Scales

Weighing A Pike Properly

Weigh a pike in a wet sling, never by the gill covers or by hanging it up, and keep the whole operation low over an unhooking mat. Zero the scales with the sling on first. Get it done in one go — weight, a photo if you want one, and back in the water supported until it swims off under its own steam. For bigger fish a weigh bar and a second pair of hands makes it far more controlled. Keep your scales somewhere dry and check them occasionally against a known weight.