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Do people really measure fish?

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Member: crutch5

Last Visit: 05/24/2013 08:13PM
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Yakdaddy

Guest Paddler

05/12/2011 10:12AM

I'm just curious if anglers really measure the fish caught or if the sizes are estimates? The reason I ask is I see all of these anglers who have caught large fish, and lots of them. I start to wonder if these are estimates and not actual measurements.

The same group of guys, who are experienced anglers, have been going with me to the BW for 8 years now. We don't have fish sizes close to what others talk about here.

We fish 8 to 10 hours a day for a week at a time in early to mid June. We fish shallow for smallies, cast for pike and jig on deeper rock piles for walleyes. We have caught thousands of fish, hundreds for each angler each trip. However, we don't have the size anglers refer to here.

In the literally thousands of fish caught, we have 3 20 inch smallies, two pike of 36 inches and no walleyes over 25 inches.

I do measure to the 1/8 inch as I want a true measurement. I have smallies at 19 7/8... walleyes at 24 7/8... you get the idea.

Do people really measure?

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schweady

05/12/2011 10:25AM

Two of my top go-to local lakes have an 18-26 inch 'put-back' slot for walleye. You bet we measure, the penalty is way too great to risk. In fact, measuring has been a habit for years prior to the slot, which has yielded significant personal data in support for the restriction: Average lengths used to go through a predictable cycle... climb an inch each year for 5-6 years until crashing back to a couple of years of cigars. After only a couple of years with the slot in place, averages are consistently in the 16-18 inch range year after year.

I also appreciate the past decade's significant drop-off of guys yammering on about 'hammering the 2- and 3-pounders,' when they were actually catching 12-15 inchers...

"You can observe a lot by watching." -- Yogi Berra

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bdistel

05/12/2011 10:31AM

I understand your question completely. When I get back from my trip I have people asking how big the "huge" fish was that we caught. Well, previous years it has just been a good guess. This year we have decided to actually measure and weigh all fish. That is, weigh when possible and measure all. This fish was the length of a paddle to the top of the wide bottom. Never weighed and never measured:( If we could find the paddle we could measure it to get a length.

"Fish on...Fish on!" Jeremy Wade

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GSP

05/12/2011 10:33AM

If on shore will pull a tape, in the canoe, the screws on my solo are 7" spacing and in tandem 6.5" spacing.

32"

just over 32.5"

German Shorthair Pointers Rule Serenity is found in your mind, not somewhere you seek.

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schollmeier

05/12/2011 10:33AM

I measure any fish that is larger than average or that intend to harvest. Typically I would say with 1/4" precision, if there is a legal harvest concern I err on the side of a little extra buffer. There are surely fish as large as many claim out there to be caught but I have no doubt there is some exaggeration that goes on.

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yakdaddy

Guest Paddler

05/12/2011 10:42AM

Maybe I should post a picture of a few fish I have caught and measured, and ask for people to tell me how big they are. Then I'll get an idea of how much people exaggerate!

Sorry, just have a feeling some of these sizes are inflated. I am not doubting the big fish are there, or that people have caught them.... but I think some these sizes may be guesses :)

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lean

05/12/2011 10:52AM

I put small paint marks on my fishing rod, for measuring fish. just lay rod across canoe and hold fish up to it,, makes for quick easy measuring.

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bdistel

05/12/2011 10:55AM

That is a great idea. Thank you for that. I will start the rod marking procedure tonight.

"Fish on...Fish on!" Jeremy Wade

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brerud

05/12/2011 11:15AM

All fishermen are liars, except for you and me. And I am starting to wonder about you....
I only measure fish that are worth measuring to me. Those fish that are exceptionally big or the fish that I plan to keep if there is a size restriction in place. I do measure with a ruler to the nearest 1/4 inch.
Cabela's sells a ruler sticker that actually wraps on to the back of your rod. I have one on my favorite BWCA rod so I can accurately measure fish when I want to.
When I am in a boat or ice fishing I always have a bumpboard along to measure fish.

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TFo

05/12/2011 11:19AM

We always measure any fish we intend to brag about. On my first trip, one of the guys caught a 27" walleye. In 2009, I caught a 19" smallie and got beat the next day by another guy in our group who got a 20" smallie.

I've never seen a really large pike. We don't target them, but one of our canoes was towed around a lake for a while after a pike hit a bluegill that was being reeled in. They got just the mangled bluegill in the end.

