Measure or Weigh? 2024
gimruis reply :
When some people post on here about fishing reports they often are very vague about the quantity and size of the fish they catch (as anglers tend to be). Some people tell me about their day on the water the same way in person. I'll read "got a 3.6 and a couple 2 pounders" or "caught my personal best a 5.6 pounder" just as examples. Do you guys weigh these fish out when you catch them or are you just guessing? Rarely do I weight the fish I catch. I used to do a lot of walleye fishing and there was always a restricted harvest slot for keeping them and it was always governed by length, not weight, so I am accustomed to measuring the fish I catch, not weighing them (unless I catch a very fat one). Obviously, in a tournament there is a minimum but the standings are done by weight. So, when you catch a bass, do you normally weigh it or measure it?
punch reply :
Weight! Bass fisherman should always talk in terms of weight, IMHO. As bass fisherman in Minnesota we are in the minority due to all the Walleye anglers, they go only by length. When they catch a bass they NEVER weigh it (most of them don't carry a scale) It's funny when you casually talk fishing at the dock with someone in Minnesota you can immediately tell if they are a "Walleye guy" or a bass guy simply by how they describe their catches.
S. Sass reply :
I'll only weight if it's a large fish. And unless I am looking to put in my live well it doesn't get measured unless again it's a larger fish.
soflabasser reply :
I weigh and tape measure(length and girth) all bass that I suspect to be 8 pounds or bigger and rarely bother weighing bass that are clearly smaller than 8 pounds.The reason I don't weigh smaller bass anymore is that 4-7 pounders are common down here ,but a 8 pound or bigger bass is not and they deserve proper documentation in South Florida.
WRB reply :
Bass tournaments are determined by total weight, the measuring done during contests are minimum length for that event.
Recreational bass anglers tend to mimic the pros they watch or follow, weekend club anglers are fishing club tournaments so weight is the benchmark.
Catch & release anglers often measure the length with mouth closed and the girth, some will also weigh the bass if they have a scale. When you see weight in digital number the scale was digital. All anglers are notorious for stretching the truth, in other words they are liars except you and me.
Tom
Darren. reply :
I do both. I like to measure and weigh when the bass
is "significant" to me, usually 3# and over by guess.
I'll weigh-only if it is, by guess, under that amount, if
I think it is worth weighing...
Scott F reply :
I never weigh bass. Most of those who are in my smallmouth club don't fish tournaments and everybody does length measurements. I do know a few who fish kayak tournaments and they all compete using length only.
Torn Thumb reply :
Weigh. I've debated carrying a tape but I'm not keeping any so I don't see a point. My weights are digital as I have a Chinese made quarrow grip scale. Looking to upgrade at some point. I weigh anything I believe to be above a pound. I find it fun so I do it.
Choporoz reply :
Weight if I'm in a boat. Length if I'm in my kayak
S. Sass reply :
On 9/13/2016 at 10:36 AM, Choporoz said:Weight if I'm in a boat. Length if I'm in my kayak
Just curious why in that order?
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
Both
Molay1292 reply :
A little of both, all of the Master Angler Awards in KS are based on length so I will measure a fish that I think may qualify. I also like to weigh LMB that I catch that may be close 5 lbs and SMB that I believe will go 3 lbs. Both these sizes of fish are good catches in the lakes I fish.
Choporoz reply :
On 9/13/2016 at 10:47 AM, S. Sass said:Just curious why in that order?
I always carry a scale in the boat. But everyone I kayak with always measures on bump board. I assume that's because kayak tournaments go by length. Pics on a board in lap clearly demonstrate size, too....more easily than hanging on a scale, which can be challenging in a yak
Bluebasser86 reply :
I do both, especially on larger fish when I'll take the girth in addition to the weight and length.
Bankbeater reply :
I weigh the bass.
Goose52 reply :
I measure for length every bass I catch; I weigh all bass 14" or over - that data populates a spread sheet. All my data is periodically transmitted to the lakes consultant that manages our water. He uses that data, along with the catch data from the local bass club, as part of his overall assessment of the health of the fishery.
I am also involved in a LMB tagging program. If I am on one of my tagging lakes, I measure AND weigh every tagged bass that I catch (10" and up).
