Weighing catfish by using length and girth

[Fozell]

I was wondering what the formula is for determining the weight of a channel cat by using its length and girth. Also, where is the proper place to measure the girth?

[rushing]

(girth X girth) * length / 800

measure it at its fattest point usually behind the dorsal fin.

[hanso612]

Flatheads vary more than most fish. Some have massive heads while others have more proportional heads. Some have mouths as wide as there heads and others have closed mouths that dont reach all the way across. And those bellies! A carp in the gut can change the weight significantly.

Channels fit the formulas better, but I still think tape type measurments made by taking the average of said lenth fish of a particular species are closer than the equation method above that is generic for many species of different body shapes. You just need to find one specifically for channels. Hans

[rushing]

very true but if you're not gonna pony up the cash for a scale then that's about all you got to work with.