OK, Muskie Guys.....

[Duffman]

..... I caught my first Muskie last night on a lake south of the metro. We were able to get a couple quick photos and she came out at 16.8 lbs on the digital. Being in a canoe, I had no way to measure her safely, and I wanted to get her back in the water as quick as possible. I'm looking for y'alls best guess on the length of this fish. Thanks for any input.

[TMan]

Hmm, I'd say 37-38 inches... Tough to tell though given the arms length type hold. Nice job out of a canoe, congrats!

TMan

[RuKiddingMe]

My best guess would be in the range of 40"-42". Nice catch,that must have been one heck of a circus bringing it in from a canoe. Congrats

RU

[DUCKJ]

Nice fish Duff,

The way you are holding it out and the way you are sitting in the boat it may look a little bigger then it realy is, your hands look to be aprox 18 inch apart and 5 inch down from the nose so that would put it aournd 40 to 41 inches.

Congrats.

Duck

[Random guy]

The average male watch is 1.125- 1.25 inches accross the face so with those numbers if your watch falls into those parameters reduce that for the distance loss of the watch placed roughly 6" behind the foremost part of the fish and granted the fish is not bent in the picture I figured that fish to be 38 3/4 to 40 1/4 long. A nice fish either way.

If you look at my avatar check out the paw holding that fish, dead give away.

[outdoor ran]

I make fish repos so I have a little practice at guessing fish sizes. I would guess 41" Nice color markings. Congrads

[Duffman]

Jeez, if I wanted a fishing picture critique, I would have posted on the main page. lol

Thanks guys, I guess I should have just said what is the length of an average sized 17 lb. muskie, but I thought a picture would help you pros out.

She spun that canoe around a couple times, good fun it was. Hand landing anything bigger out of a canoe might have been a problem. I can see why it becomes an obsession for some of you.

40" it is! I can live with that. Thanks again.

[TMan]

Any guesses at the girth? IN order to be a 40" er it has to be a 18.25 inch girth if we used the LXGXG/800 method. Does it go 18.25?

We're not criticising Duff, just something to pass the time now when not on the water...

[gundy89]

My turn: 41-42" Nice fish none the less.

[Duffman]

Maybe this pic will help-

Used this method to get it out of the water, and had a couple quick pics snapped cause I told him if she wants to go, I'm letting go to avoid damage to the gill plate area.(Did that to a big pike once, didn't want it to happen to this fish) Was then able to slide my left hand up to find the hand hold I really wanted. First attempt in the water left me with a couple battle scars. Then spun around and got the other pic taken. My forearms have an 18" girth if that helps any, HA!

[AWH]

Most people will overestimate the weight. So to ask the length of the average 17 pounder might get an interesting range of answers. Looking at the fish, it looks to be a little skinnier than average. And knowing that you got an actual weight and taking what looks to be a skinnier than average fish into account, I'd say approximately 41.75824". Nice fish, especially for your first!

Aaron

[TeamNSO]

A great fish, I would guess: From 37.5-40"....a dandy indeed: and out of a canoe!!!! Awesome fish! First 40"!!! I caught my first this year...and i am hooked, I wouldn't wish that on anyone...so far I have over 800 bucks into that bug, created by ONE fish, 2 months ago!!!

[Random guy]

NSO,it is definetly a sickness, I caught my first one by accident sixteen years ago and have not stopped chasing them since.