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brerud

05/12/2011 11:21AM

Also - photos are tough to tell fish length. Some people make fish look bigger than others.
Example - that 32" walleye photo - based on my photo measurements I would say that walleye is about 26". I am not calling him a liar because it could have been 32" for all I know (it is a very nice fish). Just saying that photos are not concrete proof of size, unless there is a ruler laying right by the fish.

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bdistel

05/12/2011 11:27AM

Another great idea. So if you have a ruler taped to your rod...I assume you measure each fish? The photo with the fish next to the ruler is key. There is a disconnect when it comes to remembering which photo went with which measurement. Or you could post a photo and still exaggerate the dims.

"Fish on...Fish on!" Jeremy Wade

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Jackfish

Moderator

05/12/2011 11:43AM

quote lean: "I put small paint marks on my fishing rod, for measuring fish. just lay rod across canoe and hold fish up to it,, makes for quick easy measuring."
I'm sure that works fine, but wouldn't it be easier to put marks on the thwart in front of you (if you're in the stern? I know the bow person wouldn't have that available.)

It's only a spot on the map... until you go there.

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GSP

05/12/2011 12:05PM

German Shorthair Pointers Rule Serenity is found in your mind, not somewhere you seek.

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snakecharmer

05/12/2011 12:22PM

Adhesive backed tape measure (from Cabelas) on the thwart right in front of me. Makes measuring fish fast and easy. It also includes weight conversion for major species.

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after"
~ Henry David Thoreau

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Sloth

05/12/2011 12:25PM

When faced with slot restrictions, I always measure. I'll also measure out of curiosity etc.

I measure anything in the BW that's out of the ordinary.

Surprising how many 20" smallies morph into 18"'ers when the tape comes out :)

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HenryParsons

05/12/2011 12:46PM

We do. Put measuring "stickers" on the inside walls of the bow and stern of our canoe. This year we are renting and will bring at least one tape for each boat. We are selective harvest fishermen and it's nice to be able to confirm the size of a released lunker with witnesses.

"The Green Hornet has caught more fish than you've lied about Gustafson!" -Walter Matthau

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lazypaw

05/12/2011 02:11PM

I rarely measure unless the limits force me too.

"Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story"

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interested

05/12/2011 03:37PM

I bring along a seamsteresses tape. You know the the type that rolls up and doesn't weigh anything. I only measure fish that i want to keep or a fish that is bigger than my last of that species. I don't measure to the 1/8", more like the 1/4". Measurements are very important to my fishing journal which I keep religously. I suggest all serious fishermen do this on their local waters. After reveiwing the last three years of fishing I usually know what to use and where. Hope this helps.

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missmolly

05/12/2011 05:42PM

@ Yakdaddy

I focus on smallmouth. I've caught thousands. A typical day is a hundred. You're right about 20-inch fish being rare. I'll catch two or four 18-inchers each day, but you have to catch about 100 18-inchers to see one 20-incher. I rarely measure pike because I live the big girls in the water. I do measure bigger walleye because I haven't caught enough to differentiate a 23-incher and a 25-incher by sight.

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lean

05/12/2011 05:54PM

quote Jackfish: "quote lean: "I put small paint marks on my fishing rod, for measuring fish. just lay rod across canoe and hold fish up to it,, makes for quick easy measuring."
I'm sure that works fine, but wouldn't it be easier to put marks on the thwart in front of you (if you're in the stern? I know the bow person wouldn't have that available.)"

it would be but i rent.

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Jackfish

Moderator

05/12/2011 05:58PM

quote lean: "quote Jackfish: "quote lean: "I put small paint marks on my fishing rod, for measuring fish. just lay rod across canoe and hold fish up to it,, makes for quick easy measuring."
I'm sure that works fine, but wouldn't it be easier to put marks on the thwart in front of you (if you're in the stern? I know the bow person wouldn't have that available.)"
it would be but i rent."
Oh... duh... sorry. Wasn't thinking.

It's only a spot on the map... until you go there.

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Boarstalker

05/12/2011 06:11PM

I don't go crazy with the measuring thing unless it is an exceptional fish. Everything else is open to fisherman's guestimation. That's half the fun. When a friend tells me about the 14-pound bass he caught and then I see the picture I just smile and tell him what a great fish it was. That's half the fun of fishing anyway. Hilarious to listen to the offshore oil rig workers tell stories of the sizes of fish they catch off the platforms they work on during their downtime; 160 pound cobia, 60 pound snapper, 400 pound yellowfin....all fish that would eclipse current world records. Fishermen embellish and like I said, that's half the fun around the campfire for me. Just me though.

Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children. -- Native American Proverb

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izzy

05/12/2011 06:26PM

What Snakecharmer said.

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lean

05/12/2011 06:55PM

quote Jackfish: "quote lean: "quote Jackfish: "quote lean: "I put small paint marks on my fishing rod, for measuring fish. just lay rod across canoe and hold fish up to it,, makes for quick easy measuring."
I'm sure that works fine, but wouldn't it be easier to put marks on the thwart in front of you (if you're in the stern? I know the bow person wouldn't have that available.)"
it would be but i rent."
Oh... duh... sorry. Wasn't thinking."
lol,, thats ok. starting to wonder if it would be ok to deface rental property.

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Basspro69

05/12/2011 07:56PM

quote Yakdaddy: "I'm just curious if anglers really measure the fish caught or if the sizes are estimates? The reason I ask is I see all of these anglers who have caught large fish, and lots of them. I start to wonder if these are estimates and not actual measurements.

The same group of guys, who are experienced anglers, have been going with me to the BW for 8 years now. We don't have fish sizes close to what others talk about here.

We fish 8 to 10 hours a day for a week at a time in early to mid June. We fish shallow for smallies, cast for pike and jig on deeper rock piles for walleyes. We have caught thousands of fish, hundreds for each angler each trip. However, we don't have the size anglers refer to here.

In the literally thousands of fish caught, we have 3 20 inch smallies, two pike of 36 inches and no walleyes over 25 inches.

I do measure to the 1/8 inch as I want a true measurement. I have smallies at 19 7/8... walleyes at 24 7/8... you get the idea.

Do people really measure?"
I only measure big fish, most of my rods have marks on them starting at about 16 inches and on up. I have to ask you first of all what lakes do you fish because thats the number one thing you should consider when your after trophy fish. The second is time of year, in my experience early june and late sept october is trophy time, and last is time of day, some of my biggest walleyes and smallies have come at night, do you fish at night. p.s. I forgot one really important thing, trophy fish got that way because they are usually more wary than your average fish, being silent increases your odds a thousand percent. The one thing almost all these fish have in common is I was silent when I snuck up on them

" I want to know Gods thoughts , The rest are details " Albert Einstein.

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gsfisher13

05/12/2011 08:23PM

Measure, a small 10' tape measure. Nice and small and lightweight. If I ever catch a fish bigger than that 10' I'll make sure to get a picture with my arms fully extended to make it look bigger :)

Not all those who wander are lost - J.R.R.Tolkien

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Basspro69

05/12/2011 10:01PM

quote gsfisher13: "Measure, a small 10' tape measure. Nice and small and lightweight. If I ever catch a fish bigger than that 10' I'll make sure to get a picture with my arms fully extended to make it look bigger :)"
LMAO

" I want to know Gods thoughts , The rest are details " Albert Einstein.

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mc2mens

05/12/2011 10:07PM

quote GSP: "If on shore will pull a tape, in the canoe, the screws on my solo are 7" spacing and in tandem 6.5" spacing.
32"

just over 32.5""

Nice lookin walleyes Brian!

"Big fish eat little fish."

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timatkn

05/12/2011 10:10PM

Yeah I measure a lot mostly because a lot of lakes I fish require it and if you are off at all it will cost ya $250.

I have a tape mounted on my thwart right in front of me that goes to 32" and another retractable one for bigger fish.

T

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Jackfish

Moderator

05/12/2011 10:29PM

Every angler is a liar except GSP and me... and sometimes I wonder about GSP. :-)

It's only a spot on the map... until you go there.

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timatkn

05/12/2011 10:59PM

quote brerud: "Also - photos are tough to tell fish length. Some people make fish look bigger than others.
Example - that 32" walleye photo - based on my photo measurements I would say that walleye is about 26". I am not calling him a liar because it could have been 32" for all I know (it is a very nice fish). Just saying that photos are not concrete proof of size, unless there is a ruler laying right by the fish.
"

Umm yeah photos are tough to tell---it goes both ways You can make a fish look smaller or bigger and lighting makes a difference too. My dad has a knack for making big fish look small for example----but back to you ruler with a picture----I don't think most fisher people take a pic with the ruler because they don't give a damn if some guy/gal on the internet believes them or not. It is sort of hard to paddle a canoe, hold a flopping fish up to the ruler on the thwart and snap a photo with the other hand---so I think that is why you don't see more "ruler " pics. Moat photos are taken by the other person in the bow or stern about 10-15' away so just isn't practical.

