Scale Question

[Metroguy99]

Good day shorefishing today on a metro lake. Got to the spot, 1st cast got me a hefty 18 incher. Within an hour I had 6 fish over 17 inches. The only problem was that I was confused on how to use the digital scale. I dont want to hurt the fish, but dont see where to hook the fish with the scale. Oh and heres the pic of the biggest of the day, 19 or so (the pic doesnt do it justice).

[Bushwacker]

What kind of scale do you have?

[ikeslayer]

i am guessing you don't have a boga (sp) grip or a X tools scale i am guessing you have one with a hook on it. I always just put it in a gill. Just be careful i have yet to hurt one of course i am new at it as well. Nice fish though what did you catch them on? ike

[Metroguy99]

Yeah its a Berkley Digital. I've done the under gill before, although thats always seems inaccuarte and somewhat harmful.

Oh and I was using a YUM dinger rigged wacky for that fish, but they were hitting just about anything. I believe I had found a school of about 8 fish because the first fish had a school following it.

[Griggs]

just keep the hook of the scale away from the actual gills (red part) and it'll be fine, much the same way you would hold a pike or a walleye. Otherwise if your having troubles with that, you can push the hook through a soft part of the lower lip, looks painful, but they don't even flinch.