Rick Howard reply :
I like to measure and weigh the fish I feel are significant. Other than that I guess. It's out of curiosity really. I like to guess the weight then weigh them to challenge my perceptions. Then I take a quick measurement.
doyle8218 reply :
Neither.
00 mod reply :
Weight is king! I have caught bass 7 to almost 11 lbs that are within 1.5'' of each other in length! That being said, I only weigh fish that I believe to be over 5lbs, and only sometimes do I take a length measurement(mostly when fishing alone). I do however, weight and measure length and girth of all PB status bass!
Jeff
senile1 reply :
I only weigh fish that are bigger for my area. Typically, that would be a fish in the 4 to 5 lb range or higher. Below is a good example of why weighing your fish is so important. This fish was 23.5 inches long and was caught in an Arkansas lake this summer where double digits have been caught. All the other fish I caught there were healthy so I suspect it was an old bass and was on its last legs. Check out the size of the mouth in opposition to the body. This bass only weighed 4 lbs 10 oz. At some point in its life, I suspect it was huge. If I reported that I caught a 23.5 inch bass most people would be thinking that I caught a fish that was at least 7 or 8 lbs. Au contraire, my friends.
J Francho reply :
So, my opinion is that for tournaments, we should use displacement. That will ALWAYS tell what fish is bigger. We don't really have that tech yet, so for now, mass will have to work. I wish they'd start measuring weight in tournaments in a tank. It's pretty simple, Newton's laws apply, even if they're underwater, just zero out the tank before adding the fish. Mass is mass (meaning weight) and the weight will show, and they fish won't be flopping around in a basket, and you won't have the issue of extra water being weighed as well. They do this in many college level tournaments.
That said, I do a few online tournaments, through TourneyX. They all use length. I have a bump board for this. If it's a beast, I'll weigh it too. The thing to keep in mind, is be prepared. In my boat, I unhook the fish, put a cull tag on it, which prevents unnecessary handling when getting the fish out of the livewell. Then I prepare my measuring device, and camera. get the fish, weigh it, snap a pic, and return it to the water. In the kayak, the process is similar, except I use a cull tag attached to a retractable tether made by T-Reigns. The fish is on the tether, and in the water near the boat.
I suppose others would be interested in girth measurements, along with length and weight, but I'm not interested enough to do it.
The point is, I do not have the fish out of the water for more than 30-45 seconds. You keep your fish out of the water for more than a minute, you might as well release it into hot oil. Out of the water time is a bigger killer than any livewell, handling, "breading the fish" in the dirt on shore, or even prolonged playing the fish out. Remember, the second that fish is out of the water, the clock is ticking. Try this, run a 100 yard dash, then hold your breath for a minute or more. Tell me how you feel after... 
Ratherbfishing reply :
I generally neither measure or weigh. I just hold it up, proclaim it a "nice fish" and let it go. OCCASIONALLY, I will hold my rod against it, make a mental note of where, on the rod, the fishes mouth stops, and then measure that distance later. But this is rare because I don't catch that many giants.
the reel ess reply :
I weigh them, but only the big ones. It's not as easy as measuring a bass but it's sort of the standard way to quantify your trophy. I'm looking for one above 6.9 lbs to be my personal best so I have to keep a scale in the kayak.
I saw on Bill Dance recently a way to estimate weight that he says is more accurate than the length and girth.
L x L x L/1600 if you only have a ruler. Therefore, Choporoz' bass in his pic weighs 5.79 lbs. See this chart http://www.csap.com/Bass Weight Conversion Chart.pdf
I love the way guys are fishing and they'll mentally weigh a bass that was just following their bait and didn't even bite. Almost every time I ever guessed the weight of a bass I caught, I was off. I'm a little better at guessing other peoples' bass's weight. LOL.
Choporoz reply :
On 9/13/2016 at 10:11 PM, the reel ess said:
I saw on Bill Dance recently a way to estimate weight that he says is more accurate than the length and girth.
L x L x L/1600 if you only have a ruler. Therefore, Choporoz' bass in his pic weighs 5.79 lbs.
I dunno....I'd be really surprised if that one was more than 5....but I like your conversion table!
