fish weighing, scale - digital or mechanical - any decent ones?

[crankbait2009]

Over the years, I have bought different brands of digital scales (Berkley, Rapala, BassPro, Generics, etc).  nothing ever over $50.  I cannot find one that lasts and that is accurate. I have never tried tried mechanical scales, maybe that's the next option.  I am not a tourney fisher, so it's only for recreational weighing to keep track of my own progress.   I certainly don't wanna break the bank.

 

Read a lot of reviews about a number of them, but so many negatives, mixed in with some positives.  Obviously, the negatives stand out.

 

Anyone here use a good scale that they can recommend?  

[Tackleholic]

I went through multiple scales;  seems that all were subject to moisture damage.  Most will absorb moisture from something as simple as leaving them on a boat deck in the damp night air.  I have used the MLF scale now for 2 years with good results, however, I keep it wiped dry and store it in a zip lock bag.

[crankbait2009]

I do the same, when it comes to the zip lock baggie.  you'd think they would be 100% waterproof with it being a FISHING scale.

[Tennessee Boy]

I use Chatillion IN series linear scales.  They’re made of brass and will last forever.  They come in 11different weight capacities.  New ones are about $90.  They’ve been making them for decades and you can get used ones on eBay for around $20.  The old ones are just as good as the new ones.  They don’t need batteries and they are always on!

 

Bonus feature:  A spring scale is the preferred way to accurately set your drag.

 

I also carry a Brecknell Electrosamson (the scale used by MLF) to weigh bigger fish accurately.  They have a reputation for being fragile so it stays in its protective case until I catch one over 6 pounds.

 

[looking45]

Get an inexpensive luggage scale. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Two Berkerly digital scales over 30 yrs, never had a problem, and only recently bought the new one.    I check it quite often with a 10lb weight.    Both have always been dead on the money.     

[WRB]

Lab quality spring scale are only accurate within +/- once’s, 25lb Chatillon has 2 oz increments, +/- 1 oz, plus your parallax (angle of view) innaccuracy.

Used this scale for 45 years, still have stored away somewhere.

60 lb Luggage scales are accurate within 1% of the digital scale displayed. Inexpensive and accurate if you change the coin lithium battery annually. Advantages is you can zero the scale when adding a fish hold clamp to weigh your catch and the scale has a memory feature to save all the weights during your outing.

Tom

 

[Fishin Dad]

Myself, my buddies, and a ton of pros use the Rapala pro scale.  Has a nice clip, easy to use and read display, allows you put fish in bins and weigh your best five total weight.   It has been very accurate and reliable.   I use for tournaments, but also for fun fishing to see what my best 5 fish bag would be.   

[gim]

Whatever scale you use, please do not use the metal hook. It damages the gills when you shove it in there, and the fish can wiggle off, smack down on the ground and knock itself stone dead. Please use a clamp.

 

I rarely weigh my fish. Prefer to just measure them and then release them. When I do weigh them I use the rapala high contrast compact digital scale. I store it in my dry box in the boat when not in use.

[crankbait2009]

i agree with the metal hook issue.  I always use the fish grips clamp

[gim]

1 minute ago, crankbait2009 said:

i agree with the metal hook issue.  I always use the fish grips clamp

Wish they wouldn’t even sell them with that stupid metal j hook.

[Bird]

I have a digital scale but rarely use it.

Prefer a quick pic and back in the water if it's of considerable size.

 

[Woody B]

I had a zebco de-liar for years but I haven't been able to find it when I started back fishing.  I bought a cheap electronic berkley scale but it wasn't accurate at all.  I've got a couple (old) 10 pound weights.  They weighed something different every time I'd weigh them.  The most either one of them weighed according to it was 9 pounds.  A local tackle shop recommend an inexpensive Googan scale that's an ugly green color.  My 10 pound weights weigh 9.9, and 9.95 pounds on it.  I took the 9.9 one to the post office.  It weighed 9.9 there too.  The scale had a tape measure but it broke pretty quickly. This is what I used to have.  

 

[ike8120]

I am using the KK Wide View Floating and Waterproof digital scale. You can get from Amazaon. Not a bad scale for the price.

[Jig Man]

Boga grip.

[Pat Brown]

The kastking is waterproof, backlit and it floats and it's 25$.

 

Been using mine two years no problems.  Just had to replace the battery once.

 

I even use it to ship large international parcels my shipping scales don't cover for work.  It works GREAT and it's accurate enough for customs!

[Zcoker]

I've had my share of issues with scales. Some of them stay on Hold or Tare or stop working altogether. In all fairness, the readings have been pretty accurate on most scales that I've had.
 

Anyhow, I recently got this scale pictured, which I like because of the all-in-one approach....no hooks, no dangling clamps. The display is easy to read, not all bunched up. Top head section swivels both sideways and up and down....nice! It's a decent price, too. It's similar to the high dollar Catch Commander but at half the cost. 

 

[Deleted account]

I prefer a cheap mechanical scale, cause once the spring gets rusty enough, you can pull it down and it will stay there to show whatever weight you want your fish to be... 12!...

[Dwight Hottle]

3 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Boga grip.

 

X2

If you buy the 15lb Boga it measure to the nearest 1/4 oz. They are extremely accurate & great for using while you unhook treble hooks & keeping you from getting hooked. They have no moisture issues. 

[Tennessee Boy]

The 15lb Boca Grip measures to the nearest 1/4 pound or 4 ounces.  If that level of accuracy is good enough for you then it looks like a good option.   It’s not accurate enough for me.

[swhit140]

I have a smaller compact digital scale I keep in my tackle bag that has a grip, I think it was around $20-25. I've compared it to a couple other digital scales I use for mailing/shipping packages and it might be off an 1-2oz. It is close enough for me when I'm out fishing.

[WIGuide]

I used to have a Rapala high contrast digital scale for about 5 years. I liked it and it was quite accurate and it was easy to operate to store weights in. My only gripe is it didn't have a handle which could make it a little awkward to hold at times. It ended up losing it's accuracy and got to a point where you could weigh the same fish/item multiple times and come up with vastly different weights. 

 

I now have the Berkley Precision scale that I've been running for the past 2-3 years and have liked that as well. Pretty easy to operate to store weights and has the added benefit of having the handle on top and a padded case.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

If youre just fishing for fun and weighting them to the nearest 1/4lb increment then the Boga is the way to go.  You buy 1 and as long as you dont drop it overboard or leave it somewhere it will last for the rest of youre life.  

[Bankbeater]

I used a Rapala scale for years.  I bought another Rapala about 2 years ago and a small clamp from Lowe's. 

[Dwight Hottle]

20 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

The 15lb Boca Grip measures to the nearest 1/4 pound or 4 ounces.  If that level of accuracy is good enough for you then it looks like a good option.   It’s not accurate enough for me.

 1/4 measurement is close enough for most fish. I can & do interpolate by reading between the lines to get to the nearest 2 oz. If I must know the exact weight then I pull out my Becknal digital scale which weighs to the half ounce. I get your point but if you can only carry one scale & require a scale that doesn’t have battery issues or moisture issues the Boga is it.