T

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timatkn

05/12/2011 11:13PM

I'll agree most people tend to up size their fish if they don't measure, but not always. In 2002 we fished Mille Lacs and the slot was 16-18" otherwise everything went immediately back in the water. We caught so many 27-28 inchers (couldn't get anything bigger) that when we got a 22 or 21 incher we swore it was a slot fish until we measured.

Fast forward 7 years and one evening we fished Kab and were catching 10-11 inch walleyes one after another---when you finally caught a 14-15 incher it looked liked a 17-19 incher.

T

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QueticoMike

05/13/2011 08:20AM

I measure big fish or to see if the fish are legal to keep.

Here is a 32 inch walleye and 45 inch pike caught out of Basswood.

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timatkn

05/13/2011 05:10PM

quote QueticoMike: "I measure big fish or to see if the fish are legal to keep.

Here is a 32 inch walleye and 45 inch pike caught out of Basswood.

"

I am turning green with envy. Very nice.

T

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billsta

05/13/2011 07:35PM

Interesting topic. I'm sure everyone knows, but since it hasn't been mentioned yet, measurements should be taken with the tail pinched rather than fanned. That could easily add a half inch or more.

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mc2mens

05/13/2011 08:14PM

"Big fish eat little fish."

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mc2mens

05/13/2011 08:16PM

"Big fish eat little fish."

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Boarstalker

05/13/2011 10:15PM

quote Basspro69: "quote Yakdaddy: "I'm just curious if anglers really measure the fish caught or if the sizes are estimates? The reason I ask is I see all of these anglers who have caught large fish, and lots of them. I start to wonder if these are estimates and not actual measurements.

The same group of guys, who are experienced anglers, have been going with me to the BW for 8 years now. We don't have fish sizes close to what others talk about here.

We fish 8 to 10 hours a day for a week at a time in early to mid June. We fish shallow for smallies, cast for pike and jig on deeper rock piles for walleyes. We have caught thousands of fish, hundreds for each angler each trip. However, we don't have the size anglers refer to here.

In the literally thousands of fish caught, we have 3 20 inch smallies, two pike of 36 inches and no walleyes over 25 inches.

I do measure to the 1/8 inch as I want a true measurement. I have smallies at 19 7/8... walleyes at 24 7/8... you get the idea.

Do people really measure?"
I only measure big fish, most of my rods have marks on them starting at about 16 inches and on up. I have to ask you first of all what lakes do you fish because thats the number one thing you should consider when your after trophy fish. The second is time of year, in my experience early june and late sept october is trophy time, and last is time of day, some of my biggest walleyes and smallies have come at night, do you fish at night. p.s. I forgot one really important thing, trophy fish got that way because they are usually more wary than your average fish, being silent increases your odds a thousand percent. The one thing almost all these fish have in common is I was silent when I snuck up on them

"

That's one of the most impressive brook trout I've ever seen...how long was that fish? The colorations are magnificent. Congratulations by the way. Would love to hear how big they all were but that huge brookie really stands out.

Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children. -- Native American Proverb

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Basspro69

05/13/2011 11:10PM

Thanks, The Brookie was a little over 23 inches and a little over 6 pounds.

" I want to know Gods thoughts , The rest are details " Albert Einstein.

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Amok

05/14/2011 02:39AM

I've got a 36" beige sticker that I stuck to the bottom of my solo canoe. I don't remember if it was a freebie at the MN State Fair DNR area, or whether I bought it somewhere (like Fleet Farm). It also has a 'weight by length' chart on it for various types of gamefish. My uncle uses a plastic 'scoop' type thing that works pretty slick too, but it's not as long.

Measuring is a necessity when fishing anywhere with a slot limit.

Trust, but verify. The Lord will provide !!!!

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bruleman

05/14/2011 12:11PM

Walleyes should be weighed, not measured. Someone once told me that they had caught a 24 inch eye. I asked about the girth of that fish and learned that it was thin. Subsequently, I asked a veteran northwoods fisherman, what a walleye of that length would weigh. He advised that it could go anywhere, from 3 to 8 lbs, quite a disperity. Length of fish for smallmouth would be more accurate, but not for pike, either.