Hog Basser reply :
I keep track of my pond's health when I fish there, so I weigh and measure everything and update it in my log. If on public waters, I only weigh/measure the large ones. It is fun keeping the detailed log and referring back to it for conditions, lures used, and judging the overall health of the fishery.
J Francho reply :
Converting physical dimensions to mass is rarely accurate. Doesn't hold any water with me. You catch a fish up here over 20", and I'm like, "Yeah! Nice fish!"
HeavyDluxe reply :
Usually, neither... If I think a fish is somehow exceptional, I'll measure or weigh depending on what's around. I do have a bump board I keep on my kayak. As has been mentioned, most kayak tournaments are catch-measure-photo-release, so I went that route. Also, our state's angling citations are measure/photo, too...
If I'm with a friend who has a scale and think I have something exceptional, I'll weigh it.
In the end, I'm not competing against anyone except myself... and I'm more concerned with figuring the fish out and catching than I am with weight at this point.
Turtle135 reply :
I will measure good bass on the hawg trough and take a photo. I own a scale but I just never seem to bring it with me.
A-Jay reply :
I weigh most smallies that I think may be over the 4lb mark and LMB over 5 lbs - which is a decent fish north of the 45th parallel.
I also get a length if it seems like an overly long fish. A clean, safe & healthy release is important to me.
This is easier to manage in a larger vessel especially with a live well.
I like to get the weight & length and also guess before putting the fish on the scale - just to see how much my optimistic eyes are clouding reasonable judgement.
A-Jay
J Francho reply :
On 9/13/2016 at 11:14 PM, A-Jay said:I like to get the weight & length and also guess before putting the fish on the scale - just to see how much my optimistic eyes are clouding reasonable judgement.
That's cute, A-Jay. I'm 100% accurate judging the ones that get away.
Fiske reply :
On 9/13/2016 at 8:37 AM, punch said:Weight! Bass fisherman should always talk in terms of weight, IMHO. As bass fisherman in Minnesota we are in the minority due to all the Walleye anglers, they go only by length. When they catch a bass they NEVER weigh it (most of them don't carry a scale) It's funny when you casually talk fishing at the dock with someone in Minnesota you can immediately tell if they are a "Walleye guy" or a bass guy simply by how they describe their catches.
Heeeyyy punch,,,
Didn't know the walleye guys meaure their fish vs weighting.
Anyway, in the last few years I've measured if I think a fish will go 15" or better.
I have a scale {bump board) screwed to the top of a cooler so I simply have to turn around, stoop a bit,
measure, and release.
If I think the fish will go 17" or better,,, I'll often take a quick cell phone shot
for my fishing log app before measuring.
I only weigh if the bass is 20" or better just in case it might come in at 5 lbs,,,,
the holy grail of the MN bass fisherman,,,at least in my neck of the woods.
So measuring vs wighting?
I guess either is fine,,,it all depends on how you generally handle the fish that counts.
Team9nine reply :
I only weigh a bass if it looks like a legitimate 4lb. plus bass, otherwise, just eyeball it. Will occasionally measure a fish or two out of curiosity as to whether it exceeds legal length limit if it looks close. Large majority go back quickly to where they came from 
-T9
WRB reply :
Weight is the simplest measure to make and accurate as the scale being used. Scale weight can be altered and heavy objects can increase weight, nothing is fool proof.
Length and girth measurement vary depending on several factors like mouth open, mouth closed, flat surface cupped surface, end tail, center of tail V, etc. The bass on the lap board for example has mouth open to hold the bass in place, what is the fish length?
Displacement doesn't factor in air/gas, fats etc. Bass have big air bladders that vary in size in the same fish depending on the depth it was caught and brought to the surface.
LMB body mass vs length varies greatly depending on species northern vs Florida, available prey source, etc, etc. Walleyes don't vary greatly in body mass vs length. Length and girth measurements helps to average or estimate the body mass. Several girth points would be needed for a more accurate calculated along with a complex formula. I came up with a modified IGFA formula* for LMB based on weights of a few hundred bass that didn't come close using the IGFA formula. Length X length X girth divided by 1200 is fairly accurate within about 10% based on closed mouth length end of tail, girth around the widest area with dorsal fin down.
