Get a scale!

[J Francho]

Nice.  ;D  Here's one I found of ginger boy:

[Pitchinkid]

lol dont get mad dude. its all in fun. Im way more Ginger than that dude. At least put a picture of carrottop up or something.

[J Francho]

And?

Actually Dwight, you and a few others were right, its the same fish.  the original point is, get a scale.  Right now, if you don't have one.  The other point is a photograph is a terrible way to document a big catch, if no other measurements are taken. 

The hat, well, its warm.

[J Francho]

lol dont get mad dude. its all in fun. Im way more Ginger than that dude. At least put a picture of carrottop up or something.

I'm not mad dude, its all good.  ;D

[D4u2s0t]

I tried something like this a while back, and no one wanted to play.  It's funny how the "how big is my fish" threads get 6 pages of posts ranging from 1-9 pounds.  When they know you have the weight, no one wants to guess.  I posted like 5 fish, said I know the weights, trying to prove the same point, and nobody really guessed lol.

[J Francho]

Votes are pretty much split down the middle.  Funny thing is, I posted this on a local board, and most actually took it seriously.  Maybe says more about regional tastes in hats, LMAO.

[D4u2s0t]

I don;'t care what anyone says, you CANNOT accurately tell the size of a fish from pictures.  I can make a 2 pounder look like a 7, and a 7 pounder look like a 2.  If you look at ANY thread where people guess the weight, it's so all over the place it's rediculous.  Everyone should have a scale, I picked one up for like 10 dollars and it's pretty accurate.  Then you don't have to make silly guesses, and call your 3 pounder a 7 pounder.

[Bass_Akwards]

And?

Actually Dwight, you and a few others were right, its the same fish. the original point is, get a scale. Right now, if you don't have one. The other point is a photograph is a terrible way to document a big catch, if no other measurements are taken.

The hat, well, its warm.

Disagree. Photos can be an awesome way of documenting a big catch. You just have to know what youre doing both behind the camera,as well as how to hold the fish correctly.

I personally like to take 2 shots. One with a 50mm lens, which is equal to what the human eye sees, and then I like to take a shot with a shorter lens where I get the fish super close to the lens while still keeping the fish in frame. This way I can get great detail in the bass. Some people call this "Long arming the bass" to make it look bigger than it really is.

I do it so people can really see the fish. The scales, the slime, the gill plates etc. I always say how big the fish is so when you're looking at it in the photo, there's no argument.

Here's an example of a "long arm" shot with a short lens. It makes this 4 or 5 pounder look like a 7 or 8 pounder or whatever, but if I tell people the fish was 5 pounds, and it actually was, what does it matter how huge the fish looks in the photo? What matters is the detail and color of the beautiful bass, and the fact that I know how much it weighed and I'm honest about it.

This bass had the smallest mouth in comparison to it's body that I can remember catching.

[backpain...]

Now THAT is a bass pic! I am of the mindset that the picture is to capture the memory, not to bragg about a fish. I want to be able to look at that picture later on and relive the fun and thrill of the catch. I will never get a fish mounted, so a good photo even if "long armed" and who knows, maybe even seems to get bigger with time... so much the sweeter. It means that the memory is still simmering and getting richer--bolder with time. Maybe one day I will not be able to fish, and all I will have are the memories. Let them simmer! 8-)

[J Francho]

I agree, focal length plays a part, but really its the relationship of lens distance to the subject and subject distance to the background.  Its just easier to amplify perspectve with a shorter focal length.

For me, unless its a picture of a bass on a scale, or ruler board, its a capture moment of the event - far more important than the actual size of the fish.  Smiles, friendship, etc mean more than any big fish.

To show you what I mean:

17mm

19mm

Same basic focal length, yet the second doesn't exhibit the same exaggeration because the distance from lens to fish, and lens person is almost equal.

[J Francho]

A couple more that show its perspective, not really focal length.  Same fish in both again.

27mm

40mm

[Tin]

Nice. ;D Here's one I found of ginger boy:

HOLY @$#@$##. No joke that looks just like Pond Hopper... 

[A-Jay]

For me, unless its a picture of a bass on a scale, or ruler board, its a capture moment of the event

I took the poll as if they were actually two different fish and chose B. So, I would agree

(and always have) that you cannot accurately determine size by photographs. That's why

I am all about a scale and I made my own built in ruler board.

A-Jay

[J Francho]

Nice smallie!

For kayak tournaments, we use these rulers, or "Hawg Troughs."

They work pretty well, once you educate people how to use them:

[A-Jay]

^^^^ Nice LMB !

I used the Hawg Trough concept as a guide to turn the center bench seat of the canoe into the ruler. It works very well, takes ALL the guess-ta-mating out of play and still allows use of the seat if need be.

A-Jay

[fourbizz]

Rats like those are hard to judge. Who cares what the difference between a 2 and 3 pounder looks like... ;D

[J Francho]

Rats like those are hard to judge. Who cares what the difference between a 2 and 3 pounder looks like... ;D

Touche!

[Dwight Hottle]

Well its time for another estimate/guess. What's this one weigh?

[J Francho]

LOL, looks about 3000 manatee cheesburgers.

[MSPbass]

I say it's bass "A" !

jk

[tnbassfisher]

Educate us on how to use that Hawg Trough would you, Franco. 

[bass or bass ?]

I vote for exhibit C: None of the above! LOL

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

Everybody is ragging on the hat. too funny...

[J Francho]

Educate us on how to use that Hawg Trough would you, Franco.

What do you want to know?  Wet it down, put the fish on it, pinch the jaws, spread the tail, and read the length.

***************************************

You'd think I lost a bet with the hat, LMAO....I actually wear it a lot.

[brushhoggin]

i gave my dad the same hat one christmas so he could pull it down around his neck if he wanted to but his brother and everyone else gave him hell about it just like this. hey Franco, if it outperforms "cool" lookin hats, then wear on my brother ;D