A little bit of a dull subject - my apologies. I have just purchased a set of fox digital scales having got fed up of watching the needle bounce on the Reubon dials and I'm wondering how people have streamlined the weighing process with digital scales.
With the dials I always was zero'd to a wet sling so could land a fish, pop it in the retainer while I set up the camera gear then weigh and photograph in one.
With the fox I can't memorise a zero so will need to land the fish, leave in the net while I wet and weigh the sling, then weigh the fish and then retain again whilst I set the camera up as wouldn't want to leave the fish in the net while sorting this out (jump or net dragging in risk).
My alternative is just to retain and weigh/photograph without zero'ing, then weigh the sling afterwards and detract - can't help but think this ruins the magic of weighing a pb though?
What are other peoples processes using digital scales?
James.
With the dials I always was zero'd to a wet sling so could land a fish, pop it in the retainer while I set up the camera gear then weigh and photograph in one.
With the fox I can't memorise a zero so will need to land the fish, leave in the net while I wet and weigh the sling, then weigh the fish and then retain again whilst I set the camera up as wouldn't want to leave the fish in the net while sorting this out (jump or net dragging in risk).
My alternative is just to retain and weigh/photograph without zero'ing, then weigh the sling afterwards and detract - can't help but think this ruins the magic of weighing a pb though?
What are other peoples processes using digital scales?
James.
In reply to Post #1
On the rare occasions I catch something I do it like this:
land the fish, leave it in the landing net but unclip the rig, get all the camera gear etc ready, wet the sling and zero the scales, transfer fish to the mat (with the sling open on it) or with net inside the sling if it's a biggun, ditch the net, unhook and weigh the fish, take the pics, treat any wounds then return to the water in the sling
hope that makes sense
On the rare occasions I catch something I do it like this:
land the fish, leave it in the landing net but unclip the rig, get all the camera gear etc ready, wet the sling and zero the scales, transfer fish to the mat (with the sling open on it) or with net inside the sling if it's a biggun, ditch the net, unhook and weigh the fish, take the pics, treat any wounds then return to the water in the sling
hope that makes sense
In reply to Post #1
I just have a mental note of how much my sling weighs when wet then subtract it from what the scales read. Might be a bit backwards but it works for me.
I just have a mental note of how much my sling weighs when wet then subtract it from what the scales read. Might be a bit backwards but it works for me.
In reply to Post #2
I do this
I do this
In reply to Post #3
In reply to Post #2
Do the Fox scales hold the zero? a set of digital scales I had were actually very good but I got fed up with them not holding zero. I would zero the sling and then set it down on the mat, if I then picked the sling up again the scales had gone back to nought and the weight of the sling would be added to the fish.
Do the Fox scales hold the zero? a set of digital scales I had were actually very good but I got fed up with them not holding zero. I would zero the sling and then set it down on the mat, if I then picked the sling up again the scales had gone back to nought and the weight of the sling would be added to the fish.
In reply to Post #6
Yeah they hold it for long enough, I timed it once can't remember but think it was about 10 minutes
Yeah they hold it for long enough, I timed it once can't remember but think it was about 10 minutes
Thanks for the input all. Will have to saturate my sling at the start of the next session and get it weighed. Can try both methods then.
Was just wondering if I had missed an obvious work around
Was just wondering if I had missed an obvious work around
In reply to Post #8
There's not one and I suspect quite a few people end up adding the weight of their weigh sling to the fish weight when using digitals. I have a set of korum digitals. I was using the zero function but noticed that the fish I was catching looked smaller than the weight I was getting on the scales. It was then that I realised they don't hold zero for long enough. What I do now is deduct the weight of my wetted sling from the weight of the fish for an accurate reading.
There's not one and I suspect quite a few people end up adding the weight of their weigh sling to the fish weight when using digitals. I have a set of korum digitals. I was using the zero function but noticed that the fish I was catching looked smaller than the weight I was getting on the scales. It was then that I realised they don't hold zero for long enough. What I do now is deduct the weight of my wetted sling from the weight of the fish for an accurate reading.
In reply to Post #3
I do the same, always have as never had dial scales. It's about 2oz shy of 3lb, I'm not worried if I'm a few ounces either way, it's only for my record, not like it's going to be a new UK record or competition winning fish.
I do the same, always have as never had dial scales. It's about 2oz shy of 3lb, I'm not worried if I'm a few ounces either way, it's only for my record, not like it's going to be a new UK record or competition winning fish.
In reply to Post #2
I do exactly this with my Chub scales and works fine. The other option of deducting is easy enough and I will do this on occasion, like this morning when the weather was crap and I just wanted to get the fished weighed, photographed and returned as quickly as possible
I do exactly this with my Chub scales and works fine. The other option of deducting is easy enough and I will do this on occasion, like this morning when the weather was crap and I just wanted to get the fished weighed, photographed and returned as quickly as possible
Do any of the digital scales allow you tare and save? I wonder why they don't?
In reply to Post #12
Mine has 4 buttons on it, I'm sure they do have other functions like you mention I'm just not interested in figuring out how to set it up
Mine has 4 buttons on it, I'm sure they do have other functions like you mention I'm just not interested in figuring out how to set it up
In reply to Post #12
I'd hazard a guess saying the sling varies so much so pointless. Sopping wet or just wet can vary a lot.
I'd hazard a guess saying the sling varies so much so pointless. Sopping wet or just wet can vary a lot.
In reply to Post #2
This is the way I was shown how to many years ago.
This is the way I was shown how to many years ago.
just do a Wilson "take a pound off for the net" 
I've been going with the weigh and deduct the sling.
