Right… my latest team event has just ended so I pack up and take a walk down the section to see what the weights are like. I reach the scalesman and take a look at his weigh sheet and the first four weights in the section.

Bearing in mind this is a silver fish venue, the weights are always likely to be modest and probably quite close. A quick scan shows that these have been recorded as 5-11-0, 4-11-0, 4-10-0 and 4-8-0. I then look at the scales, which are a good quality set of dial scales, measuring to the nearest four drams. Not bothering with drams today then? I enquire. A friendly chuckle goes around, from those few witnessing the weigh-in. There are another six to weigh in the section so let’s see what happens!

Not good odds?
The fact is that the weights of those first four could have been genuinely and accurately recorded, it’s possible, but most unlikely and although these quality scales can weigh to the nearest quarter of an ounce (4 drams) there’s only a one in four chance of that happening. As each weight is recorded, it's becomes patently clear that this scalesman is not bothering with drams today… lets just hope no-one else is going to weigh somewhere between 4-10-0 and 4-11-0, because if they do, it could then be down to who it is and whether they make any issue out of it! (Never mind, if they do we’ll call it 4-10-8 and everyone will be happy as we will have used drams!)

In my experience this is not an isolated scenario. OK, so lots of anglers are not interested in this type of venue. They prefer to be out catching much heavier weights of carp, so the scales are considerably upgraded and able to record to the nearest four ounces… but the principle is still the same!

Now you see it… now you don’t!
Here's another favourite of mine. Yet again, there is a good quality set of dial scales being used, they are put on a tripod and the guy from peg one is holding the weigh sling as each angler deposits his catch into it. This same angler then puts the sling onto the scales hook and, because the scales are facing away from him he peers over the top, and from the side, to get a view. The guy holding the weigh sheet, will of course be standing in front of the scales and will call out the weight then write it down... WRONG! The guy behind the scales has decided to call out each weight from his jaunty angle because he can see perfectly well… CAN'T HE?

Next time you are involved in a weigh-in when using a good set of dial scales… directly or otherwise… take a close look at the weight registered, directly in front of the dial face. Note the weight, to the nearest four drams of course, and then try to read it from the right and left hand sides, and then again from above/below. Don’t be surprised to find each direction registering differently, maybe by a few drams but more likely by ounces!

It's no good having a good set of dial scales unless you read them directly from the front... not the back or side!

Generosity is the key!
I was following the scales in my Winter League section several years ago after being weighed to see the rest of the results. Two anglers from the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams of their large squad had been weighing everyone in as they were drawn next to each other at the section end. Being the last to weigh, another angler took over the responsibility to weigh them both in.
The ‘B’ team anglers weight was recorded, without comment at 3-11-0 and when the angler’s weight from the ‘A’ team was called at 3-10-12 that angler immediately checked the scales and advised all present that they had been ‘generous’ weighing everyone else in… so there should be a tie! This result was then recorded, etc, etc.

Answered prayers… Maybe!
We all know there’s an easy solution to the problem… digital scales. These are accurate and no one can argue with the clearly displayed weight. We can even choose to have it in Kilo’s and grams if we are bored with Imperial. Boy, was I glad when these arrived a few years ago, the fish jump around for a short while in the weigh sling, but just press the HOLD button and this clever gadget evens it out and gives you one firm, fixed and undeniable record of your weight.

Some of our matches, whether club, league or open are still using various makes of digital scales for the weighing in which use to work perfectly before, but now don’t. The fish still jump around when they are deposited in the net and we still push that magic HOLD button, but the numbers just bounce around until someone settles on a happy medium, maybe during that split second when all the catch sits still. It’s possible they just need a good overhaul to make them as good as new. In my opinion, it’s more likely that the current trend of recording bigger weights, of bigger fish, has basically screwed them up, and they’ve been simply unable to handle that abuse! An overhaul in this case would be totally meaningless, whereas a new purchase would be more appropriate.

International matches don't generally suffer from irregular readings as they are well policed not only by the officials... but the 'world and his dog'!!!

So what's the point of all this… am I being too pedantic… a bit of a control freak? Why can’t we all relax, it's a great sport, we are all mates and it's just a bit of fun, isn’t it?

What it’s all about
The point I’m trying to make is a simple one. At every level of fishing, we all put in, a greater or lesser amount of time, effort and money.
Therefore whatever level you choose to compete at… your individual result… your team result… the club championship… the section money… promotion or relegation, they all matter… and that is MY POINT!

As an individual, or part of a team, you’re putting YOUR effort into YOUR chosen sport and in one fleeting moment somebody records the result of that effort… good or bad. Is it therefore not right that the least you should expect is for your weight to be recorded correctly, rather than incorrectly?

Next time you ‘draw scales’, just take a little time over setting them and recording the weights correctly. It may be that you’ve had a bad day… your bitter rival for the championship has beaten you… all you want to do is go home… think of everything you've put in to the day, then remember that everyone else probably has too!

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