guys i got a rapala scale and i works great.1 question i have tho is whether or not it is harmful to weigh a fish by the gill plate.. on many of the fish i have weighed with it it is hard to find a spot to put it and the larger fish will move around and come off if you just put it under the hard part on the inside of their bottom jaw an was wondering if this was a safe alternative...thanx

I've got a Berkley scale.  The best I can figure is that hanging them behind the gill plate is the least harmful to the fish - but then, I'm no expert.

I sharpend the hook on my scale, so I just punch it through their mouth and weigh it that way. (or just use the hole made by the hook from the lure) The hole heals in a day or two.

IMHO its much better for the fish than weighing them by the gill.

I weigh them in the gill plate or zero out my scale with the bag then weigh them like that.

Putt'm in a plastic bag, and put the handles of the bag on the hook. That's the least harmful way..

Plastic bag won't make a big difference in added weight  ;D

I prefer lip-gripping scales such as X-Tools. Also, if you're putting a fish in a plastic bag to weigh it, make sure you wet the inside of the bag first. You don't want to abrade the fish's protective coating, which is important to keeping it disease- and infection-free.

I asked this question earlier

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1169678146

the boga grip works great. i believe it is IGFA approved as well.