Weighing Bass?

[Scott F]

Even when you weigh them on the most accurate scale, I find, few people really care and almost nobody believes you anyway!

[wytstang]

I do it for most fish that look like they are in the 4lb+ range, it helps me know the average of bass I'm pulling out.

[EmersonFish]

Even when you weigh them on the most accurate scale, I find, few people really care and almost nobody believes you anyway!

This is true. For my part, when I do weigh fish, which isn't terribly frequently, it's more of a "competing against myself/personal satisfaction" thing. I assume most guys are this way.

Aside from people never believing anyone or caring, when it comes to bragging about fish on the internet and such; it's also not a fair fight. Some people live in Florida, I live in Missouri, others live in Montana. All very different playing fields. Even within a state, what qualifies as a significant catch is quite different. But I know when I've caught something relatively noteworthy, and I might want to remember it for future reference, and be able to give an accurate account to others who can appreciate it.

[J Francho]

I weigh my fish to prove my hero status.

[Choporoz]

I'd like to think that I can weigh one fast enough that the fish's welfare argument isn't relevant.    When I can accurately guesstimate the weights to within a quarter pound, maybe I'll stop weighing them.  Until then, I'll probably continue to weigh those that appear to be 3+.  I don't see any reason not to. 

[J Francho]

If you rarely or never weigh your fish, chances are you won't be very good at it when the time comes.

[ward131]

  I bought a new digital scale when my old spring loaded one said all my fish were 3lbs. Since then I have noticed all my fish are bigger then I guess and always smaller then what my buddies guess. I see guys that miss judge a 3 pounder by 2 lbs.   Watching videos on Youtube I am amazed at what people call 3, 4 or 5lbs.

  I usually weigh a lot of fish early in the season until I get my sense of size back after the long winter.

[Darren.]

Maybe it is just me, but why do people feel the need to weigh their fish? Unless you are in a tournament, does it really matter? A big fish is a big fish. Is it pride or the pursuit of a new personal best? I see some guys on the water weigh every catch. To me it is more important to get the fish back in the water quickly, especially in the heat of summer. Take a photo if you want, but is the weight also necessary? If the fish is a true trophy, then for sure get a weight on it. I don't think it really matters if it is a 4.5 or a 5.5, that is still a nice catch anywhere. Your thoughts?

 

I don't weigh every fish. Just the ones I'm curious

as to my guess, in addition to landing another

personal best.

 

But if I think the fish is over 3, I'll usually weigh it

to compare my catch and size rates with other 

times I've caught fish in that range.

[Weld's Largemouth]

I take note of any bass over 12 inches and what lure it was caught on, conditions, etc, so I can add to my data to help develop useful patterns in the long term.

[Fishinthefish]

As part of documenting lakes, and reservoirs I weigh every fish so I can have accurate nates as far as date time lure conditions and fish weight for the day.

[DrKnew]

I measure most bass 4lbs or larger. I have tapes in both the front and rear areas attached to the boat allowing for an easy  tape....seldom weigh a bass , unless a 5+.. 

[Catch 22]

   I don`t carry a scale. I know if its a good one or not. I`m more apt to measure  a fish.

[bassindon]

Maybe it is just me, but why do people feel the need to weigh their fish? Unless you are in a tournament, does it really matter? A big fish is a big fish. Is it pride or the pursuit of a new personal best? I see some guys on the water weigh every catch. To me it is more important to get the fish back in the water quickly, especially in the heat of summer. Take a photo if you want, but is the weight also necessary? If the fish is a true trophy, then for sure get a weight on it. I don't think it really matters if it is a 4.5 or a 5.5, that is still a nice catch anywhere. Your thoughts?

This is kind of a silly question . If it's a tourney it ok? I weigh them all. its' part of my fun. My weight and logs are all part of my own game . Lots of PB's to break when targeting big fish too. If you chose to target big fish. I take videos and one of the most common questions is "how big" . But if I weigh a few that go 4 to 6 lbs and set them free within 30 min where I caught them, Why is it OK to hold them all day in a well and put them in a bag, then put them in a basket , weigh them , put them back in a tank or your live well and let them go in a place far from home in the name of Gambling? I think weighing fish is not a problem at all as long as you take care of the catch.  I think tourney or not most of us take good care of the catch. : )  Have fun!

[Dogface]

i dont think my scales work. The bass never weigh as much as they should .

 

 

Scaleface I have that same problem!

 

I just ordered a scale. I "gussetimate" the weight and then measure them. It seems that I always estimate under the weight suggested by the measured length. After many years of saying I'm going to buy a scale......I did.

 

It will be good to know the truth. Maybe I'll even get to brag a little.

[J Francho]

The truth hurts. Lol.

[Lund Explorer]

As a former tournament angler, the least used piece of equipment was my personal scale.  The most used tool was a bump board for those fish that just got over the line, and finally a balance beam when I wanted to cull a fish and had to choose between two bass that were close to the same size.

 

I never came across a tournament director that accepted a weight that wasn't from the official scales everyone's catch ended up on.  When you fish long enough you can get pretty good at estimating weights.  Time was always too short to worry about an exact weight that wasn't official anyhow.

[J Francho]

I weigh just about every fish in a tournament, up until I have a limit. That way, I know what fish is due up to be culled and/or put on the balance beam.

[Thornback]

In the bass fishing world the weight of a bass is part of the lexicon. If the bass is over two pounds I like to guess the weight and them weigh it just to check the accuracy of my guestimate. And when I tell someone I caught a 6 pound 4 ounce it rings true. But when I hear someone say they caught two six pounders and three four pounders I chuckle to myself. And I can tell you there are times when I swear my bass is around five pounds only to see the scale read 3.5

[topwaterbob]

I will  weigh a bass from a new lake if I feel it's better than 4 lbs. I also will weigh one if my girlfriend wants to know what her fish weighs. But my main reason is to weigh the record breaker from my state. Which I hope to catch someday. 

[whitwolf]

 And I can tell you there are times when I swear my bass is around five pounds only to see the scale read 3.5

 

There has been countless times where this has occured.

 

As for the topic at hand; If I think It's a bigger than normal fish I weigh, If not I don't.  The goal on each and every trip, for me, Is to have fun. I can be just as happy catching numbers, a personal best, or little If anything. The reason for this, and again, It's just "my" persoanl opinion, I'm grateful to be on the water another day and there are many that would like to have that same oppurtunity but for whatever reason their circumstances will not allow them to be out there. Also, the serenity of just being on the water is a real plus!