a little help please

[shortfatguy]

does anyone have an idea for a portable scale that wont harm fish so they can be released? if so where to get them how much they are would be great!!! I am afraid the ones with the hook on them to hang the fish from would do some damage any input on this theory also welcome!

[Jeremy airjer W]

Are you thinking about a small digital scale like they use for wiegh-ins for fishing contests?

Like the signature! MIB Grad?

[shortfatguy]

Class of 93!!! How about you?

as for the scale I dont know how practical one of those scales would be in a small boat and also how expensive they would be. I was thinking more along the line of small handheld digital like the berkley ones but i dont want to hurt the fish if I am releasing them and if they are worth weighing then I will probably be letting them go!

[MapSD]

Why don't you leave the fish in the net and weigh the fish and net together, then subtract the weight of the net?

Any scale could work. Just a thought.

[luckyc]

My wife has a small ( size of a grocery bag) nylon mesh bag with handles. You could use something like that or use your landing net. Just know the weight of whatever your using, use your scale with the hook and do the math.

[delmuts]

you could get a boga (sp?) grip. they have jaws designed for grabbing fish and have a built in scale.

[ghotierman]

Rapala has a grip n weigh as well....

[flippenstick]

There is a company called Bag-Em, that makes different sized bags with a grommet in the top and drain holes in the bottom. Put the fish in the bag and weigh it. They can be purchased on line or at Sportsman's Wharehouse, which is where I purchaed mine. Works slicker than anything I have ever used before and no harm to the fish.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The other guys had way better Idea's than I did. I like the Idea of Using the net. Its already in the boat and you don't have to spend any money.

Class of '91

[Walterwontfalter]

I've seen the type of fish grabber thingy's that you lock onto the fish's lower jaw that have a scale in them. You don't have to worry about wiping the slime off of the fish with a net or your hands. I still don't think that the regular type scales would hurt a fish much. Just don't poke it through their mouth but slip the hook into the front of the gills. I could be wrong but wouldn't that be ok as long as you didn't touch the gills with your fingers or tear the gills with the hook?

[Tom Wilson]

I have two Rapala digital scales that I use, and I simply added a small yet sturdy spring clamp (bought at any hardware store) to the hook at the bottom and then bent the hook over to secure the clamp. Make sure the clamp is the kind with the large hole and plastic clamps, about half the size of a pair of pliers. This works great and you don't have to put another hole in the fishes mouth. However, if your concern was really to absolutely protect the fish, you wouldn't have stuck the first hole in his mouth, and then hauled his arse to the boat...just something to think about. Seriously, the clamp works great.

[Northlander]

I have a mesh bag that I keep fish in during tourneys etc. I just use my Rapala hand held scale to measure the fish and bag. Thats the safets for the fish. I dont like Boga Grips etc. Thats got to be hard on a fish's mouth. Especially the ones that have teeth on the mouth gripping parts. I wouldnt want anyone holding me up by my lip with a vicegrip! OUCH!

[DTro]

Quote:

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I have a mesh bag that I keep fish in during tourneys etc. I just use my Rapala hand held scale to measure the fish and bag. Thats the safets for the fish. I dont like Boga Grips etc. Thats got to be hard on a fish's mouth. Especially the ones that have teeth on the mouth gripping parts. I wouldnt want anyone holding me up by my lip with a vicegrip! OUCH!

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But it's OK to drive a razor sharp treble into the side of it's mouth

[Northlander]

Dtro we are talking fishing here right?

[DTro]

yeah, I just found it very funny that one would "worry" about how the fish feels about a grip on it's lip after driving a hook into it's mouth and dragging it around the boat for a few minutes.

It's a very slipperly slope when we start talking about the fish's feelings

[rockingroy]

Forget the scale, measure the fish and use a conversion chart. I know it's not 100% accurate, but most fisherman (especially those who practice catch and release) will understand. For example a 20" largemouth is about 5lbs, an 11" crappie is 1 pound, a 29" walleye is about 9 lbs, and a 33" northern is just over 10 lbs. Most of us catch and release fisherman will understand lenth, just as well as weight. I admit however that a 31" walleye could be as small as 8 lbs, or as large as 12 lbs, but chances are 70% of us will never catch a 31" walleye.