Tom
* IGFA formula L X G X G/800 = weight in pounds.
A-Jay reply :
On 9/13/2016 at 11:33 PM, J Francho said:That's cute, A-Jay. I'm 100% cynical.
There ya go.
A-Jay
Raul reply :
On 9/13/2016 at 8:32 AM, gimruis said:When some people post on here about fishing reports they often are very vague about the quantity and size of the fish they catch (as anglers tend to be). Some people tell me about their day on the water the same way in person. I'll read "got a 3.6 and a couple 2 pounders" or "caught my personal best a 5.6 pounder" just as examples. Do you guys weigh these fish out when you catch them or are you just guessing? Rarely do I weight the fish I catch. I used to do a lot of walleye fishing and there was always a restricted harvest slot for keeping them and it was always governed by length, not weight, so I am accustomed to measuring the fish I catch, not weighing them (unless I catch a very fat one). Obviously, in a tournament there is a minimum but the standings are done by weight. So, when you catch a bass, do you normally weigh it or measure it?
I´m just guessing ths one is a lil over 1 lbs
Dreadhead47 reply :
Personally I use a bump board because I fish from a kayak. I always carry a scale in my bag, to get the weight of any fish over 20 inches, or if they are abnormally fat. I started out just using a digital scale, and now I predominantly use a bump board to measure length.
Josh Smith reply :
I do both. I measure success in how healthy the bass is, and I feel it's our duty to examine each fish for disease or malnutrition.
Each bass I catch gets a physical.
Josh
LVLDVL reply :
It makes sense to weigh black bass because once they hit a certain mark (in my opinion, I'd say 18"), their lateral length growth slows down a lot in relation to their maximum mass. To put it in perspective, the Minnesota lmb record has a length of just 23.5" but weighs 8lbs15oz. I've caught bass that were 18" but surprised me with being just a few ounces short of 4lbs. And then I've caught 22" bass that were just barely a few ounces over 4lbs, shaking my head. And yet, the state record is just 23.5" in length. That's just bass genetics.
Whereas with walleye and pike, they have a higher max potential lateral growth in relation to their maximum mass. So a 23" walleye will almost always be heavier than a 20", a 27" will almost always be heavier than a 24", etc.
"hamma" reply :
Nowadays, I weigh any largemouth that looks to be over 5 lbs. and smallies over 3. I ask others fishing with me if they want their catch weighed, no matter how big it is.,.. My daughters want to weigh them all, ,.(lol ,.and can do so themselves now),... fishin buddies used to follow much the same criteria as myself.,...
And when I do weigh them I do so pretty quickly. A truly big fish can actually break its jaw being weighed by the lower jaw, clipped on a scale, and hung there for an extended period of time. I may weigh it, but be chop chop about it. And while I hold a big fish I make sure one hand is under its belly holding its weight more there, than by the lip, while someone else gets the scale. And when I release it I will make sure its revived enough. Insuring theres adequate water in its gills, when closing its mouth making sure it closes all the way, till it decides to swim off on its own. If you are reviving a fish and its gills are flared and its mouth wont close 100%,...it may have a broken jaw.
My fishing buds have either moved, or died. So when I finally do get back on the water?,.. its gunna be a trick weighing fish being alone. I do like Blues idea to use the livewell, and get the scale/phone ready... Thanks Blue
WRB reply :
The Bill Dance formula L X L X L /1600 = weight in lbs works IF the the bass is a Smallmouth or LMB with a girth equal to 75% of the length. IF the girth is less or greater the 75% of the length the formula doesn't work very good.
20" bass with 75% girth to length is 15" girth weighs 5.0 lbs with BD and my formula, 5.63 lbs with IGFA. 85% girth my formula is 5.66 lbs, IGFA is 7.22 lbs
24" bass with 75% girth to length is 18" girth weighs 8.64 lbs with BD and my formula, 9.72 lbs with IGFA. 85% girth my formula is 9.74 lbs, IGFA is 12.48 lbs.
Length and girth are both important and only as accurate as the measurement method..
