Bump boards- who’s got-’em

[GRiver]

Hey everyone 

was thinking about getting a bump board, ….  Got to checking on-line, wow some places are sure proud of their bump boards. Have seen them from $150.00 and down.

I usually don’t measure my fish, just weight it, and chuck it back in. 

My question is……. 

Who has one….?

Why’d  ya chosen that one…?

If you had to replace yours, would you buy the same one…?

Thanks everyone 

 

[Choporoz]

They are required for most (all?) kayak bass tournaments, so many of us on here use them.  I have owned rhree different brands:

 

-Hawg Trough was one of the first mass produced and was very popular.   My issue was that they were brittle/fragile...I broke a couple through normal use....not sure if they are still available, but they were pretty cheap

 

-Fish Stick was perhaps my favorite.   It folds nicely, easy to read and reasonably priced

 

-Ketch is the yak tournament standard, required on most trails.  Well made, with a number of options (metal, plastic, lengths, etc), but not cheap.  I have metal and it is heavy and obviously sinks, but that would be much less a risk on a boat

 

 

[flyfisher]

I have a Ketch carbonate board.  Works well in my kayak.  I have owned a bunch of different versions over the years and this one has stuck with me for a few and no reason to replace it.  I rarely measure unless I think it is trophy size so maybe once an outing.

[scaleface]

I dont know the name but I use one to check how short a bass is. I keep the ones under the slot. Dont want a fish that touches 12". The game wardens will manipulate that fish every way possible to get it to measure 12"s.

[FishTank]

I use a Ketch. Works great, especially when the fish is jumping around. 

[gim]

Until about 2 years ago, I had always used "the judge."  Its a dark red metal ruler that was traditionally used in walleye tournaments.  I still have it, but I stopped using it.

 

Two seasons ago I started using a white hawg trough with black numbers.  I fish in an annual work contest and one of the criteria for entering a fish is that the length has to be in a photo.  I've found that the contrast of the white with black numbers makes it as easy as possible to see that.  I'm not in any official organized tournaments.

 

I mostly use it for bass, but I've also used it for panfish and walleye.  I use a bigger, foldable measuring stick for pike and muskies.

 

The fish seem to lay in the hawg trough nicely so I can take a photo too.  I rarely weigh my fish.  I can measure them quicker and then get them back in the water.

 

Here's a few examples.

 

 

[MIbassyaker]

I don't do tournaments, but I have used a hawg trough for a several years.  The black numbers have worn off, although I can still read it. It does get banged around a bit in the kayak.  I'm about ready for a new one, and will probably get a Ketch.

[Team9nine]

Gator Grip’s ‘Golden Rule’ boards were the standard used by most every circuit in IN when I tourney fished. Solid board built with 1/8 aluminum, permanently etched markings, affordable and available at places like TW and others.

 

 

 

[Catt]

@Team9nine X2

I have the 18" because all I'm concerned with is the minimum length limit on Toledo Bend which is 14". After that it's to the scale.

[Alex from GA]

Fishing for the GA Bass Slam the fish have to be photographed for length and one with the angler.  My buddy, that guides me in the Bass Slam in kayaks, carries a Hawg Trough that I use.  I have a Golden Rule and a Hawg Trough on my boat along with a scale.

[Fishingmickey]

Ketch Polycarbonate. It comes in 26" and 32" models.

[RipzLipz]

Got one in the Ranger, which came with the boat. Red & I assume aluminum. Usually don’t use it - weigh contenders with digital scales & don’t fish tournaments or keep LMB from public waters. Dinks from private waters might get released into the grease once in a while but table fare is usually reserved for panfish.

[Johnbt]

I have a Harbor Freight 40" aluminum ruler screwed to the deck.

I think it was $2.99 in 2014.

 

$4.99  www.harborfreight.com/40-in-aluminum-ruler-69366.html

I keep these Home Depot paint stirrers handy for friends who are having a bad day.

 

[Woody B]

I need to take a picture next time I have the boat uncovered.   I've got marks at 14", 16"  18" 20" and 22" inside the front compartment on my boat.  I just open the lid and hold the fish there.   I've considered some kind of bump board but just figured it was something else to clutter my boat up with.   I'll grab a tape measure if I want a precise measurement.  

