Fish ruler

[Chode2235]

With all of the slot limits and for bragging rights a in boat ruler is a must. I dont want an adhesive ruler that I have to stick on the side of the boat, but besides those what are you guys using to measure your catch?

[jwmiller33]

this style is my favorite because it gives you a more accurate reading than holding the fish up to a ruler on the side of the boat. you can put the nose of the fish tight up against the right angle side and then easily pinch the tail to get a very accurate length reading

[PerchJerker]

I like the style of ruler pictured above too.

Another good option is an aluminum yardstick --- costs about $5 at any hardware store. They're cheap, easy to store in the boat, won't rust, very accurate as long as you make sure you have the fish's nose on the zero mark. They are for sure a better option than an adhesive ruler on the side of the boat, especially when your fish is close to the slot limit and you want to make sure you're legal.

[Chode2235]

this style is my favorite because it gives you a more accurate reading than holding the fish up to a ruler on the side of the boat. you can put the nose of the fish tight up against the right angle side and then easily pinch the tail to get a very accurate length reading

Where would I be able to find something like that? The ones I have seen on cabelas only go up to 22", which is a bit short IMO.

[jwmiller33]

You know I'm not sure where we got ours. The one we have in our boat goes up to 34 or 36 inches if I remember right. I'll have to check who makes it and get back to you

Your right tho, it doesn't make sense having one that only goes up to 22 inches, unless you don't have any confidence in your fishing ability

[solbes]

I like the adhesive backed 48" boatrule that I bought. It doesn't have a bunch of advertising all over it. I didn't want to stick it directly on the boat as old adhesive is hard to remove. But I also didn't want to have to fumble through the rod lockers to pull it out when I haul in the big girls.

So I bought some resin based molding (white in color) and stuck the ruler to that. I had some double sided 3M auto tape that was perfect width, about 1/2", that I affixed to the narrow end of the molding and also the underside of my gunwale. Works perfect for me.

[Northlander]

Northland and the judge are the 2 I use the most in my boat. The Twin Ports Walleye Association just made up a bunch of real nice "Bump Boards" for our Tourney coming up in May. Ill see if I can get some pics of them.

[RK]

Hiya -

The Northland aluminum rulers are great...

Cheers,

RK

[bassmann77]

The Northland aluminum rulers are great...

+1

[Norm1980]

The Northland aluminum rulers are great...

+1

+2

[Chode2235]

Just checked out the northland rulers, and those seem about perfect.

[jwmiller33]

Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure the ruler we have in our boat is the same Northland one that these guys are talking about. Like I said, it works great. Most accurate way to measure a fish in my opinion.

[ozzie]

yeah great for 20+ bucks.....I did sum research and found a plano 1936 model that is an expanding fishing bump board for $10.....otherwise there are the yellow (20 inches) and red (30 inches) plastic bump boards that are also in the $20 range which is spendy for a ruler......just need to search out a bump board that is used for something other than fishing and it would propably be cheaper

[JohnMickish]

I use a Judge 33" model, sold at Gander and Thorne. Just about industructable and it is THE ruler that tournaments use, accuaracy when it counts, if you want to split hairs.

I have seen many people use those stick on rulers inside of a piece of PVC rain gutter. They work if your not that picky about being exact, but for me, it's an aluminum L shaped ruler.

[PerchJerker]

just need to search out a bump board that is used for something other than fishing and it would propably be cheaper

Again - the aluminum yardstick that you can get for $5 at a hardware store makes a great fish ruler if you don't want to spend the $20 for a Judge or similar fish ruler.

[My_Key]

I have a 36" ruler stuck to my boat. Can't lose it or forget it that way, which is what happened to a previous one that I didn't stick to the boat. I also have a 24" sewing tape for measuring girth.

For sake of conversation, I'll add that if a fish is that close to a slot, I'll toss it back anyway, just to be safe. So I'm not overly concerned about being accurate to an 1/8th of an inch.

[g_anoka]

I also use a yardstick, just can't see spending the prices they want for an "official" fish measuring device.

[Timber]

I go to Menards, get a 10-foot piece of Genova gutter and three end-caps. Cut the gutter into three, 3-foot pieces. Put an end-cap on each. Then put a three foot stick-on ruler in each. You can get the stick-on rulers free from the DNR, lake association, etc. Now you have three fish rulers for less than $10.

[IamZombie]

Where would I be able to find something like that? The ones I have seen on cabelas only go up to 22", which is a bit short IMO.

Fleet Farm has a number of different fish rulers.

[EBass]

Check out my avatar - it's the offical MSRD board. AKA Mississippi River Dog. He moved to MA a few months ago, but he still lurks on here. He makes the boards from all types of wood and all sizes. If interested he can be found on the Upper Sippi forum.

[walleyeking19]

the Hawg Trough's are good. just make sure they dont fly out of your boat while your driving...it happened to me

[whitebassman]

someone posted in rainy river forum how to get a free ruler. ordered one myself, see how it works out. also, all the above comments are great. myself, i bought a rapala ruler at FF, it flips out and can go 36 inches or so, which should be enough to measure that trophy walleye!

not sure what material it is made of, but its free!

[Steak]

Fleet farm has one on sale this week for 7.99...looks like a nice ruler...goes up to 36"

[delcecchi]

I use a menard's yardstick I got at the state fair. And I have a tape measure for the rare instances I catch something over 36 inches.