How fish are you deepin!

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Jeriatric

05/14/2011 03:58PM

quote GSP: "quote brerud: "Also - photos are tough to tell fish length. Some people make fish look bigger than others.
Example - that 32" walleye photo - based on my photo measurements I would say that walleye is about 26". I am not calling him a liar because it could have been 32" for all I know (it is a very nice fish). Just saying that photos are not concrete proof of size, unless there is a ruler laying right by the fish."
Yeah, you are calling me a liar and apparently you can not just state that. The 32" was measured on the shore. Take note of a couple things, 6' 220 lbs, not held at arm length, notice how far apart my hands are they cover about 12" of fish. I have caught plenty of 26" fish and don't post pics. "
I don't how brerud did his photo measurements but I did my own before reading that the fish had been measured on shore. I came up with EXACTLY 32 inches on my only attempt. I estimated that GSP's hand width across the knuckles would not differ too much from mine, which is 4 inches. That hand width measured one and one-quarter inch on my computer screen. The fish length measured ten inches on my screen. One and one-quarter inch is to 4 inches as ten inches is to X. X equals 32 inches.

I am glad this issue came up because it confirms the length of a trout, where I didn't have easy access to a tape, that I caught and where I had to rely on the photo. I had my hand under the fish, supporting it, in the same way that GSP does in the above picture.
I am not advocating using pictures in place of a tape. I am saying that, if necessary, you can get darn close to the actual size in the absence of a tape. GSP's supporting hand is the same distance from the camera lens as is the fish. There is no wide-angle effect in relation to the hand/fish.

BTW, extraordinary walleye from my perspective, GSP. I haven't come close to that.

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Basspro69

05/14/2011 08:42PM

quote GSP: "If on shore will pull a tape, in the canoe, the screws on my solo are 7" spacing and in tandem 6.5" spacing.
32"

just over 32.5"" Incredible fish, its almost like you had help from above to get two of those in the same week, awesome walleyes .

" I want to know Gods thoughts , The rest are details " Albert Einstein.

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Basspro69

05/14/2011 08:43PM

quote QueticoMike: "I measure big fish or to see if the fish are legal to keep.

Here is a 32 inch walleye and 45 inch pike caught out of Basswood.

" Ive seen these pictures before, but they dont lose their impact WOW

" I want to know Gods thoughts , The rest are details " Albert Einstein.

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Amok

05/14/2011 08:52PM

quote bruleman: "Walleyes should be weighed, not measured. Someone once told me that they had caught a 24 inch eye. I asked about the girth of that fish and learned that it was thin. Subsequently, I asked a veteran northwoods fisherman, what a walleye of that length would weigh. He advised that it could go anywhere, from 3 to 8 lbs, quite a disperity. Length of fish for smallmouth would be more accurate, but not for pike, either. "

I agree. If one needs an exact weight. I don't. I'm OK with the guesstimate the length provides based off of the type of fish I have caught. Whenever I catch a hog, I'll be weighing it also :)

Trust, but verify. The Lord will provide !!!!

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Yellowbird

05/15/2011 06:36AM

I like to measure the length of any fish that is above average. For this I bring a yard stick which is quiet handy to get on a fish.
-YB

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Frenchy

05/15/2011 07:02AM

I don't personally measure any of my fish. I have a brother-in-law that measures and records every fish he catches. He also records the lure and weather and water conditions of his catch. He hopes to hand this info down to his son some day so he can use the info to create a fishing guide for himself.
He is a big fisherman year round, and has many notebooks full of info.
"To Each His Own."

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GSP

05/15/2011 10:39AM

quote Basspro69: "quote GSP: "If on shore will pull a tape, in the canoe, the screws on my solo are 7" spacing and in tandem 6.5" spacing.
32"

just over 32.5"" Incredible fish, its almost like you had help from above to get two of those in the same week, awesome walleyes ."

Divine intervention probably, my dad had passed away the week before and I believe he had a hand in the fishing. I also had 31", 30", 29" and 27". Two smaller one over 20" we threw back and thought we would catch some eaters but never did. explain that.

German Shorthair Pointers Rule Serenity is found in your mind, not somewhere you seek.

