Weighing fish in the boat. Please help.

[diver_sniper]

Ok, a lot of my buddies have a habit of deciding exactly how much a fish weighs just by measuring it. This usually leaves a lot of room for exaggeration, and it kind of bugs me because they make some pretty unrealistic calls sometimes. So here are my questions:

Are the digital scales that they sell at bait shops accurate? I've heard that you have to get the more expensive ones to have one that's any good, is that true?

Second, is there a best way to weigh a fish that you have every intention of returning to the water? I don't want to harm the little guys anymore than I already have.

I'm just curious because my head has been filled with claims that these scales are no good, but I can't see why that would be true and I'd like to get one, I was just wondering what you guys thought.

[Wayne P.]

I have used the digital Normark and Rapala scales: the Rapala scales are more accurate and last longer. I test my two scales (15 lb and 50 lb) occasionally with a couple of known weights to verify their accuracy.

I'm not a touchy/feely guy that is concerned with harming the fish when weighing it. Sometimes I will punch the hook through the bottom lip to get the weight or I'll hook it at the gill plate (depending on the fish size). I don't bother to weigh the "little guys".

edited: The Rapala scales also have the capacity to store a number of weights.

[Flywatersmallie]

I have one of the Berkley tourney scales, $40 regular price, I picked it up a couple weeks ago at walmart for $11. I've tested it a number of times on known weights and it comes out right on. I use it on every fish I would like to have an idea on the weight. The scale actually carries a written guarantee that it's accurate within 1/4 oz. It also saves up to (I think) 10 fish so there is no going back saying "mine was heavier than the number YOU remember". Its a slick setup

[Marty]

I've used both the Normark/Rapala and Berkley scales. Both can be very accurate, but I wouldn't generalize. They need to be tested by weighing stuff that's already been weighed on a certified scale, like at the supermarket.

And just because they're accurate, don't assume they'll stay that way. Accurate scales can and do go bad, as I learned when I tried to weigh a nice pike on my previously accurate scale. Test them multiple times every year.

I used to sharpen the scale's hook point and insert it in the fish's lower jaw immediately next to the hard outer lip so the lip would support the weight of the fish.

Since I've owned the lip gripper from Cabela's, I use that to weigh fish.

I don't weigh bass unless I think they're 4# or more. I don't need to know the weight of every fish. If I'm telling you what I caught, I'll say, for example, a 17" and 18" rather than estimating the weight.

[.dsaavedra.]

marty, that just looks like a lip gripper...not a scale? is this true? that just looks like something that will hold onto the fish, not weigh it.

anyway, i got a 50lb berkley digital scale ($20 at walmart). totally worth it. accurate within an ounce. i've tested it on a lot of things (fitness dumbells, groceries, 5lb bag of sugar, etc...) and its always within an ounce.

one thing that i do is sharpen the hook and put it right behind the bone on the lower jaw, just like marty said. this seems like the most secure way to weigh a fish. i've tried hooking them under the gill plate, and i've had some nice fish flop around and fall off the hook doing it this way. also, im not sure how good is it to support the weight of the fish on the gill plate. im sure the bone can handle that much weight much better than a gill plate.

to summarize:

-$20, 50lb berkley digital scale at walmart = good

-sharpen hook on scale and insert just under lower jaw bone

[Certified Public Angler]

I have the berkley digital scale from wal-mart too. $20.  When I popped it out of the package I put a free weight from my home gym of 5lbs on a rope and then put it on the scale.  It came in at 5.1 which is right on including the rope.  A small investment so that you won't be that joker than nobody really believes when you catch the big one.

To weight them put the hook underneath the fish where the skin of the gills meet the mouth, this will not hurt the fishes gills.

[CWB]

I use a Rapala digital that weighs and stores up to 6 fish.

Good if you need to cull. Very accurite. 10lb barbell weighed in at 10 lbs.

[Mike 12345]

I have the berkley digital scale from wal-mart too. $20. When I popped it out of the package I put a free weight from my home gym of 5lbs on a rope and then put it on the scale. It came in at 5.1 which is right on including the rope. A small investment so that you won't be that joker than nobody really believes when you catch the big one.

To weight them put the hook underneath the fish where the skin of the gills meet the mouth, this will not hurt the fishes gills.

This is the same scale I have, and the same method I use. Works great.

[Grey Wolf]

Ok, a lot of my buddies have a habit of deciding exactly how much a fish weighs just by measuring it. This usually leaves a lot of room for exaggeration, and it kind of bugs me because they make some pretty unrealistic calls sometimes. So here are my questions:

Are the digital scales that they sell at bait shops accurate? I've heard that you have to get the more expensive ones to have one that's any good, is that true?

Second, is there a best way to weigh a fish that you have every intention of returning to the water? I don't want to harm the little guys anymore than I already have.

I'm just curious because my head has been filled with claims that these scales are no good, but I can't see why that would be true and I'd like to get one, I was just wondering what you guys thought.

Your buddies are what I call chest-thumpers. They want to make everything bigger then it really is and they couldn't do it if they used a scale.

[yankthatsucker]

I'm not a touchy/feely guy that is concerned with harming the fish when weighing it. Sometimes I will punch the hook through the bottom lip to get the weight or I'll hook it at the gill plate (depending on the fish size). quote]

yikes! poor guys.

[Big-O]

Used many different Digi scales and so far, they're all better than nothing. Favorite thus far is Rapala.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[Matt Fly]

X tools is one of the best out there.  Any type gripper scales is better.

   Dont think that sliding that hook in between the gills and gill plate is all that great.    

     I had a nice fish decide to flop when hung to weigh.    She flopped hard enough to have that hook relocate into the gills and the end result ended with the  fish dieing due to gill damage.

    A hole in the lip isn't what I recommend either but is better alternative than chancing damaging the gills, a sure way to kill a fish if that happens.

Also, that berkley scale has a nice fat, big dull hook, at least sharpen it to make punching holes easier.   To alleviate that big hole, I took off one of the smaller metal stringer hooks, makes a smaller hole and    a hole will heal, gills that are damaged won't.

   X Tools cost more, but don't harm the fish at all.

[Marty]

marty, that just looks like a lip gripper...not a scale? is this true? that just looks like something that will hold onto the fish, not weigh it.

Dave, I didn't make myself very clear. That is indeed a gripper only and it has a hole in one of the handles. So I use it to grip the fish, put the scale hook through the handle hole and subtract the weight of the gripper (4 oz.).

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Quick fix

Keep a plastic grocery bag in the boat.  Put the fish in the bag.  weigh it.  

yes, the digital scales in the $30 range are all pretty much worth it.  Check your batteries and accuracy often.

[Mike 12345]

Quick fix

Keep a plastic grocery bag in the boat. Put the fish in the bag. weigh it.

yes, the digital scales in the $30 range are all pretty much worth it. Check your batteries and accuracy often.

Great tip! Thanks!

[.dsaavedra.]

marty, that just looks like a lip gripper...not a scale? is this true? that just looks like something that will hold onto the fish, not weigh it.

Dave, I didn't make myself very clear. That is indeed a gripper only and it has a hole in one of the handles. So I use it to grip the fish, put the scale hook through the handle hole and subtract the weight of the gripper (4 oz.).

oh gotcha. thats a good idea