Actual Weight

[Jerkbate]

Hi again everyone,

I have been a member for awhile, but have been away for about a year.  It seems most of you are doing well.  I have a question.  I caught a bass about three weeks ago (released it). I didn't have my scale but I took the measurements.  They were 25 inches for the length and 22 inches for the girth.  I put those numbers in the weight calculator on the bass resource website and it came up with a weight of 11.46 pounds, which I was very pleased with.  However, this morning I see the fifteen pounder posted by matt.  The link says that the fish was 25.5 inches long and has a girth of 22 inches.  That's only a quarter of an inch difference in length than the fish I caught.  I found few other site with weight calculators and some come up with a weight of 15.12 pounds while others come up with 11.46 pounds.  I even had one that came up with 12.03 pounds  I am not doubting the weight of the fish posted by matt, but my question is did my fish weigh 11.46 or 15.12 pounds? :-/

Also, my pastor and I went fishing last Friday, he caught a fish that was 25.5 inches long with a girth of 18.5 inches (also released it).  The bass resource scale and some other sites come up with 10.02 pounds but other sites come up with a weight of around 11 pounds.  :-/

[directlink]

Hmmmm.... :-/  I don't have any explanation.  But Congratulations on those huge fish! ;D  Where are you fishing at?

[Chris]

Buy a good scale then you will know.

[Raul]

Half an inch may not sound like much but it 's a world of difference in body mass. My experirnce with the Bassresource weigght calculator is that it 's pretty close to the actual weight. Last year I caught a 23 x22 fish, just to see how accurate the calculator is I entered the measurements = 9.698 pounds, the actual weight of the fish was 9.86 pounds so you can say that it 's pretty close.

According to Matt 's measurements of the fish 23.5x22 = 11.92 pounds in the weight calculator give or take 0.2 pounds for the actual weight the fish must be around 11.7 to 12.1 pounds. Your fish = 11.2-11.6 pounds actual weight.

[RoLo]

On balance, a 25" bass will weigh about 9 pounds, but varying of course.

Twenty five inches represents an extremely stubborn length plateau.

The reason is because 9 pounds is an extremely stubborn weight ceiling.

Over the years I've compiled a Length/Weight Conversion Guide based solely on length (w/o girth).

Stored in my computer for decades, this is the first time it's ever seen the light of day.

It consists of every bass my wife and I have weighed, but more importantly it comprises the results

of bass tournaments, state award programs, beer-company contests and magazine awards

(e.g. Field&Stream, In-Fisherman, Fishing Facts, etc):

Beginning at a length of 21", a bass will gain about 1 pound per inch until 29" long.

After 29" long a bass will gain about 1 pound of body weight for every half-inch in length.

21" = 5-lb (every inch adds one pound until 29")

22" = 6lb BUCK CEILING

23" = 7lb

24" = 8lb

25" = 9lb TROPHY-CLASS

26" = 10lb

27" = 11lb

28" = 12lb RECORD-CLASS

29" = 13lb

29.5" = 14lb

30.0" = 15lb WORLD-CLASS

30.5" = 16lb

31.0" = 17lb

31.5" = 18lb

Roger

[rocknfish9001]

The weight calculator on this site is right on for my 20.5" 5.5 lb. fish, my neighbor's 20" 6lb. fish, my 20" 5 lb. fish, and his 21" 5lb. fish. All come up on weight.

[dave]

I'm with Chris.  Buy a scale.  Even a cheap one removes any guesstimates.

[cpvenom]

the reason fish claculator weights are different is because there are a few different formulas for finding the weight of a bass. The one that Bassresource uses is (length x length x girth) / 1200. There are also other formulas that are not used as much.  Since no bass follows an exact formula, your bass could be anywhere between 11 and 15 pounds. personaly, I have found the bass resource formula pretty accurate. Also use your own judgement of the weight as a factor and lean closer to the calculated weight that seems more accurate.