Tom
Further North reply :
On 99% of the fish I catch, I neither weigh, nor measure...they just go into a filing system in my head:
- Little Fish
- Medium Fish
- Bigger Fish
If I'm curious, I might measure one out of 100, just to see what it is to satisfy my curiosity.
I'm not even sure where the scale I bought years ago is...or if it's even in the boat.
I'm really impressed by the folks who weigh and measure everything...then do something with their data...that's just cool...but I do enough of that at work, don't wanna mess up free time with it.
I don't fish tournaments, BTW. No issue with them, just not my thing.
GORDO reply :
When it comes to bass, I weigh them. Their length is irrelevant to how "big" the fish is. As for walleye, unless its a giant, measure only to make sure its legal. For Pike/Musky Ill measure and weigh for satisfaction. I like to see that 20+lb on a digital scale
papajoe222 reply :
I kept a log for years and very rarely entered more than a measurement. For three years, on a private lake,I tagged every fish I boated over 14in. in an effort to determine growth rate in inches. Although I no longer keep a log, I still have the habit of unhooking a fish, lying it along a measuring tape permanently mounted on my boat for a quick measurement and then releasing it. Anything over 18in. is considered a good fish, and I'll be the first to admit that I'm guilty. I can catch a dozen fish and if asked will say nothing good.
Paul Roberts reply :
I, too, track fish in the small waters I fish. And I measure. Since fish weights vary -up and down- over the course of the year, I feel that frame size tells me the most in terms of potential.
Since I'm interested in potential growth rather than what's legal, to be consistent I measure from the premaxillary to end of the open tail. Some fish have long tail fins and others extended lower jaws. Don't need to measure that stuff.
I may weigh large fish, using a calibrated scale.
Rick Howard reply :
It's about my personal knowledge juding my fish against my fish on that body of water and in that area. I'm not comparing my fish to someone else's. I'm not worried so much if my method is accurate but rather how consistent.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
I dont carry neither scale nor ruler with me when bank fishing so I dont weight. But i do use rod length to compare the bass size. On my old rod I make a mark at 1'6" and 2" so at least I know how big the bass.
On both I got both but weight only if it is a big fish.
portiabrat reply :
Go by weight if it's short and fat and length if it's long and skinny.
J Francho reply :
On 9/14/2016 at 10:29 PM, portiabrat said:Go by weight if it's short and fat and length if it's long and skinny.
So, do you end with two personal records? 
NYWayfarer reply :
Measure and weigh. I tend to measure and weigh fish that are 12" and over.
Yesterday for instance, my fishing partner and I caught 20 smallmouth bass, 1 sunfish and 1 rock bass. We only measured and weighed 3 of the smallies as the rest were clearly under the legal size limit. best catch yesterday was a 2.5 lb bass on a senko followed by a 2.3 also on a senko and my 2.0 on a dropshot roboworm.
The dinks were caught on califonia craw colored TRD ned rig, drop shot roboworms and biospawn plasma tails.
The sunfish went after a red hook that was hanging in the water while my partner was getting out a senko.
clh121787 reply :
Weigh the big ones and measure if I'm on a slot lake (don't know why don't keep them anyhow) only to say I caught an over while I'm back at the marina.
Bassguytom reply :
On 9/13/2016 at 8:47 AM, soflabasser said:I weigh and tape measure(length and girth) all bass that I suspect to be 8 pounds or bigger and rarely bother weighing bass that are clearly smaller than 8 pounds.The reason I don't weigh smaller bass anymore is that 4-7 pounders are common down here ,but a 8 pound or bigger bass is not and they deserve proper documentation in South Florida.
I do this also for all fish is suspect to be 8lbs. or more. I have done this once. ?
MassYak85 reply :
Depends, I don't waste time weighing every fish, if I say "I got a couple 2 pounders" I am just guessing the weight. But any good size fish i weigh on a scale accurate to 100'ths of a lb. So like my two PB's I know both weighed exactly 5.40lbs. I also have switched over to weight and rarely if ever measure length. A 20" fish can vary widely in actual weight. If I ever wanted a mount made I would obviously get accurate measurements though.
corn-on-the-rob reply :
Like most fishing concepts, it comes down to preference.
