Fishing scales - which type do you need for weighing carp?

Once you’ve landed a fish, you’re most likely going to want to know how much it weighs, and that means have some sort of set of scales.

Fishing scales come in a variety of different types, and these days both analogue and digital versions are available, so your first decision is going to be which of the two you prefer.

Analogue scales or digital

A lot of that comes down to personal choice and what you prefer, and there are plenty of anglers who still like to use a set of dial scales, like they’ve always done, and where they zero the weigh sling themselves by winding the needle back, and then read the weight off depending on where the needle settles.

Others prefer a more modern approach, using a set of digital scales which can be zeroed at the touch of a button, and where the screen gives you the weight that the scales have settled on.

Arguably these digital scales are more accurate, as you aren’t trying to read off a weight with a needle that is bouncing around, but some – including some of the Korda team – still prefer to see a needle going around a dial, and also don’t want to be relying on electronics to weigh fish, as a set of dial scales will always work and doesn’t need any batteries!

What size scales for fishing do you need?

You will also need to decide what model of scales best suits the type of fishing that you do and the maximum size of fish that you are going to be catching, as you need a set of scales that is capable of weighing them – the last thing you want to do is catch the fish of a lifetime and then not be able to weigh it as your scales have bottomed out!

So, choose a set that will easily cover that eventuality and is on the optimistic side, in terms of what size of fish it will weigh up to.

The Korda range includes a variety of different options, with 60lb and 120lb dial scales, plus a set of digital scales which can weigh fish of up to 132lb or 60kg. In the dial scales, metric versions are also available for the European market, weighing up to 50kg.

Fishing scales need to be more accurate and durable than luggage scales or similar

Just how accurately you want to weigh your fish also plays a part, as there are different options available – it is possible to get a set of dial scales which has 1oz divisions, to make it very easy to weigh every fish to the nearest ounce. But for those who are less worried about that, then dial scales in 2oz and 4oz divisions are also available and are plenty accurate enough for many anglers, especially when the needle tends to be bouncing around a bit anyway when taking a final weight.

With the digital scales it is easy, as they weigh in 1oz divisions anyway, or 25g if you have them set on metric. This means that not only are they perfect for carp, but also for other smaller species of fish as well, where the ounces are more important – and the same is true with dial scales if you are going to be using them for a variety of different types of fishing.

Dial scale and dial scale dual revolution

The Korda range includes two different types of scales, with the only real difference being that the dual revolution has the needle going around the full dial twice, versus the standard model which works as a single revolution.

The standard Korda Dial Scale comes in a choice of 60lb in 2oz divisions or 120lb in 4oz divisions, as well as a Gigantica version which has a different face to the dial. A single revolution makes it impossible to mis-read the weight as the needle can only go round once.

The Dial Scale Dual Revolution allows you to weigh fish to the nearest ounce, as it weighs up to 60lb in 10oz divisions, and a full revolution is 30lb. This makes it very easy to weigh fish incredibly accurately.

Both types of dial scales are manufactured for Korda by renowned UK scales company, Reuben Heaton, and are designed for use on the bank, with corrosion resistant components that can withstand getting damp, and including a stainless steel weighing hook and hanging point on top of the dial.

The casing is constructed from strong polycarbonate plastic, which is also scratch resistant and means that the clear front remains readable even after prolonged use – it is of course still a good idea to protect your scales as much as possible during transit and storage in your fishing rucksack or carryall, and there are scales pouches available specifically for that purpose.

All of our dial scales are very easy to zero via the knurled knob on the top of them, and the pointer itself is a hi-viz design to make it clear in low light conditions or when using a headtorch.

Digital scale in conjunction with Reuben Heaton

Some anglers prefer a more modern approach to weighing fish and favour the use of digital scales over the more traditional dial models.

Korda worked in conjunction with Reuben Heaton to design a set of digital scales that not only give you all the features that you need, but which are also built to last and withstand regular outdoor use.

The Korda Digital Scales can be used to weigh fish up to 132lb or 60kg, in 1oz or 25g divisions – you can switch between imperial and metric at the push of a button.

They are very easy to use, and once switched on and your weigh sling is hung from the stainless steel hook, it is easy to zero it simply by pushing the ‘tare’ button. There is also the capacity to store up to 50 entries as well on the internal memory.

The Digital Scales are a tough design, and are both shockproof and waterproof, with high quality stainless steel fittings, including the hook to hang them from your weigh bar or weigh staff.

The backlit LCD screen is very easy to read in any light conditions, and these scales have been designed to preserve battery life, automatically switching themselves off – although not so quickly that they will do so before you get a chance to weigh your fish.

Weigh staff

By far the easiest way to weigh carp and to ensure you get an accurate reading is by using a Korda Compac Weigh Staff.

This Weigh Staff has become a firm favourite with anglers such as Danny Fairbrass, and whatever type of scales you are using, they can easily be attached to the free hanging stainless steel carabiner – this ensures that the scales hang vertical and give a true weight.

The two piece pole, which packs away neatly, is made from high-grade anodised aluminium, with a brass fitting to connect the two parts together and which has been designed to last. The staff is finished with a stainless stell spike on the bottom, which is dug into the ground to provide a solid foundation.

With a weigh staff, once you have the spike positioned in the ground and the sling hooked onto it, it is very easy to raise the fish off of the mat – making sure the sling stays over the mat – and let the scales settle on a weight, rather than bouncing around everywhere if you try and lift them by the hook with your hands.

Scales pouches

Whilst all of the Korda scales are built to last and to be able to withstand outdoor use in all sorts of weather, it is still a good idea to protect them.

There are Compac Scales Pouches available for both the dial and digital versions of our scales, which are made from hard-wearing water resistant fabric and with a foam padded lining, to ensure that your scales don’t get damaged during transit inside your fishing luggage – this will help prevent the face of the scales from getting scratched as well.

These scales pouches have two way zips, as well as a reinforced carry handle that makes it easy to get them out of your rucksack or carryall, as well as to carry them round to a mates swim if you need to.