[Jerkbate]

Thanks for the replies.  I have been fishing strictly for bass most all of my life.  I have caught a few bass that weighed between 8-10 pounds.  I cannot count the number of bass between 4-8 pounds.  And, I have caught six bass over ten pounds.  Two of those were 11.5 pounders and one was 13.4 pounds.  All of them were weighted.  I know that my fish was around 11.5 pounds.  Also, I know that my pastors was right close to 10 pounds.  My questions was why is there a difference in the weights given by the different calculators.  I guess I should have worded it differently.  

By the way, I have a very good scale, but to get to this particular lake you have to walk over a mile and half one way.  That's means a three mile walk.  Therefore, I usually only take just a handful of lures, one rod and reel, and nothing else.  And yes, I have a four wheeler but it isn't allowed.

[cpvenom]

there are a few different quations for a bass's weight, and whoever made a certain claculator simply chose their "favorite" equation.

[Shad_Master]

The fish weight calculator on this site is accurate for my 6.11#er that I caught year before last and for the 5.976 #er that I caught last year -- that's my story and I'm stickin to it?

[fishingrulz]

did you take any pictures of the fish?

[Shad_Master]

I have pictures of one of them and several witness to the other

[Jerkbate]

The share a lunker fish was 25.5 inches long with a girth of 22 inches. The SAL website said that the fish weighed 15 pounds. However, if the guy had put those numbers into the calculator he would have came up with a weight of about 12 pounds which would have been totally wrong. I realize that the calculator is only an approximation, but after my observations I have lost a lot of confidence in it.

I do not have pictures of any of the fish. I don't have pictures of any fish I have ever caught for that matter. I have carried cameras with me before, but they don't seem to last. I had someone with me when I caught all but one of the 11.5 lbers and one of the 10+ lbers.

I am aware of three 10+lb. bass that the small lake that I'm fishing has produced this year.  I caught one of the fish.  My pastor caught one, and a friend caught the other.  The lake is only about 15 acres, and is public.  Because of limited access, it is not fished that often.

[AmBASSador]

I've seen this debate many times. Actual weight of a LM Bass will never be accurately measured with a tape. There are variables from the girth to the size of the head. If a bass is "muscle fat" it's girth can be the same as a fish who is "belly fat". The belly fat fish will weigh much less. Also the "length" of the girth varies. Some time ago, I started using a calibrated digital scale and was quickly humbled.

Get a scale, put it in your pocket, and take some pictures. Otherwise your trophy fish will only be a rough estimate.

[Jerkbate]

Some time ago, I started using a calibrated digital scale and was quickly humbled.

I agree a scale is very humbling.  I have weighed many, many fish & all of the 10+ lbers until this year.  Because of this, I'm pretty good at estimating weight.  I'm amused by the inexperienced anglers who claim to have caught a 10 lber and then show me a 5 or 6 lber.

Like I said before the lake is a good walk, and I carry only what I have to.  Therefore, I have not been taking a scale.  I also fish alone 99% of the time.  Therefore, I don't have pictures.

[langs15]

Just a quick question, not trying to hijack this therad...but.....I recently goy my PB at 5 1/2 lbs. and it didn't feel THAT heavy, thinking a 5 lb. bass would put a huge fight too....is 5 lbs. not that big as I am thinking? If you undertand my question please tell if not then ask what I am talking about...please.

[Jerkbate]

Congrats on your PB!

As AmBASSador stated the weight depends alot on the physical make up fish.  I have caught a couple of larger fish 5+ lbs. that did not fight that much.  I've also caught 2 & 3 pounders that tried to take the rod from me.  So, I think that size is somewhat irrelevant to the amount of fight in a fish.  Environment also plays a role in the amount of fight.  A river fish will usually fight harder than a lake fish.  Also, a five pound river fish will usually be smaller than a 5 pound lake fish because the river fish is usually more muscular.  The key word is usually.  There are no set rules.  

As for your question, a five pound bass is a trophy fish, but it isn't a giant.  Take a scale and weigh all of the fish you catch big and small (maybe not the dinks).  This will help you develop an idea of the general body size of a certain weight fish.  By doing this you will also develop a "feel" for the weight of the fish.

[langs15]

I have the feel for the 2-3 1/2 pund bass but nothing bigger....just didn't give a big fight I guess.