Best Fish Scalers
Best Fish Scalers – I bet that no angler has ever used a butter knife or a large spoon to scale a fish.
We have all been there. It is generally accepted that a scaler does a better job and is quicker. They have better abrasive surfaces and are designed with the job in mind.
We can help you find a fish scaler that is more accurate than your soup spoon. Below are reviews of some of our favorite fish scalers, along with a buying guide.
Here is a quick look at the top fish scalers.
- Superbear Fish Scaler –Best Scaler for Small Fish
- Yamasho Brass Fish Scaler Best Scaler for Large Fish
- Fashionyourlife Electric Fish Scaler Best Electric Fish Scaler
- Rock-It Automatic Fish Scaler Best Automatic Fish Scaler
- Big Norm-Feets 88111 Magic Fish Scaler –Best overall fish scaler
Best Fish Scalers Reviewed
Superbear Fish Scaler – Best Scaler for Small Fish
Superbear’s scaler works well for small species such as trout, bluegill and croaker with delicate skin and tiny scales. It won’t harm larger fish such as salmon or carp, but it won’t damage the skin or cause them to lose their small scales.
The scaler is made of 430 stainless steel. This is a common alloy in the kitchen. You won’t have any problems with rusting or staining even with minimal soapy water.
Superbear’s scaler is generously sized, but the one-piece design means you can grip slick steel. It is important to keep your scaler clean in order to avoid fish slime and slick surfaces.
The handle is very comfortable and doesn’t have any hot spots so you won’t feel sore after cleaning a mountain of fish.
While the teeth can fit into the fins in a tight spot, it is important to take care not to damage your hand.
This scaler is great and I love it so much that I bought a few to keep one on my outdoor sink.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Highly resistant to corrosion
- It works well with delicate, small fish
- It is easy to clean
Cons
- It is possible for the handle to get very slick.
Yamasho Brass Fish Scaler – Best Scaler for Large Fish
Yamasho’s large brass fishscaler is an excellent product and it’s almost perfect in my opinion.
The Yamasho’s business end is made of solid brass with four rows and teeth. It is resistant to corrosion and brass doesn’t rust. This scaler is fast, but it’s not as efficient as the Superbear for small fish.
You can chalk that up to your head.
This product would be great for cleaning larger fish species, such as salmon and walleye.
Wooden handles are comfortable and long-lasting. There won’t be any hot spots. It can become a little soiled over time and is not the best material to soak in water and fish slime multiple times.
You can restore the handle in a matter of minutes by using sandpaper.
The Yamasho’s price is also excellent, so you can either buy it in bulk to give to other anglers, or just leave it in your boat.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Highly resistant to corrosion
- It works well with large fish and is very fast
- It is easy to clean
Cons
- Over time, the handle can become a nuisance.
Fashionyourlife Electric Fish Scaler: Best Electric Fish Scaler
Although I am not a fan of electric fish scalers as I haven’t encountered many that are worth the price, Fashionyourlife may be an exception.
This scaler is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery, which plugs into the outlet at the handle. It has enough power to do the job well. You can gouge your flesh with the sharp blades if you apply too much pressure. Keep your passes short and light.
Don’t use this power tool to hurt your hand!
A lithium battery powers the device. It takes about 80 minutes to fully charge and can last for 3-4 hours. This is enough time to tackle a lot of large fish and you won’t have any complaints about the speed.
The blade is made of 304 stainless steel, so it shouldn’t show any signs of corrosion.
The handle is well-made and has an on/off switch at the top.
This item is easy to clean, since it has an IP7 rating (temporary immersion). You can wash it quickly with soapy water. This is a huge deal as slime and scales can end up all over any scaler’s working end.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the electric scaler.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Head very resistant to corrosion
- It works well with large fish and is very fast
- It is easy to clean
Cons
- Fish can be very rough
Rock-It Automatic Fish Scaler, Best Automatic Fish Scaler
Rock-It is a unique way to scale a bunch of fish. It’s worth looking into if you want to catch crappie bluegill, perch and other small fish to add to your dinner.
Instead of washing your fish by hand, load them into the Rock-It capsule. Then you can pull the Rock-It behind your boat when you return to the launch. The Rock-It is spun by your boat’s forward motion, and the fish fall against the sides, losing their weight.
The Roc-It is made from stainless steel and won’t corrode. It’s also very easy to clean using soap and water.
There is no better way to manage small numbers of fish than this!
Pros
- Effectively, it’s automatic
- Highly resistant to corrosion
- It works well with small fish and is very fast
- It is easy to clean
Cons
- Large fish are not suitable for cooking.
Big Norm-Feets 88111 Magic Fish Scaler – Best Overall Fish Scaler
The magic of Big Norm-Feets is real, and you have to witness it in action.
This tool’s business end is equipped with soft rubber teeth that rotate. Although it may not seem like it will remove hard scales, the results are amazing. This is the most efficient and fastest scaler available. It’s so good!
- This scaler can handle all kinds of fish, including reds, crappie and salmon.
- The handle is made of tough plastic, which is both durable and easy-to-clean. There’s also no metal in the handle, so there’s no chance of corrosion.
- This scaler will look brand new after a quick wash with soap and water.
- It is gentle on the skin if you make a mistake.
- Is this the best-selling scaler?
- It could be.
Anglers with smaller hands might find it harder to scale, and may not have the leverage they need.
Pros
- Comfortable
- It is completely resistant to corrosion
- It works well with both small, delicate fish and large, tough species.
- It is easy to clean
- It’s very fast!
Cons
- For people with small hands, the handle might not be enough to provide sufficient leverage.
What to Look For When Buying a Fish Scaler
Durability
Fish cleaning is messy and requires a lot of water. It is a great way to reduce the mess caused by scales popping up everywhere.
Corrosion resistance is, therefore, an important characteristic of any scaler.
Look out for materials such as stainless steel, brass and plastic that are either very resistant to corrosion or can’t rust.
Pay attention to how the scaler’s head is attached to your handle. One-piece models are better because they have a stronger connection.
Comfort
Comfort can only be measured by the person using it. However, we have tried to determine whether any of the tools in our list could cause hot spots or make you uncomfortable while you move through a cooler of fish.
It’s easy to clean
This is crucial for a good scaler.
It will not be sanitary to use in the future if it isn’t washed thoroughly with soap and warm running water.
Scales that are easy-to-clean should be considered.
Effectiveness and speed
The proof is in the tasting, and the proof that a scaler works is in how quickly it removes the scales.
A good scaler will be able to handle large sections of skin. However, if you start working around fins, you will find that some scalers can’t reach the finer spots.
Some scalers excel at the smaller scales of crappie or trout, but they lack the strength and stamina to tackle the bigger, more powerful species like reds and carp. It is possible for aggressive scalers to work large species efficiently while missing small scales or tearing the delicate flesh.
Each scaler on our list has been reviewed in terms of their best use with different sizes.
Speed is important too. A scaler that does more work per pass is infinitely superior to a slower model, especially if there is a full cooler nearby.
Our Pick:Big Norm-Feets 88111 Magic Fish Scaler – Best Overall Fish Scaler
Some anglers might prefer the Rock-It automatic or another model, but most fishermen will be happy with the Big Norm-Feets.
The Big Norm is easy to use and comfortable. It can be used on both large and small fish, without causing any damage to their delicate flesh. It is extremely fast and can be used in a much shorter time than a large spoon or knife.
It is also completely resistant to corrosion thanks to the rubber and plastic used in its construction.
We are confident that this scaler is the best on the market for most people.
We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or comments.
