Guessing fish weights.... On the other hand...

[Fish Chris]

Okay, so I think it's safe to say that guys who are not used to using a scale, are probably quite often disapointed when they do finally start weighing them. Must be a bad scale, right ? ;-)  LOL

But how many of you have caught a big fish, and "did weight it".... Only to have some goofball say, "Hey, nice fish. What's that about 6 lbs" ? And your like, "Dude, I just weighed it, and it went 9.1 lbs" !

{note: these #'s can be substituted with anything likely for your area}

The point I'm making here, is that while people will often over-guess the weights on their own fish, these same guys will often under-guess the weight on somebody elses.

The only thing I can think of to explain this, is the adrenalin factor (of the guy that caught it) and the "lack of" the adrenalin factor for the bystander, is what makes the difference.

All the more reason I always carry a scale, so when some goofball says, "Hey, nice fish. What's that... about 6 lbs" ? I can say, "Dude, I'm going to guess this fish at 9 lbs.... then I hang it on the scale right in front of the guy and say, "Hey, 9.1 lbs" :-) Not a bad guess there, huh buddy ? ;-)  {thinking to myself.... Anymore questions ? How you like me now ;-)  LOL

Your thoughts ?

Peace,

Fish

[Sam]

good point.

we all like to exaggerate a little on our catches and downplay the other guy's catches.  

[J Francho]

I've done it to myself, actually. I catch a fish, "hmm, nice fish," I think to myself, "probably around four." I weigh it, and its a 6+. WTH!

Then I think I have a monster on, only to weigh it, and its a 3.5, LOL.

They are very hard to tell in that 3-5# range. After 5, the take on a different look, and you usually know that they are a big one. I imagine its the same with Fish Chris's 8-12# fish.

I know I've heard of so many unweighed "10 pounders" here in NY, and it actually ticks me off a little. I've got the #7 LMB and #5 SMB as reported on NYBASS big bass board, and I worked for those fish. Its not an ego thing for me, its about personal accomplishment. A little positive reinforcement for my effort. There's something very different about "big fish."

To have some kid say to me, "not bad, but i caught a ten pounder here last week' bugs me when I'm releasing a 3-5# fish. It scalds me when I ask him what kind of scale he has, and doesn't even have one.

[WRB]

The IGFA today certifies hand held digital scales for a $35 fee, however it can take several weeks turn around time.

Chris that is an unbelievable smallmouth, beautiful fish.

If you look at FC giant smallie it is obvious a heavy body bass; the girth is over to 80% of the length, very unusual for a smallmouth.

I have no idea what the measurement where? maybe 23" to 24" long with a 19 to 20" girth would put that bass in the 8.5 to 9.0 lb ball park.

Fishermen nearly always over exaggerated fish weights, it's human nature. After a lifetime of looking a big bass, you get a good idea of what the bass weighs, but only an accurate scale can verify the actual weight. And only an impartial expert witness can verify the fish didn't swallow something heavy and one reason length and girth measurements are needed for record catches. Nothing but a decent photo is needed for bragging rights.

I don't know if it's jealousy or lack of experience for other fishermen to down play someone catch. Most people that I have experience with are usually awed when they see a big bass for the first time.

WRB

[Mottfia]

let me come cross a 9 lber and have someone call it a 6 and we'll see what i do.   Probably just laugh it off. My word is that if you have a scale Great! If not, still Great! You caught a big fish.

Mottfia

[fishinfiend]

Okay, so I think it's safe to say that guys who are not used to using a scale, are probably quite often disapointed when they do finally start weighing them. Must be a bad scale, right ?

So true :'(

[Uncle Leo]

Yep we lie more then a scale, guess it is best to use one, no matter the disappointment.

[Fish Chris]

Thanks for all of your replies.

One thing I left out, that I have to admit would make a difference, is that when you are holding a fish 18 inches from your own face, of course it's going to look bigger to "you", than it would look to a guy standing 5 or 10 feet away.... or especially in a boat 20 or 30 feet away.

On a couple of occasions, I have actually called guys right over to my boat, telling them, "Don't worry about spooking them.... I already caught the pig I was after" Then when they got right up to me, they were like, "Oh $#%$, that is bigger than I was thinking !

Hey WRB, very good guess on the Smallie. It was 24 1/2" in length, with an 18 1/2" girth, and weighed 8.5 lbs.

Oh hey, about the IGFA certifying scales.... Yes, that's true.... but so does nearly every local "Dept of Weights and Measures" for about the same price, usually within a day or two.

Plus, they give you one of these cool stickers for your scale ;-)

{note: if you need the phone # for your local Dept of Weights and Measures, look for a little sticker on any gas pump the next time you fill up. It will have the # you need on it}

Peace,

Fish

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

How much does that salter run Fish?  Do they come bigger for salt?

[Paul Roberts]

Well I'm no expert on BIG bass. But...from what I have seen, it's tougher to guess weight on bass as they put on girth. Seems most top end N LM all crowd the 21-23in length mark. Girth matters. And most of us just don't see enough slobs to be a good judge.

Beyond that, there does seem to be a competition thing inherent in lots of anglers, something I wish could be surgically removed bc, either side of the fence, it skews reality and good info sharing.

[WRB]

Chris, good tip on the scale cert, will do that next time. The IGFA is a pain in the arsh sometimes. You have big hands and that makes the bass look smaller and hard to judge in a picture, love that smallie, what a pig!

Paul, have a photo of my 12.3 NLMB and 19.3 FLMB mounts next to each other for girth comparison if interested, both are nearly the same length.

Tom

[Paul Roberts]

Thanks so much Tom. But I don't think photos are very useful. Too much potential for distortion. Now...if you want to take me fishing and show me a few DDs -now that would be useful!

The CO state record LM weighted 11-4 -but was only 22.5". I've held two LM that length -they were in fine condition and weighed 6-5 and 7-0. fourbizz has said that that CO fish was trout fed.

[WRB]

22.5" LMB that weighed 11.2 lbs is questionable. The length may have been measured from the closed mouth to were the tail starts for example; the method biologists sometimes measure fish. I measure bass with closed mouth to the center of the fork in the tail for length, eliminates the variance in tail damage some big bass may have. If we add about 2.5" for the tail, then 25" length makes more sense.

A 22.5" bass with 100% girth of 22.5" would weigh about 9.5 lbs +/-.5 lbs. I have never seen a largemouth, even trout feed, that had a girth over 100% of the length.

Tom

[Paul Roberts]

Good point Tom. Never thought about how they measured it, or whether the number was just flat wrong.

[squid]

Since I have been weighing in fish for tournaments now for 5 yrs, I have gotten really close.  And yet, when I catch one, that looks big I still assume mine is bigger....lol