As I use a weigh sling/retainer and tend to unhook the fish, return it in the sling for 5 minutes to recover whilst I get my camera and scales ready the sling is already saturated - at the point it weighs 4lb 6oz.
So when I weigh the fish I can just deduct this. When I return the fish (sling gets re-wetted) I can always reweigh the sling to recheck/confirm the weight.
As I use a weigh sling/retainer and tend to unhook the fish, return it in the sling for 5 minutes to recover whilst I get my camera and scales ready the sling is already saturated - at the point it weighs 4lb 6oz.
So when I weigh the fish I can just deduct this. When I return the fish (sling gets re-wetted) I can always reweigh the sling to recheck/confirm the weight.
In reply to Post #2
. . .ditto
If you've got the old fox digis like myself (the black ones with fold out handles) they flash then settle once zeroed . . .this lasts for circa 10mins.
Personally think doing the chuffy method is more accurate than just leaving scales permanently zeroed . . agree with Pearbo - if your using a retention sling and its been doused in lake water from dry (eg first fish), the foam floats may not be fully wet and therefore weigh lighter than when its been left out in the rain / in the lake for several hours / after several fish . . .
. . .ditto
If you've got the old fox digis like myself (the black ones with fold out handles) they flash then settle once zeroed . . .this lasts for circa 10mins.
Personally think doing the chuffy method is more accurate than just leaving scales permanently zeroed . . agree with Pearbo - if your using a retention sling and its been doused in lake water from dry (eg first fish), the foam floats may not be fully wet and therefore weigh lighter than when its been left out in the rain / in the lake for several hours / after several fish . . .
I don't even own a set of scales nowadays. It's a label I believe isn't needed. Enjoy the capture have your pic and slip her back.
In reply to Post #1
This makes me sound like a d*ck but I've stopped weighing fish unless they look like 30+
It's not out of arrogance or that fish under 30lb don't matter, it's just that the weight of the fish has become less relevant for me over the years. I love catching carp and prefer to just enjoy the moment than faff around with scales, slings etc.
This makes me sound like a d*ck but I've stopped weighing fish unless they look like 30+
It's not out of arrogance or that fish under 30lb don't matter, it's just that the weight of the fish has become less relevant for me over the years. I love catching carp and prefer to just enjoy the moment than faff around with scales, slings etc.
I find the need to weigh every carp caught by so many to be extremely annoying and pointless never mind then photographing every carp aswell.
In reply to Post #20
Yeah your a dick
Yeah your a dick
In reply to Post #21
Same. Only weigh/photo if they look 25+, and that's mainly because the lake owner likes to know. Quite often put fish back without a photo if at night/no ones around/raining/cold. Most of my 40's have been caught in those conditions 😉
Same. Only weigh/photo if they look 25+, and that's mainly because the lake owner likes to know. Quite often put fish back without a photo if at night/no ones around/raining/cold. Most of my 40's have been caught in those conditions 😉
In reply to Post #22
After I have weighed a fish with my digital, I always weigh my sling again to confirm that the scales have retained the tare. If not, then your stumped as to whether they lost the tare before weighing the fish or after. But, as the fish has been returned, it's a bit to late to recheck it's weight.
This is one of the reasons I often think that it's best not to tare your weigh sling etc before weighing and do it afterwards, but even then, it could be dubious if you released the fish whilst still in the weigh sling and it got wet.
My preference though is to use my dial scales for anything worth weighing and then it cuts out the uncertainty.
Perhaps manufacturers could alter the design of digital to display a letter "T" or the tare weight so then you know that the tare facility is active.
This is one of the reasons I often think that it's best not to tare your weigh sling etc before weighing and do it afterwards, but even then, it could be dubious if you released the fish whilst still in the weigh sling and it got wet.
My preference though is to use my dial scales for anything worth weighing and then it cuts out the uncertainty.
Perhaps manufacturers could alter the design of digital to display a letter "T" or the tare weight so then you know that the tare facility is active.
In reply to Post #25
Years ago when I used to use Ruben dial scales, I used to leave them constantly adjusted to zero the sling. Eventually they started to misread and I am pretty sure Ruben told me that you shouldn't leave them zeroed.
I use Ruben digitals now and just weigh the sling after weighing the fish.
Years ago when I used to use Ruben dial scales, I used to leave them constantly adjusted to zero the sling. Eventually they started to misread and I am pretty sure Ruben told me that you shouldn't leave them zeroed.
I use Ruben digitals now and just weigh the sling after weighing the fish.
In reply to Post #27
I didn't know that and I always leave my scales adjusted to allow for a wet weigh sling. Will change that from now on. Guess I'll have to check my scales to see if they are inaccurate.
I didn't know that and I always leave my scales adjusted to allow for a wet weigh sling. Will change that from now on. Guess I'll have to check my scales to see if they are inaccurate.
In reply to Post #3
This is my way too
This is my way too
In reply to Post #29
I know my weigh sling is 2lb6oz wet thru. I just take that off total on the scales, works for me,
I know my weigh sling is 2lb6oz wet thru. I just take that off total on the scales, works for me,
In reply to Post #30
I do the take off 3lb after weighing thing as can't be arsed with zeroing. Another thing that seems be the routine of most which I find odd. Catch, land, weigh, check, photo's, then back in the sling, zip up to put back.
I personally, catch, land, check, photo's, weigh and straight back in the pond, far quicker and less stress on the fish, just my routine and thoughts on this.
I do the take off 3lb after weighing thing as can't be arsed with zeroing. Another thing that seems be the routine of most which I find odd. Catch, land, weigh, check, photo's, then back in the sling, zip up to put back.
I personally, catch, land, check, photo's, weigh and straight back in the pond, far quicker and less stress on the fish, just my routine and thoughts on this.
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