[Smalliefan2]

Bought a Golder Rule eon's ago, and haven"t lost it. Have a 22". I fish tournaments, and this is the bump board most used. Still don't own a boat with a built in slot for storage, lives in a rod locker. I think they are still less than $20. Also use a scale, and culling beam.

[GRiver]

@Choporoz, I didn’t know they have tournaments where you just measured and released them…..heard a lot of places were trying to go to that, never fished any tournaments, but it make sense in a kayak…. No live well. (I use mine for dry storage)

Does everyone have to use the same kind of bump board, or just certain approved ones. 

I have some friends that pan fish all the time and they use them. Most of them have that ruler tape that they peel and stick on their boat some where. I not a big fan of stickers, they fade and you can’t read them after a while, then ya go through the pain of peeling them off.

9 hours ago, RipzLipz said:

get released into the grease

That’s funny haven’t heard that one.

 

9 hours ago, Johnbt said:

Home Depot paint stirrers handy for friends who are having a bad day

Still laughing …… I got to pick me up some of those to keep on the boat, for just an occasion like that.

 

seems gator grip’s golden rule or Hawg trough are the most used. 
 

[RipzLipz]

10 minutes ago, GRiver said:

That’s funny haven’t heard that one.

Stole that from Mr. Crappie, Wally Marshall, who is occasionally featured on Pro Team Journal or whatever fishing show Strike King sponsors these days.

[FrnkNsteen]

I used to use one when fishing in a local club for tourneys, but don't do that anymore. People get WAY too worried about stuff when money becomes involved and got tired of the fighting and whining.

 

The only time I use one now is on our fishing trips back up home if we want to keep some for a fish fry. Mainly use my cheap little aluminum one for measuring slot lengths for the walleyes now. If having troubles getting walleyes in the small slot Rainy Lake has, we have been known to keep a few small smallmouth. We measure them all to keep from getting dinged!

[DaubsNU1]

Stuck a few of these on gunwales of the old tin boat...one up front cut to 25" for quick catch-measure-release action.

 

Another mid boat full length to measure Musky / Pike.

 

With the Lund, switched to an aluminum board from Scheels. Don't like it so much...always seems to be stored when I need it, have to walk to back of boat to measure...and I'm a lefty...so have to flip the fish around to measure. Might go back to the stick on.

 

Note: Fish scale hangs up front for quick weight check on the big-uns.

 

 

Not a tournament fisherman.

 

[Siebert Outdoors]

I have a Phoenix one from my boat.  Whatever you buy make sure you measure it.  I've seen some that are off. 

[gim]

On 12/5/2023 at 8:21 PM, GRiver said:

I didn’t know they have tournaments where you just measured and released them…..heard a lot of places were trying to go to that, never fished any tournaments, but it make sense in a kayak…. No live well.

Immediate measure, photo, and release has definitely gained popularity amongst tournament formats.  Not just bass ones either.

 

Muskie tournaments have always used this format.

 

Walleye tournaments are very popular here in MN, more so than bass tournaments.  For years, walleye formats were just like traditional weigh in bass tournaments.  You took your catch to a live weigh in at a universal scale.  The only difference is that the walleyes weren't released.

 

The pandemic changed that.  Crowds or gatherings of people were either prohibited or unpopular, so they went to a measure, photo, and release format for the 5 biggest fish.  It was so popular they just kept doing it.  Plus now all the walleyes get released, not harvested.

 

I personally don't think there should be a live weigh in for bass when they're spawning and in midsummer when water temps are at their warmest.  Outside of that, it seems fine.

[Vilas15]

Ive got a grey Rapala folder ruler that goes to 60" that i use for everything from crappies to musky. Stores out of the way. Musky bump boards are like 60" and only fold in half and have a massive sidewall on them. I dont catch enough to warrant that. The hawg trough looks nice though since it cradles the fish. Ill look into that.

[Zcoker]

I’d recommend getting the Ketch board, only because if you ever decide to do a tournament, you’ll be all set. And it’s nowhere near $150 lol Only about $35 off Amazon 

[Susky River Rat]

I have a “Muskie bumper” which is a brand name of them. Then For bass I have the ketch 26” yellow.

[ElGuapo928]

I’ve got a Golden Rule and an old folding plastic one that was a giveaway from somewhere.