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Jeriatric

05/15/2011 12:08PM

quote Amok: "quote bruleman: "Walleyes should be weighed, not measured. Someone once told me that they had caught a 24 inch eye. I asked about the girth of that fish and learned that it was thin. Subsequently, I asked a veteran northwoods fisherman, what a walleye of that length would weigh. He advised that it could go anywhere, from 3 to 8 lbs, quite a disperity. Length of fish for smallmouth would be more accurate, but not for pike, either. "

I agree. If one needs an exact weight. I don't. I'm OK with the guesstimate the length provides based off of the type of fish I have caught. Whenever I catch a hog, I'll be weighing it also :)"
I never carry a scale but am thinking that if I did I would only weigh a fish I was planning to keep. It is not a good practice for catch and release.

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brerud

05/17/2011 11:57AM

GSP - I was being sincere in my statement that I wsan't calling you a liar. I wasn't there and those are obviously very big fish. The point I was trying to make (but obviously didn't) is that anglers often look at photos of fish and try to judge the length. I was simply trying to show that photos aren't a very good measurement tool. Jeriatric helped my statement by saying that he measured the photos and came up with 32" after I came up with 26". We both did it basically the same way, by measuring your knuckles and making some assumptions.

I am sorry that I used your photos as an example - I should have used one of my own as an example instead. Lesson learned.

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520eek

05/17/2011 12:14PM

quote mc2mens: " " LOL

I have a lot on my mind....but not much in my mind!

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Yakdaddy

Guest Paddler

05/17/2011 01:37PM

You can never tell how big a fish is by the picture.

I caught a fish that was so big the picture weighed 5 pounds!

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analyzer

05/17/2011 04:49PM

I measure the bigger fish, or anytime I'm on a slot lake. You have to keep in mind, folks aren't going to get on here and brag about average or poor catches as much as they're going to get on here and talk about their big ones. So you're getting a disproportionate number of big fish stories.

I understand your position, but consider this: I've fished the same lake in the boundary waters for 35 years. I have at least 1100 hours on that lake. It's gone through cycles over the years, where we caught nothing but bass, many of them large, then a decade later, we were catching almost all walleyes primarily between 2 and 5lbs, and then over time, they grew smaller, and the bass came back. Now on a recent trip we caught a couple dozen hammer handle pike, and we almost never catch pike on that lake, so I guess a decade of pike dominance is coming next. But in those 35 years, and 1100 hours, my biggest fish were as follows: 25 inch Walleye, about a 4 1/2 lb bass (back in the early 80's people weighed them more than they measured them), and a 38 inch Pike. My sister and her boyfriend, came up one year with my wife and I. My sister who had only fished the lake once as a young teenager, had her line in the water 15 minutes and she catches a 27 1/2 inch Walleye, that was around 7 1/2 lbs. I put in 1100 hours, can't get one over 25 inches, and she puts in 15 minutes and catches a 27 1/2. Then a couple years ago, my wife, who's had probably about 200 hours on the water pulled in a 22 1/2 inch smallie (a graphite replica is on the wall). I never weighed it, but it appeared to be between 6-6 1/2 lbs. We've been going primarily in July the last couple decades, but with last years early warm up, we decided to go the first week of June. My son caught a 31 inch walleye, and his girlfriend caught a 26 1/2 inch walleye. We put them next to the tape measure in the boat and released them. yes, that was the first 15 minutes she fished on the lake as well. Go figure.

Yes, I've caught 1000's of fish on that lake, with about the same experience as you, but that doesn't mean others aren't catching bigger fish. You're just not in the right spot at the right time. I actually thought our lake had a diminishing population of walleyes, but apparently we just need to go in early June, or fish at night.

sorry about the sideways pictures.

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analyzer

05/17/2011 05:13PM

Incidentally, my son's walleye did get released. We just put it on a stringer so we could get it in the water while we dug out the tape measure, and got the camera out. I didn't want the big girl dying on us. Although, I've heard from different folks, that a long hard fight is tough on a big female like that, and often they don't survive, but she swam off well enough.

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Basspro69

05/17/2011 09:30PM

quote Yakdaddy: "You can never tell how big a fish is by the picture.

I caught a fish that was so big the picture weighed 5 pounds!" That is hilarious .

" I want to know Gods thoughts , The rest are details " Albert Einstein.

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canoe212

05/18/2011 08:47AM

The rivets on my Alumacraft Quetico are 1.5 inches apart. I do also bring a tape measure in case I catch a trophy that I will want a replica of.

If you can earn it, why did He die?

