weighing your fish
 

I'm looking into buying a scale to weigh my fish with. I don't want to buy something I won't be happy with. Which scale does everyone here use? digital or spring? And what has your experience been?

Thanks in advance.

I have a manley spring scale, I have had 2 digital and the crapped out

just what i wanted to hear. someone else recommended a brass spring scale also. those manley scales are priced fair too : )

Chatillion brass. Too heavy, so now I guess, add 10 lbs, release 'em and lie. I highly advise it.

Guys, just please remember that weighing big Bass to be released by the mouth (or gills!) is a no- no... :skulz:

That's the reason true rats don't bother carrying the big & heavy scales like those anymore... Nor Bogas/ lip- grabbers for the same reason! (Bluefish tools really...)

All you need to do is mark off 50" on all your sticks... When you get a Bass close to that, you can get excited! :hihi:

spring scales are preety much fool proof, but my lock-n-weigh 75# by rapala is fairly priced and ive herd great things about it from other guys too. it also acts as a grip to lift fish out of the water when on a boat or shore. havent had a problem with it yet.... but then again, u havent reached the max capacity on it yet!

I got a rapala lock and weigh at job lot for $50 they were marked $69 but range up for $50. thought that was a good sign , Im only going to weigh a forty or bigger I hope!!!!!

I guess the only way to safely weight a big one is: length x girth x girth / 800 = weight. I've also heard they are basically gauranteed to die when hung by the lips.

Also, those rapala lip gripper are probably horrible for the fish. The clamp is teethed which I bet rips the lip.

Agreed.

RBF, Glad to hear there's a normal formula out there for figuring out weight! Wish they told me that in school instead of making me do scary long math.

Here's another releasing tip -- Keep the fish on the wet rocks, and try not to handle them too much. If you take off alot of their "slime" or if they lose scales, it can make them more susceptible to parasites and diseases, because the goo and scales work together as a protective layer.

Check out Cabela's. I got a ncie 150 lb spring scale there.

Scales
 

I have used a Rapala the last two years and when I weighed the fish later on at/on a certified scale the Rapala I found was right on the money err fish.

I have a 50lb. electric Rapala scale..... works good for me

I stay away from scales and tape measures...thy're evil!

I was thinking (I know it's a scary thing) I you get a pike cradle and attach rope or wire to it you could weigh it and not harm the fish.
but who wants to carry that around in the surf