Guess it's weight???

[GetANet]

What's everyone's opinion on scales (To weigh Fish LOL!!!)
Spring scales? Have a rapala one seems pretty accurate but never used it.
I had a berkley digital hand scale that I always used which was many years old but still seemed to work fine?
Jeremy had asked me one day about it and now I am really starting to wonder was I undercalculating the size of all my bigger fish?
Scales seem to be pretty accurate a lower weights but what about when you got a fatty on it????
What kind do you have and does it work good for you, I need to get another one since the Wifey keeps asking me why the bathroom scale smells like fish!!!!!!:D:D:D:D:D

[kcritch]

Ha....smelly bathroom scale...Lucky it only smells like fish!!!

I have a Rapala 50lb digital....never got to weigh any fish more than 5lbs though...not yet at least. But I did hang weights from 3 to 25 lbs on it and it was very accurate. I do think a rocking boat can add difficulty in getting an acccurate reading though...like in high winds and stuff.

[flatcreek]

I have a rapala spring scale and it works fine for me. Checked it with a few known weights and it was pretty accurate. So why not just use the Rapala, its paid for and don't need batteries.:cool::cool::cool::cool:

[bassnbucks]

Just got a Brecknell,the one used on Major League Fishing.Hope to use in on Saturday.

[ScowardNJ]

I was using a Berkley Digital rated up to 50 lbs. until the batteries died. Now it's sitting buried under a bunch of fishing gear in the back of my truck somewhere. I always remember i need new batteries every time i catch something worth weighing. I tested it with a 25lb dumbbell and it was dead on. We would leave bigger fish in the net and weigh the whole thing than minus the weight of the net. We also have a boga that has stood the test of time but you pay out the ass for those things and it's only rated to 30lbs. It does a great job handling fish and releasing fish also.

[jimmythegreek]

the bogas are accurate on bigger fish like stripers and other saltwater fish, it will ballpark ur bigger freshwater fish. I use the berkley digital that goes to 25lbs. and goes by the ounce increments, its dead on the few times I tested it.

[Capt. Lou]

Ditto on Rap & Berk products ! kept both on boat for fluke etc - Boga used on bigger fish only due to design!:cool:

[Eskimo]

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I use online length-to-weight conversion charts like this one:

http://www.in-fisherman.com/2011/10/22/bass-length-to-weight-conversion-chart/

I'm not a tournament fisherman, so the exact weight of the fish just isn't that important to me. I'll sometimes measure the length of an exceptional fish if I can do it quickly and without mishandling the fish.

Besides, I think hanging a fish from a scale hook is adding to the stress of capture and increases the mortality rate of released bass. I just can't see how hanging a fish by his gill plate or poking a big hole in a fish can do it any good. My goal when bass fishing is to get the fish back in the water in the best condition possible so that someone else can enjoy this bass, too.



http://www.tackletour.com/images/picberkleyscale1.jpg

[Delawareriver]

Weighed the state record carp on my rapala scale and it was bouncing around the 45-46. Certified scale went 45lbs 6oz the next morning so that's accurate enough for me.

[bigfishy]

ditto to eskimo

[Lard Almighty]

I bought a Cabela's digital scale last year, I have only used it a few times. The weights it has given me seem pretty reasonable. I'm not too concerned with hundredths of a pound though.

To counter Eskimo's point, while weighing a fish in this manner does add some stress, I still maintain that most fish are tougher than we think. I've seen fish with multiple hook scars, broken-off lures hanging out of their mouths, and hooks that have become imbedded in their digestive systems (as evidenced by monofilament hanging out their poop-holes), and they were as strong and healthy-looking as any other fish I have caught. It's all a matter of preference, but I won't be hesitant to get a weight on what I think is an exceptional fish.

[acabtp]

.


I use online length-to-weight conversion charts like this one:

http://www.in-fisherman.com/2011/10/22/bass-length-to-weight-conversion-chart/

I'm not a tournament fisherman, so the exact weight of the fish just isn't that important to me. I'll sometimes measure the length of an exceptional fish if I can do it quickly and without mishandling the fish.

Besides, I think hanging a fish from a scale hook is adding to the stress of capture and increases the mortality rate of released bass. I just can't see how hanging a fish by his gill plate or poking a big hole in a fish can do it any good. My goal when bass fishing is to get the fish back in the water in the best condition possible so that someone else can enjoy this bass, too.



http://www.tackletour.com/images/picberkleyscale1.jpg

anything smaller than like a 6-8# bass will be fine to be weighed by the mouth or gill plate, but that said, you don't have to do that to get their weight.

one way is weigh the fish in the net and then subtract the weight of the net.

scale slings also work, same idea
http://www.sportfishingmag.com/files/imagecache/gallery_image/_images/201309/Snook-sling2.jpg

[Jigman13]

That's a faaaaat snook

[NJTransplant]

When I used to fish paper tourneys during the closed season in Jersey we would calculate every scales fudge factor for every pound up to 5 for every scale used in the tourney . You take a lb of lead weights and put it on your scale ( INA PLASTIC BAG ... ADUH ) and see what it weighs ...2 lb ...3 lb ...4 lb n 5 lb ...and you now how many oz per pound your scale is off . You would be surprised how many scales may be on for lower weights but when you start to get up to 3 ,4 n 5 lbs they would be off .And for the record ....you suck for catching a bigger smallie than me !

[GetANet]

Yea she was a fat pig, I'm estimating Length and Girth and that smallie was six and change all day long! I could not get over the width from back to belly and thickness of those fish we were catching and I said to my Buddy Jeremy several times how I couldn't believe that those fish didn't weigh more especially that 21.5 er!
Your still the Smallie Man in my book Bro!!!!:D
I Love my the Hybrids but will catch those size smallies any time!!!

[Jigman13]

I Love my the Hybrids but will catch those size smallies any time!!!

Them smallies are the perfect segue leading into the hybrid bite, that's for sure!