Best Fishing Scales and Fish Grippers (2026): Worth Buying or Skip It?
A fishing scale and lip gripper serve different purposes: the scale tells you how much that bass actually weighs (as opposed to what you think it weighs), and the gripper gives you a controlled, fish-safe way to hold and weigh your catch for photos. Both are useful. Neither needs to cost a lot — but the cheap versions of both have failure modes worth knowing about.
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Runcl Digital Fishing Scale
Best value scaleThe Runcl is the digital scale most anglers carry for casual weigh-ins. It's accurate enough for personal records, light enough to not notice in a tackle bag, and cheap enough to replace without regret when it gets dropped in the boat. For tournament-quality accuracy, use a certified digital scale — but for 'how much does this striper actually weigh,' the Runcl is fine.
Rapala Touch Screen Scale
Best mid-range scaleThe Rapala Touch Screen splits the difference between cheap digital scales and expensive certified ones. The build quality is noticeably better than the budget options, and for most CT freshwater and inshore saltwater fishing, 50 lb capacity is more than adequate.
BogaGrip Original Model 30
Best lip gripperThe BogaGrip has been the standard fish handling tool for bass tournament anglers for decades. The locking jaw mechanism lets you hold a fish at arm's length during photos without hand-cramping, and the fish is controlled without direct contact with sensitive gill areas. For C&R-focused anglers, the BogaGrip is the most fish-safe holding option available. The integrated scale is a useful bonus but not as precise as a standalone digital.
KastKing Shark Fish Gripper
Best budget gripperFor casual anglers who want a gripper without spending BogaGrip money, the KastKing provides the basic functionality at a fraction of the cost. The lock mechanism isn't as reliable — don't hold a 7-pound striper directly over the water for 2 minutes with this — but for bass in a pond or smaller fish, it does the job.
Buying Guide
**Lip grippers and fish welfare:** A lip gripper holds a fish by the lower jaw, much like the manual "lipping" technique bass anglers use. The welfare consideration is the same: do not hold a large fish vertically by the jaw alone. Large bass (over 3 lb), large walleye, and any large fish should be supported horizontally. Use the gripper to control the head while your other hand supports the body. The gripper's value is in controlled, hands-free holding for photos — not in suspending heavy fish vertically.
**Scale accuracy:** All fishing scales have accuracy limitations. Consumer digital scales at the $15–$30 price range are accurate to within a few ounces under normal conditions. They can drift in cold or warm temperatures and are not certified for official tournament use. If you're submitting a catch to a record program or state registry, use a certified scale at a registered weigh station — not a consumer digital.
**Saltwater considerations:** Rinse any metal tool that contacts saltwater with fresh water after every use. Even "stainless" hardware corrodes in constant saltwater exposure without rinsing. The BogaGrip's corrosion-resistant claim holds up with basic maintenance; without it, even quality materials fail over time.
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