too so the fish isn’t out of water as long.

 

That's a poor excuse for somebody that wants to know what a fish actually weighs. 

[casts_by_fly]

I just picked up the Baker scale from TW (with the hook) and put my rapala fish grips on that I already had and used (I use a bit split ring to swap scales).  I haven't actually weighed a fish with it yet, but initial impressions are pretty good.

[gim]

7 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

That's a poor excuse for somebody that wants to know what a fish actually weighs. 

 

Why is everyone so obsessed with weighing a fish?  I've got a digital scale with a clamp just like the next guy does, but I rarely use it.

 

Maybe it comes from my history of walleye and muskie fishing.  We never weighed walleyes and always measure them because there were restrictions on which fish we were able to keep based on length.  Weighing a muskie is just downright ridiculous.

 

I stand by my statement that its easier and quicker to do, so the fish is out of water less time.  There is no one that can weigh a fish as fast as I can measure one.

 

Then there's the battery issue too.  A measuring board will never run out of battery power.

 

[scaleface]

I had the Rapala High contrast and it worked well until the bottom pin came unscrewed . When I disassembled it and put it back together , It didnt work . I saved the lip grip and put it on a set of cheap luggage scales , its probably just as good except no memory . I like to keep track of my five biggest bass in a day , just for fun .I ordered a Piscifun scale and havent had a chance to use it yet . Its pretty big , I cant slip it in a pocket like the Rapala on the luggage scales . 

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Why is everyone so obsessed with weighing a fish?

I want to know if I have a four , or five , or six or seven . I just want to know and suck at guessing .

[Dwight Hottle]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Why is everyone so obsessed with weighing a fish?  I've got a digital scale with a clamp just like the next guy does, but I rarely use it.

 

Maybe it comes from my history of walleye and muskie fishing.  We never weighed walleyes and always measure them because there were restrictions on which fish we were able to keep based on length.  Weighing a muskie is just downright ridiculous.

 

I stand by my statement that its easier and quicker to do, so the fish is out of water less time.  There is no one that can weigh a fish as fast as I can measure one.

 

Then there's the battery issue too.  A measuring board will never run out of battery power.

 

 

Your entitled to your opinion. My fishing buddies & I all weighed their walleye, pike,  musky & lake trout catches. That was the norm. We did weigh the trophy pike & lake trout in cradles to minimize any trauma. We also got the length & girth on PB's. I can weigh a fish on a boga grip pretty fast as well. Just saying. 

[casts_by_fly]

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Why is everyone so obsessed with weighing a fish?  I've got a digital scale with a clamp just like the next guy does, but I rarely use it.

 

Maybe it comes from my history of walleye and muskie fishing.  We never weighed walleyes and always measure them because there were restrictions on which fish we were able to keep based on length.  Weighing a muskie is just downright ridiculous.

 

I stand by my statement that its easier and quicker to do, so the fish is out of water less time.  There is no one that can weigh a fish as fast as I can measure one.

 

Then there's the battery issue too.  A measuring board will never run out of battery power.

 

 

Probably comes from the history of bass fishing very much caring about what a bass weighs.  Tournament influence maybe being ingrained into the culture?

 

I also measure most of my fish instead of weighing them because my paddle is marked with a rule.  So I unhook and hold the fish to the paddle (which is strapped to the side of the kayak), catch a quick length and drop it in.  That said, anything pushing 18"+ and up I grab a quick weight.  I'll also weight a couple 15" fish every now and then to make sure my mental calibration is right.  I know a 15" fish around here pre-spawn is right in about 2 lb.  Post spawn it's more like 1.5 lb.  Summer fat will get it back to pre-spawn.  

[A-Jay]

13 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Why is everyone so obsessed with weighing a fish? 

 

Not really obsessed.

Simply chose to get a weight instead of measure the length of bass.

IME, depending on the fishery, bass of the same length can be quite different in weight.

So I check that.

Part of the fun for me personally.

YMMV

A-Jay

[gim]

15 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

We did weigh the trophy pike & lake trout in cradles to minimize any trauma.

 

This makes a lot more sense now.  Trying to weigh a large fish vertically can cause damage to the fish.

 

I'm going to assume that most fish that are weighed are on the larger side and therefore, are going to be released.  Its generally better for that fish to be out of the water for a shorter period of time, would you not agree?  That's the case I'm making for measuring it instead of weighing it.  The less time its out of the water, the higher chance of survival.  I'm talking like 30 seconds or less.

[Jim Levite]

I have not weighed a fish in years. I do not keep anything. I'm strictly catching release guy and I do all I kind of handle them with the greatest of care. I would like to have one for that just in case moment big Bertha was on the line ?

[casts_by_fly]

13 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

This makes a lot more sense now.  Trying to weigh a large fish vertically can cause damage to the fish.

 

I'm going to assume that most fish that are weighed are on the larger side and therefore, are going to be released.  Its generally better for that fish to be out of the water for a shorter period of time, would you not agree?  That's the case I'm making for measuring it instead of weighing it.  The less time its out of the water, the higher chance of survival.  I'm talking like 30 seconds or less.

 

I've typed my process in other threads, but the fish is always in the water for me.  I slip the net under it and let it sit there for 30 seconds before I pop the hook.  It sits another 30 seconds while I pull out the scale and zero it.  I clip it while its in the water and only then do I pull it out.  Any of my pictures you can usually still see the water dripping off the tail.  If I had a boat with livewell I'd use the livewell the same way.  Not sure if everyone does it that way, but I have zero concerns about handling damage (a hook through the tongue or eye is another matter.  I've had two hooks come out through the eye in the past year).

[gim]

3 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Not sure if everyone does it that way

I'm going to say that most do not do it this way.

 

What you describe is exactly what muskie anglers do.  The net is so big and deep that the fish sits completely submerged in the water while you can unhook it.

[Tennessee Boy]

I’m obsessed with keeping score even if I’m the only one in the tournament.  I weight almost all the fish I catch that are over a pound or so.   I keep my scales and gripper out on the deck.  Being spring scales they are always on and zeroed.  I unhook the fish,  attach the gripper,  then hook the gripper on the scale.  It takes about 10 seconds.