Thinking about combining the three items in the pictures below to create a homemade fish scale/measuring tool. Essentially a tray with a sewing mat cut to fit and glued in the bottom that can be placed on a kitchen scale. The whole think should cost less than $30. Has anyone done anything like this? Think it will work? What should I do differently?

I realize that if I catch a fish that weighs more than 11 lbs the scale won't be big enough or if I catch one longer than 16" my tray won't be big enough but I think I am well within those bounds for a few years.

The only problem with it for my use would be the tray. I'm afraid I would scrape my wrist as I'm trying to clean the fish. ..... -----wait a min, I think I'm way off. You ain't gonna clean the fish in that tray are ya? If not, it should work just fine.

No, this would be just for maintaining fish records. Catch, toss them in there, snap a picture of length and weight at the same time and then record later. Want to try to minimize time out of the water so I thought being able to get length and weight at the same time would be beneficial.

Should work like a charm!

You might add a few holes to the tray corners to make it easier to clean and/or allow water to escape (with all the fish you'll be catching, you don't want the weights to be off because of water runoff in the tray - or do you?). If you decide to do so, I have found that drilling those types of trays can often crack them. I have taken to heating up a awl or Phillips screwdriver with a light duty propane torch and melting the holes through.

And, you might try to avoid gluing the mat in so that it can be removed for cleaning.

Just a few thoughts.

Good ideas

Yeah. Think a heavy duty plastic basket would work better than a plastic tray? It would already have holes in it for water to drain.

If you could find a nice basket to use, that would be nice. Be cautious you do not get your basket/tray contraption too heavy and max out the scale you wish to use. I don't know much about scales. Most of them can tare out the weight of the tray, but a heavy tray may max out the scale's capabilities before the tare can happen. I'd make sure the scale can weigh up to your heaviest potential fish and the tray apparatus with some weight to spare.

Neat idea. Let us know how it turns out and please post a pic of the final product.

I bought a dollar store plastic rectangular basket for a buck. Bought a seamstress cloth type measuring tape for another dollar. Glue or tape a section of the measuring tape to the inside bottom of the basket. I use a digital postal scale but whatever scale you use just set the basket on it,zero it out,and you are good to go!! Mine can be battery operated also so I can carry it out on the boat with me too.

Here's mine. I made some aluminum brackets that slid onto the scale's table, and fastened them to the tray. I can remove the tray when needed, and it fits snug enough to not slip off the scale. The tray is intended for silverware.

That tray may not work for much longer!

That's exactly what I am going for sprkplug. What brand scale is that? Not too many 5000 g. Most are 3000 g or less. I found a postage scale that I really like and am leaning towards but it has raised buttons that I am afraid would get water behind them and stop working. Buttons that are integral to the face of the scale like yours I would think would be more waterproof.

Tony, one heckuva fish

I don't know what brand it is, but it came from Walmart. As did the tray.

So, I researched many scales that range from small kitchen scales to postage scales. The problem with kitchen scales is that many don't have a very high maximum weight. The largest kitchen scales max at 11 lbs. Once you build your tray you use up 1.5 lbs of that. So, if/once you get large fish they may max your scale out. Postage scales had a much higher maximum weight and aren't much more expensive. They also have a larger platform than the kitchen scales. The scale, tray and sewing mat I settled on can be seen at the following links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MT86A1I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M2V2AFX/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027RL0SA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The total was right at $50 which was a little more than I originally intended to spend. The increase was due to the slightly more expensive scale (battery or A/C power) and purchasing a heavy duty plastic tray that I could only find in a 3-pack vs a cheaper tray. But I am extremely happy with the way the scale turned out. It will be worth every penny. See some pictures of my DIY below.

I would say you could probably go cheaper on the scale and basket and get it to around $30.

Thanks For the info. I bought the same setup. The higher weight limit is nice. I will also use the scale for deer processing while making my own summer sausages and etc.

Good job

Nice job. Thank you for sharing the photos.

Nice work. I should add that I have another scale that I use now for my BG. It maxes out at 5 lbs, which I feel is a more accurate range for lighter fish. If I were weighing a larger species, I would go with a higher range.

This one is supposed to have an accuracy of 0.1 oz and be capable of weighing the smallest of envelopes and packages up to 90 lbs within 0.1 oz. Reviews claimed it was accurate even on the ligh end. But I agree, a smaller range scale would seem to be designed for more accuracy. I didn't want to mess with two so I wanted something that would weigh small CNBG as well as growing HSB and LMB. This seemed to fit.