Weighing a fish

SlowNSteady · **Joined:** Tue Jun 03, 2014 9:32 am **Posts:** 96

From my understanding there is controversy on wether or not weighing a fish by the gill plate harms it.

So a 10lb walleye for example weighed like this, is there a chance I can cause a life threatening issue to the gills or neck structure of the fish?(if Weighing it correctly using this method)

I bring a bucket with me and my theory was to put the fish in the bucket and weigh it, but I am wondering if that is necessary?

I would like to know the safest way for the fish because a fish that size I would be much happier releasing it unharmed (even if you guys tell me that means not weighing it at all)

I think there are a lot of people who are uneducated with this topic (including me) and it might be worth sharing to keep the live release numbers up!

P.s I'm not asking for fishing secrets so don't be shy, post back! :wink:

sailor · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2015 9:24 am

mesh bag from the dollar store would prob work a lot better light and easily transport

SlowNSteady · **Joined:** Tue Jun 03, 2014 9:32 am **Posts:** 96

Definitely much more efficient than a bucket!

Hose22 · **Joined:** Thu Dec 30, 2010 11:27 am **Posts:** 112

I weighed numerous fish over the years by the gills and when it comes time to release them there is no problem and they take off in good health. I also fish a lake up north that we tag the fish we catch to get an idea of growth rates and we way all the fish we catch and release them. I have actually caught the same fish we weighed two or three times in the same night so in my opinion it does not effect the fish.

john e · **Joined:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 8:10 pm **Posts:** 14

Caught the same fish in the same night - I would have bet against this but always wondered how long thier memory is.

Miss the gills with the scale hook and you should be fine for a quick measurment

SlowNSteady · **Joined:** Tue Jun 03, 2014 9:32 am **Posts:** 96

Those are great stories!
Thanks guys

hottubjim · **Joined:** Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:08 pm **Posts:** 49

Good question.
I have been poking the weigh scale hook through the thin skin just inside the lower jaw. Leaves only a small hole. Comment either way are welcome.

adventure · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2015 11:58 am

hottubjim wrote:

I have been poking the weigh scale hook through the thin skin just inside the lower jaw

x2 for me. I always figured the hole the hook made is probably worse anyway and there's no chance I can tear a gill this way. I like the netting idea though.
There was a similar thread on here a while back and someone said there was a net out there with the scale built right in the handle. Might need a bigger hole to net them this time of the year though.

hal-markham · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2015 12:55 pm

Why risk hurting the fish, I am sure a 10+ pounder hanging on a metal hook by the gill plate, well it can't be good, and its easy to put him in a mesh bag for the weight, just my opinion.

TheLandshark · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:22 pm

Do what most do. Say you forgot your scale and estimate 3 lbs heavier lol

charlie464 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2015 7:11 pm

TheLandshark wrote:

Do what most do. Say you forgot your scale and estimate 3 lbs heavier lol

lol

landAlunker · **Joined:** Wed Jan 01, 2014 12:05 pm **Posts:** 32

Never poke a fish through the mouth ...doing this will keep the fish from eating until the fish is in good health again

GOT2FSH · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2015 8:10 pm

In my experience for fish under 8lb no harm done. But back when I used to actually find time to fish, we started to notice tearing of the skin between lower jaw and body.
About the same time I read a long article in in-fisherman about spine damage in roughly handled fish. It basically said that fish have evolved in such a way that they depend on water pressure to keep joints compressed, and aligned.
I kind of think of it as, when I was young and strong, you could have hoisted me up by my foot with no harm done. But now that I'm old and fat, my ankle joint would pop, and my foot would likely pull off...lol.

After that we started to weigh bigger fish in the net on soft water, and normal got skunked on the hard so didn't have to worry about it...lol That being said, I'm still guilty of sticking the scale through the lip or under the gill plate in the heat of the moment from time to time, but I do think it is best to support them somehow.

Search land sharks weigh bag made from a mesh laundry bag posted in the fall.

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Walleye 9 · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:05 pm **Posts:** 1985

I just bought a Boga Grip with a built-in scale. No hook in the gills, and no puncture through the skin. I haven't used it to land a fish, but works great for weighing.

GOT2FSH · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:17 pm

Yeah, boga might be a good option. I've always wanted one.
We had a couple start thrashing on the hook, and that's when we noticed the tearing, and again that's on fish over the 8-10 lb mark.

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Weighing a fish

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