I have a scale that had a lip grabber, but it broke so I added a hook in its place. I put the hook in the gills, between the gill plate and the first gill. It doesn't appear to harm the fish. No blood, they swim off. Should I switch back to a lip gripper?

Yes, please use a clamp.

 

The hook shoved into the gills will cause damage. Plus the fish can wiggle off and land on the ground or floor, knocking itself stone dead. I’ve seen it.

 

Clamp is the way to go

Can you explain how about the damage? As long as I don't stab the gills, what damage occurs?

If the fish stays still and you have a good grip, and, and, and, then it might be fine.  But I’ve never weighed a fish that held still long enough to not flop off a hook.  In that case, the could lightly unhook themselves and rehook in the gills.  They could catch their gills while flopping around anyway.  They can tear the gill plate (even tear it off).  Like Gim said, they can flop off the hook entirely and hit the ground.  A gripper based clip is so far superior to a plain hook that I can’t believe manufacturers even sell a hook anymore.

 

If you need to weigh a fish, in a bag is the best choice.  If not, then in a wet rubber net will do also.  Otherwise a lip gripper.  if you only have a hook based scale, then get a bag or hook to hold the fish for you.  Or, don’t bother weighing them all.  

Plastic grocery bag works, that is we used before lip clamps.

Fasten a new lip clamp onto the hook, problem solved.

Tom

You can get two clamps for $10 on amazon.  It's so much faster and easier with a clamp.

Please go to a clamp - it's not that hard to upgrade from a hook.

A measuring device also works. Like a hawg trough or ketch board.

 

Its appalling that any scale even comes with a metal j hook anymore.

13 minutes ago, gim said:

Its appealing that any scale even comes with a metal j hook anymore.

I think you mean 'appalling'....

I took the hook off ASAP and went with the Cal Coast version that comes w their donkey leash and cull tags.  Easy, inexpensive, and securely clamps the fish.   They weighed less than the hook I pitched, so I took a few micro ounce handicap points. 

On 6/26/2025 at 12:08 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

They weighed less than the hook I pitched, so I took a few micro ounce handicap points. 

I like that my scale has a 'Tare' function, so it doesn't matter that the clamp weighs more than the hook did....hit the Tare button and I'm golden.

I'm not concerned with the last tenth of an oz. so I hook my scale to a gripper, works for me.

I’d never weigh a fish with a hook. I wouldn’t want to be picked up by MY lungs.

 

I have too much respect for the fish I catch.

 

They are like my friends.

 

I normally talk to them and give them the “Thanks for playing” and “See you next time when you’re bigger”.    

I don’t stab my friends in the mouth .