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Canoe Dude

05/18/2011 09:12AM

I use one of those stickers and put it in front of the stern seat on the floor of the canoe. Works great for measuring your fish. As for slime on the boat... I sorta like that smell lol. Reminds me I have been catchin fish :)

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Yakdaddy

Guest Paddler

05/18/2011 02:19PM

I like the mention about lakes changing and producing different sizes and types of fish. I have noticed that some but even more so now that you brought it to my attention.

A few years ago we caught big smallies, many over 18 inches. Then the smallies went smaller and we caught a bunch walleyes. One year we caught a mess of smallies on worms, the next year not many at all.

Great information on the change of fishing in lakes, thank you!

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Jeriatric

05/19/2011 01:36PM

quote brerud: "GSP - I was being sincere in my statement that I wsan't calling you a liar. I wasn't there and those are obviously very big fish. The point I was trying to make (but obviously didn't) is that anglers often look at photos of fish and try to judge the length. I was simply trying to show that photos aren't a very good measurement tool. Jeriatric helped my statement by saying that he measured the photos and came up with 32" after I came up with 26". We both did it basically the same way, by measuring your knuckles and making some assumptions.

I am sorry that I used your photos as an example - I should have used one of my own as an example instead. Lesson learned."
Obviously brerud, my hand is the same width as GSP's (a coincidence) and being so it confirmed the size of a fish I had previously caught and had been forced to go by the picture, using the measured width of my hand for calculating its length. Obviously, your hand is not the same size as GSP's and you were not closely reading what I posted earlier. My statement helped yours not at all.

You seem to be saying that you can't determine the size of a fish, even having an object of known size in contact with its skin. How about a 6-inch scale under the fingers. Could you tell the length of a fish then? I could do it well enough to satisfy my curiosity, even if you couldn't.

There are a few situations where one needs precise measurements taken from a still (dead?) fish. A tournament or record fish come to mind, For my purposes however, measuring (estimating) the length of a flopping fish with a tape or using the above method works just fine as I only keep one fish for dinner and it is usually not the largest fish of the day.

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Basspro69

05/19/2011 04:08PM

quote analyzer: "I measure the bigger fish, or anytime I'm on a slot lake. You have to keep in mind, folks aren't going to get on here and brag about average or poor catches as much as they're going to get on here and talk about their big ones. So you're getting a disproportionate number of big fish stories.

I understand your position, but consider this: I've fished the same lake in the boundary waters for 35 years. I have at least 1100 hours on that lake. It's gone through cycles over the years, where we caught nothing but bass, many of them large, then a decade later, we were catching almost all walleyes primarily between 2 and 5lbs, and then over time, they grew smaller, and the bass came back. Now on a recent trip we caught a couple dozen hammer handle pike, and we almost never catch pike on that lake, so I guess a decade of pike dominance is coming next. But in those 35 years, and 1100 hours, my biggest fish were as follows: 25 inch Walleye, about a 4 1/2 lb bass (back in the early 80's people weighed them more than they measured them), and a 38 inch Pike. My sister and her boyfriend, came up one year with my wife and I. My sister who had only fished the lake once as a young teenager, had her line in the water 15 minutes and she catches a 27 1/2 inch Walleye, that was around 7 1/2 lbs. I put in 1100 hours, can't get one over 25 inches, and she puts in 15 minutes and catches a 27 1/2. Then a couple years ago, my wife, who's had probably about 200 hours on the water pulled in a 22 1/2 inch smallie (a graphite replica is on the wall). I never weighed it, but it appeared to be between 6-6 1/2 lbs. We've been going primarily in July the last couple decades, but with last years early warm up, we decided to go the first week of June. My son caught a 31 inch walleye, and his girlfriend caught a 26 1/2 inch walleye. We put them next to the tape measure in the boat and released them. yes, that was the first 15 minutes she fished on the lake as well. Go figure.

Yes, I've caught 1000's of fish on that lake, with about the same experience as you, but that doesn't mean others aren't catching bigger fish. You're just not in the right spot at the right time. I actually thought our lake had a diminishing population of walleyes, but apparently we just need to go in early June, or fish at night.

sorry about the sideways pictures." Very nice fish. This post is a perfect example of how important time of year is to catching bigger fish, sure you can catch a trophy at any time of the year just about but theres times that increase your odds greatly of pulling in a wallhanger .

" I want to know Gods thoughts , The rest are details " Albert Einstein.

