Warning: Objects may be smaller then they appear

[Duffman]

For those of us that spend considerable time on the water or fish tourneys, we have a pretty good idea what a 5lb. bass looks like. I don't know how many pictures I see at bait shops, in the weekly outdoor rags, or online where the bass caught is listed at 5lbs. Where in reality, at least to me, they look to be 3lb, 3.5lb or possibly 4lbs.

I think these anglers don't fish that much, so when they catch and release a 3.5lb bass, to them it sure looked to be all of 5lbs. Now a 3.5lb bass is nice, but most bass guys will catch quite a few that big every year in MN, 4lbers are a little tougher to come by. I knock off less than half a dozen a year that size, when the size reaches the five pound mark, honestly, only a few select anglers surpass that mark every year. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, it's just a rare feat compared to the average anglers catch. And I consider most posters on FM to be above average.
So when I see people throwing around the five pound mark so easily, I tend to get a little smirk on my face. I don't need to prove a picture wrong, my eyes will tell me what to believe. Hey, if a guy wants to believe that the 3.5lb bass that he has on a stringer at a public dock is 5lbs. good for him. And I'm sure to the general public and newby fisherman it would sure look like a 5lb bass. No need to razz the guy about the weight, let him have his fun and glory. But for those of us that have actually weighed a five pounder, we do know what they look like.

[Granny]

I just started hitting bass hard this year. I have caught one 20.5" and a couple 19". Didn't get a weight just snapped a quick picture and let em go. What is the approximate length of a 5lb LM.

[Duffman]

Granny....
It depends on the girth or health of the fish, but it looks like you got yourself a couple 4lbers and have surpassed the 5 pound mark with that 20.5"er. Congrats!

[Granny]

My mark was set at 21" before the season but now its at 23". I don't know if I will put it on the wall or even get a replica made. Everytime I catch "my biggest" fish, I think there has got to be a bigger one out there. Give her a kiss and let her go.

[Guest]

Yea, you just need to roll with it on some of those... If someone believes they have a 5 or 7 pound fish, great! Who are we to judge. Just like watching some of the bass fishing shows and seeing those 3 pounders called 6 pounders - one after another...

In defense to some of these photo's, many times the fish do look smaller in the photo's (depending on how the photo is taken). I have seen it time and time again, where a photo doesn't do a fish justice. I try not to make any judgements based on photo's.

[This message has been edited by fishnAddict (edited 08-14-2003).]

[Blackstarluver]

I have caught small bass all my life. I also have gotten moderatly good at guestimating the weight. I really love it when I am shore fishing a very public area and catch a 3/4 to 1.5#bass, and some yokel comes up and says "that ones 4 to 4.5 pounds if HEs an ounce". I just smile and say "Wow he's really a dandy" This has happened on more occasions than I can remember. Since I haven't really caught a lot of big ones I have a rating scale: <1# sure was fun. 1# to 2, 2.5# holy cow!! 3 to 4# pretty fish. 5# and bigger holeeee she hat can you believe the size of this hog! It's so big it's almost scary. The fish in the 5# range are really hard to judge since whenever I catch a HUGE one I try to get it back home asap and don't worry about pictures or measuring it.( okay this happens so infrequently I am so rattled I forget) Well when it comes to fishing if you catch huge ones great. If you catch little ones great. If you catch none great.
My2
God lyk!
JC

ps late at night and me so very tired, sorry if I ramble.

[Guest]

I think it can be really hard to tell from a pic just how big a fish is, there are so many variables. I hate when people do the old hold the fish way out so it looks bigger. I think a pic looks best with the fish out about a foot from a persons body. The size of the person holding the fish will make a fish look bigger or smaller.

It is definitly true that people tend to overestimate weight. In tournaments sometimes I underestimate, sometimes I guess just about right, and other times I overestimate. I've learned that when you weigh the fish it's best to underestimate therefore you are pleasantly surprized.

[Steve Foss]

I've gotten after all these years so I'm now underestimating bass weights.

Last 5 I caught I looked at Mrs. Catfish and said it was a 4 at best. She snorted. Five for sure, she said. We measured it. 20.25 inches. She was right.

[Chris Haley]

When people start talking about weights the first thing I ask is how long. I've had a lot of friends that have caught #2 crappies, and when I ask them how long they tell me 12". Some people just can't estimate weights, go with the length you can't go wrong.

[Granny]

Its fun to try to guess the weight of the fish you catch, but I agree that lenght tells much more. The weight will vary depending on the girth but the length will usually give you a good indication of the fish weight. A 12 inch 2lb crappie, "fat" chance.
My girlfriend held her first fish for a picture this weekend. A nice 17.5" LM. Now if I could just get her to put on her own leaches.

[vern]

Yeah, I've heard about those 12" two pound crappies too! Like you, I like to go with the length. I've got tape measures on both ends of the boat. Fisherman have always been known to stretch the truth. But how about a fisherman on the internet? I'm sure the truth gets stretched even more. Lot's of story telling going on with that combo. Vern

[Mark Christianson]

Very similar topic on Mississippi North forum called; The Measuring Debate.

I agree that people guessing weight is all over the board.

PS I have seen several pictures posted about fish, and the "claimed weight", but I choose not to stir the pot with my opinions on pictures, since they can be a bit deceiving.

But some are awfully questionable.

[Duffman]

Basspastor...
I hear ya on the size of the person in the picture, I've got a picture of a buddy holding a 45lb flathead, that fish looks to be 65-75lbs in the picture, cause that guy is only 5'5".

The best way to make a fish look bigger in a picture besides the holding it out in front of you trick, is to hide the hands, hide the hands, hide the hands! Look at photos in mags and online, the best ones don't have any hands visible for size reference.