Because fishing tournaments, and state/world records go by weight, that is what I prefer.
Obviously length tends to correlate with weight to a significant extent but like others mentioned weight can vary significantly at the same length. I have caught a 13 inch fish that weighed 13 ounces, I have also caught a 13 inch fish weighing very close to double that. So when someone tells me they caught an "n" length fish, that doesn't necessarily tell me the actual size of the fish unless I make an assumption based on averages.
So in a scenario where two fish are close in length and weight, ask yourself, which fish is bigger?
20'' - 4.5 lbs or 22'' - 4.25 lbs
In my opinion, even though the other fish is significantly longer, the heavier fish is the bigger predator, therefore weight dominates my perspective.
wnspain reply :
Weigh. I use a Berkley Digital scale, but only for the fish that I think will push 4# and up. Otherwise I will guess ( I do a lot of guessing 
)
Scott F reply :
If you measure fish, and everyone you communicate with weighs fish, they won't get it. It's like going to work where everyone speaks English and you speak Greek. It's funny, in my crowd, we all measure. I don't know if anyone even owns a scale. If somebody said they got a 4.68lb fish, the first question everybody would ask is "How long was it?"
J Francho reply :
On 9/16/2016 at 10:04 PM, Scott F said:If you measure fish, and everyone you communicate with weighs fish, they won't get it. It's like going to work where everyone speaks English and you speak Greek. It's funny, in my crowd, we all measure. I don't know if anyone even owns a scale. If somebody said they got a 4.68lb fish, the first question everybody would ask is "How long was it?"
It's totally like that with trout fishing up here. If I said I stuck a beautiful 12 lb. hen steelhead, the guys would look at me like I was from Mars. Tell them I got a 34" hen, and everyone is hooting. I do like weigh those trout. It's interesting to compare their size and power to the tackle we use. It favors the fish, in many regards, though step up, and you won't get bit. Different world. I do hear bass anglers use length, though. A couple 17s, a 19, and small keepers. That's as acceptable to me as a two threes, a four, and some small keepers. Perch jerkers are funny, they'll just pull one big slob out of well, and tell you there's 99 more like it, lol. (It's a 50 perch/angler limit, two guys).
S. Sass reply :
On 9/16/2016 at 10:04 PM, Scott F said:If you measure fish, and everyone you communicate with weighs fish, they won't get it. It's like going to work where everyone speaks English and you speak Greek. It's funny, in my crowd, we all measure. I don't know if anyone even owns a scale. If somebody said they got a 4.68lb fish, the first question everybody would ask is "How long was it?"
Its the total opposite here. Its all about the weight with the people I am around. Using your example If I came back from fishing and the guys asked me if I did any good I better not start calling off lengths. They will bust a gut laughing, probably swear I didn't catch squat. Then they would swear I got drunk and was still drunk.
j bab reply :
I weigh em if I suspect they're 4lbs or more, just because I wanna know. If I'm guessing it'll be to the nearest ½lb, I'm not gonna ballpark a fish and tell you "man it was probably 5.6 pounds!"
mplspug reply :
Weight. I have a Rapala digital scale that comes with a clamp and a hook. I don't like either because the clamp has too much pressure and the hook is thick. I think both would cause unnecessary harm to the fish.
If I have a net I will zero out the scale with the net as a baseline and weight the fish in the net.
I'll use the clamp directly to the lure if it is firmly hooked and not deep down the mouth, both are rare.
Some guys use the hook to poke a hole in the lower jaw, I don't like that, but if you put the scales hook under the gill plate, there's a chance you might kill the fish. It doesn't take much to damage the gills and bleed them dry.
J Francho reply :
Get a FishGrip, Zero your scale out with it hanging from the hook, clamp in the fish. No holes, no drops, fast and easy.
.ghoti. reply :
Weigh or measure? Neither. Don't care. Some times I do get a pic.
Glenn reply :
Like this?
.ghoti. reply :
looks like Trophy Country, but that ain't a trophy. Either one.
tiredbobmarley reply :
Originally from Pennsylvania. We would always refer to bass in inches (grandma still does). Now that im in florida its all about the weight. You can almost tell if someone does or does not fish big bass waters by which method they use.
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