Gilgamesh Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Just saw a video where the guy had a spring scale (no grippers) and punched a little hole in the side of the fish's mouth instead of putting the scale in the fish's gills. Where should I place the scale hook when trying to cause the least amount of damage to a fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverbasser Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 If you don't want to cause damage use the grippers 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgamesh Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 But if I don't have grippers what do I do, punch a hole in the bass' lips or hook its gills? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverbasser Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Idk for certain. I think a hole in the lip would be better than gills tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted October 9, 2016 BassResource.com Administrator Share Posted October 9, 2016 NEVER punch a hole in its mouth. Instead, slide the "hook" up under his jaw, near his gill plates. Trust me, you'll never damage his gill plates doing it this way. I demonstrate how to this using culling tags in this video: 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
long island basser Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 I use a berkley didital scale and hook them ...how can I say this , "through the gill plate, under the mouth". while holding the bass with my left thumb in his mouth, I enter the scale hook from underneath, through the bottom of gill plate and hook it on bottom jaw. Not touching or on the gills. This doesn't poke any more holes and doesn't injure them at all. Hope I explained it well enough 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgamesh Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 23 minutes ago, Glenn said: NEVER punch a hole in its mouth. Instead, slide the "hook" up under his jaw, near his gill plates. Trust me, you'll never damage his gill plates doing it this way. I demonstrate how to this using culling tags in this video: This is what I was looking for - thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted October 10, 2016 Global Moderator Share Posted October 10, 2016 Grippers are cheap and much easier on the fish. You could probably find some clips for chip bags that close hard enough and could be rigged up. Do the fish a favor and use grippers of some sort. If you're set on using the hooks, below the jaw like Glenn showed is best. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Ingalls Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Thanks for posting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User buzzed bait Posted October 10, 2016 Super User Share Posted October 10, 2016 the grip works the best no doubt about it. i used the hook for a while until i rigged up a grip on my scale not too long ago and all the fish i've talked to about it really seem to appreciate it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WIGuide Posted October 10, 2016 Super User Share Posted October 10, 2016 Do yourself a favor and buy a pair of grippers. The hooks on scales are generally too small and are a pain to hook the fish under the mouth. After you have a big one or two that you put on the scale start flopping around and flop off you'll understand why grippers are a much better deal. An added bonus of the grippers is you can use them without the scale. They're a great tool when you are using anything with treble hooks. With jerkbait season fast approaching they are indispensable. Unfortunately I forgot to pull mine out a few trips ago and paid the price when a smallie ripped a jerkbait hook across the underside of my thumbnail. Used the grippers the rest of the trip and my hand stayed safely away from any flying hooks when the fish decided to thrash. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted October 10, 2016 Super User Share Posted October 10, 2016 How many bass do you plan to weigh? If you only weigh bass occasionally you can use your net and zero the digital scale, put the bass in the net and weigh it. Alternative method is use a plastic grocery bag, put the bass in the bag and weigh it. To say clips don't do any damage is a stretch if the bass is flopping around. Inserting a stringer clip with small diameter wire through the gill opening carefully works OK, if you are careful. Poking a small hole through the lower jaw membrane isn't any more stressful than hooking the bass with fish hook. Where do you draw line? Handle the bass with care, weigh it and release it quickly. Tom 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Paul Roberts Posted October 11, 2016 Super User Share Posted October 11, 2016 Ditto Glenn's advice. Another option for weighing fish is by suspending them in net mesh, a "keep-sack", or even a plastic grocery bag. I just caught a bass that someone had punched a hole in its' lower jaw, presumably to weigh it. I know I mumbled something like, "That can't be good." It was, however, able to glom onto my jig. I really don't know how much such a hole might hinder bass feeding. But the mouth of a bass -most fish in fact- are engineering marvels that have undergone heavy selective pressure over time, indicating that they are important to feeding. LMB in particular rely on suction to capture prey, and on a tightly closed mouth, and gill rakers, to keep captured prey in there long enough to be swallowed. A hole in the buccal cavity (as it's called) can't be a help. Also, bluegills and some other prey species have evolved post-capture behaviors that provide them a last ditch chance for escape through the mouth or gills. Prey isn't food until it's in the gut. In general, I think fish are beautiful creatures, and enjoy each and every one of them. I try my best not to damage them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Catt Posted October 11, 2016 Super User Share Posted October 11, 2016 Boss nailed it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasMcAllister Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 On 10/9/2016 at 4:53 PM, Gilgamesh said: Just saw a video where the guy had a spring scale (no grippers) and punched a little hole in the side of the fish's mouth instead of putting the scale in the fish's gills. Where should I place the scale hook when trying to cause the least amount of damage to a fish? On 10/9/2016 at 4:53 PM, Gilgamesh said: Just saw a video where the guy had a spring scale (no grippers) and punched a little hole in the side of the fish's mouth instead of putting the scale in the fish's gills. Where should I place the scale hook when trying to cause the least amount of damage to a fish? If you wanted to do as little damage as you can, the best option would be a grocery store style scale, that you can put a bin of water on and zero it. You could then place the fish in the water and get a weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last_Cast Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 I get ticked when I see a hole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bankbeater Posted October 12, 2016 Super User Share Posted October 12, 2016 I weigh them through the gill plate, but before I do I always let them flop around a little. I want them tired out so they won't hurt themselves while getting weighed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User scaleface Posted October 13, 2016 Super User Share Posted October 13, 2016 Next time you buy a large bag of ice , keep the sack . They are big and strong enough to hols a bass . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted October 13, 2016 Super User Share Posted October 13, 2016 The free plastic thin grocery bag holds 5 lbs, has handles to hook the scale on and has multiple ease as a littler bag, fits in a shirt pocket. You are not weighting a 5 bass limit, for that use a catch & release tournament bag. Tom 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User NYWayfarer Posted October 13, 2016 Super User Share Posted October 13, 2016 2 hours ago, scaleface said: Next time you buy a large bag of ice , keep the sack . They are big and strong enough to hols a bass . Good idea. My friend once weighed a fish in a Wal-Mart bag that he had in the boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jd_Phillips_Fishin Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 A weigh-in bag that has handles usually works the best. Just put the fish in the bag, and slide scale hook underneath the handles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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