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schollmeier

05/19/2011 04:32PM

Oh big fish thread... I gotta post my one of my new personal record LM Bass catches from last September. Anybody have a guess on size? I didn't have a tape measure but I'd guess at least 40...

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Jeriatric

05/19/2011 05:27PM

quote schollmeier: "Oh big fish thread... I gotta post my one of my new personal record LM Bass catches from last September. Anybody have a guess on size? I didn't have a tape measure but I'd guess at least 40...

"
I remember that as a kid many contests included "consolation prizes" for the worst performance. You may have a winner there.

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Jeriatric

05/19/2011 05:32PM

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Amok

05/19/2011 11:09PM

40 what, millimeters? I don't think it's even that big. I'd guess 25...

Trust, but verify. The Lord will provide !!!!

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Yakdaddy

Guest Paddler

05/20/2011 08:35AM

Great fish, hard to catch one like that. Anyone can catch a two pound bass.

Although, catching a fish like that may demote you to using a Snoppy pole that lights up.

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schollmeier

05/20/2011 12:27PM

Amok - I cropped out my fingers (just out frame), in the original you can use those for scale - so this image is tricky. It was in the 40mm ballpark, possibly as "big" as 45mm.

Yakdady - it helps if you use 1.5lb test tippet and a #24 hook on a 2wt rod. Caught him mixed in with a few Sand Shiners and some smaller Creek Chubs

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analyzer

05/27/2011 11:48AM

Time of year was mentioned, but I think it's probably worth while to mention barometric pressure as well. I think anyone who's fished quite a bit, can step outside, and instantly have a pretty good idea of whether the fish will be biting or not. I'll be sitting there umping softball, and it's one of those thick muggy evenings, and I just know the fish are jumping in the boat.

But I've never paid much attention to looking at the actual barometric pressure, until last year when we had some unusually good success with larger walleyes on our B-dub trip. So when I got home, I looked around for a weather site that would give me some historical data on barometric pressure. There was a direct correlation between our fishing success and barometric pressure.

I kick myself now for not writing it down. I thought I'd remember but I can't say this is accurate. As I recall when we had good fishing Friday and Saturday the BP was falling. Each time the bite shut off, it correlated perfectly with the BP switching back to a rising one. We had ok fishing when it was flat as well. The last 2 days of our trip the BP was on a steady rise, and we really didn't do very well.

Now, the first 2 days, it was cloudy, and rainy, and the last couple days it was clear, and it's a shallow lake, so I'm sure that comes in to play as well. But I thought it was interesting.

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Basspro69

05/27/2011 02:48PM

quote analyzer: "Time of year was mentioned, but I think it's probably worth while to mention barometric pressure as well. I think anyone who's fished quite a bit, can step outside, and instantly have a pretty good idea of whether the fish will be biting or not. I'll be sitting there umping softball, and it's one of those thick muggy evenings, and I just know the fish are jumping in the boat.

But I've never paid much attention to looking at the actual barometric pressure, until last year when we had some unusually good success with larger walleyes on our B-dub trip. So when I got home, I looked around for a weather site that would give me some historical data on barometric pressure. There was a direct correlation between our fishing success and barometric pressure.

I kick myself now for not writing it down. I thought I'd remember but I can't say this is accurate. As I recall when we had good fishing Friday and Saturday the BP was falling. Each time the bite shut off, it correlated perfectly with the BP switching back to a rising one. We had ok fishing when it was flat as well. The last 2 days of our trip the BP was on a steady rise, and we really didn't do very well.

Now, the first 2 days, it was cloudy, and rainy, and the last couple days it was clear, and it's a shallow lake, so I'm sure that comes in to play as well. But I thought it was interesting." Low pressure means a storm or some kind of weather is coming and the fish know it, and if youve ever been out on the water preceding a storm the fishing can be incredible .

" I want to know Gods thoughts , The rest are details " Albert Einstein.

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Amok

05/27/2011 03:15PM

Fish ALWAYS were nuts when I was a child right before a rain. My parents always used to yell at me, because they'd normally bite for at least 5 minute after the rain started. I'd race up the hill back to Gpa/Gma's house as soon as I saw lightning.

Trust, but verify. The Lord will provide !!!!

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Wabler

07/12/2011 08:58AM

This will be my 20th year of heading up to BWCA – I believe I have lengths, weights,lure used, and which lake - for at least the top 5, most years the top 10 fish we caught each year.

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