A scale for Gills?

[united jigsticker]

How about some length estimates for weight for the almighty Bluegills?

[Kidd]

Here's a formula you can use to get a reasonable estimate. Not as good as a reliable scale but it put's you in the ball park.

(Length x Length x Length)/1,200

Example. An 11 inch Sunny would weigh:
(11 x 11 x 11) = 1,331
1,331 / 1,200 = 1.109

[Scott Steil]

I use 10 1/8 to 10 1/4 as my One Pound Bench Mark.
10 1/2 is about 1.3 ounces
11 Inches is pretty close to 1 lb 8 ounces.

Those are from past experience. But, the time of year will have a lot to do with it. One thing to remember with bluegill is that they are short fish so a slight variation in lenght means a big change in weight.

Lots of people catch 11" bluegills but I like to see pictures before I believe it. Those are the ultimate trophy in my book.

[steve schmidt]

Scott Steil's numbers are very accurate. Like Scott, people catching many 11" chers better check their ruler...I think it is measuring wrong! Yes their are a few around but most of mine are right at 10 1/2 inches and weight 1#2 to 1#4...so 1#3 is right on.

[Guest]

The reality is that not many lakes in MN produce 11" gills, so when most people say they caught an 11" gill or even a 1# fish it ends up being a nice 3/4 pounder,a 3/4 pounder looks huge! Id get more excited about a 11" gill than a 30" walleye!!

[This message has been edited by gillchaser (edited 02-09-2003).]

[Gordon Fothergill]

Right on guys! 10"ers are trophys, 10.5"ers and up are rare and indeed true trophys!

[steve schmidt]

Hey Fothergill....you live so near to so many lakes with gills over a pound it is unreal. Surely you have found em! We are talking the 10 1/4 to 10 1/2 inchers.

For me....fly fishing gives me ultimate success while wormers and other methods come in with virtually empty coolers!

[Guest]

Personally, I'd back her off a little on the weights posted here. We have been measuring and weighing fish off postal scales for years and have come up with this(it helps ward off the fish exagerations even within your own group):

10 inch = 15 ounces
10.5 inch = 1 lb 2 ounces
11 inch = 1 lb 5 ounces

Girth plays a role here too, but this is a fairly consistant average for the larger gills.

[Surface Tension]

Scott Dont forget to keep me to my word this june. I just hope you dont mind being blindfolded.

[Scott Steil]

ST, you are on buddy..I even have my own blindfold!! Now I just have to remember what we talked about