Weighing Fish

[OldTimer]

Weighing Fish

I’m constantly both disappointed and amused while watching some of the carry-ons I see when some try to weigh their catch. A good portion of the time the fish is roughly handled and dropped a few times while attempting to get that little metal hook on their scale pierced through the fish’s lower jaw or hooked up under a gill plate.

If you plan to release a catch and really must weigh it there are simpler “fish life-friendly” ways to do so.

I suppose a fishing landing cradle is the ultimate weighing sling – but few of us (including me) own one.

Consider these alternatives:

- If you netted the fish – simply weigh the fish together with the net by hooking onto the crotch of net at the handle/hoop interface. A cheap carabineer clip, or a loop of rope, can be used to simplify this. Subtract weight of net.

- If you lip clamped the fish – just hook onto the clamps lanyard – weigh all. Subtract weight of clamp.

- Gently put fish in your 5 gallon bucket and weigh all. Subtract weight of bucket.

All of the above is much easier on the fish than a few dirt dives.

If you don’t’ need digital scale accuracy - You can also approximate the weigh using two quickly taken linear measurements and this formula:

- Approximate Weight = (Length) x (Girth x Girth) / 800

An on-line collection of automated species specific versions of this formula exists here:

http://www.ontarioanglerawards.com/Weight.cfm

Cheers,

OldTimer

[MuskieBait]

Wise advice OT!

Most of the time I just guesstimate the weight...and most times, the fish was underestimated.

For me, I don't really need to know the weight of the fish...just being able to catch one was good enough. A tape measure of the length is great for record keeping...but even that is often guesstimated by measuring against the length of my arm, or the fishing rod, for a quick release.

[MichaelAngelo]

I've personally used the fish-in-the-net method of weighing and can vouch for it! Great method!

Remember, if you're going to release the fish don't hold the gills!

[ogre96]

Never weight catch before. I agree with MuskieBait, length is enough for me.