5lbs Brookie

It can really very I have seen 18" smallies push 5lb in the fall on erie... that being said I hit a 23" smallie last summer up north and it was just an old relic I doubt it would have went 5... that same like I boated a 22 1/2" that was 6.38

I worked in a tackle shop... the vast majority of people just dont understand how big a fish has to be to be a certain weight... be it a 5lb spec, 20lb pike or 40lb musky these are all MONSTER fish.. unless it hits a legit scale just dont talk weight.

I do length measurements for all my fish that way I can just discuss the real numbers, sure some may be heavier than others but theres no questioning that the bass was over 20" or the musky over 50" when there is a pic on the bump board.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alex Bass Man

I don't guess on the size of a fish anyways. I always have a scale with me. If I don't I will estimate if need be but general don't. Weight can't not be determined by length alone. You have all factors to look at. Another thing I should have also said that what determines growth which also affect weight in bass is water temperatures.

The longer the water stays in the 70 deg range the larger and heavier the bass will get as this is the optimum temp range bass grow and feed in heavy in. This also triggers their spawning.

---

Scale Tales i always say, a tape never lies. Exact weight can not be determined by length alone you are right, but with the length and enough experience you can get almost bang on with a weight estimation. I do not doubt what you are saying about water temps at all, i never knew the prime water temp was 70 so that is a bonus for me. In my area which is basically your area Alex, in July a 17" bass is around 2.25 and a 21 is a 5 lb on average but there is always a few exceptions to what i am saying.

Its the stories you here of anglers catching 6 to 7 lbs bass in lakes i would catch at biggest a 5 lbs 21" and they tell you it was 20". I believe that from Simcoe, but not from the lakes that i personally fish. Once you get to know a body of water, and catch enough fish, you are never far off with guessing weight from length, bass or brookie.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fiftyquest

It can really very I have seen 18" smallies push 5lb in the fall on erie... that being said I hit a 23" smallie last summer up north and it was just an old relic I doubt it would have went 5... that same like I boated a 22 1/2" that was 6.38

I worked in a tackle shop... the vast majority of people just dont understand how big a fish has to be to be a certain weight... be it a 5lb spec, 20lb pike or 40lb musky these are all MONSTER fish.. unless it hits a legit scale just dont talk weight.

I do length measurements for all my fish that way I can just discuss the real numbers, sure some may be heavier than others but theres no questioning that the bass was over 20" or the musky over 50" when there is a pic on the bump board.

---

You nailed it

Thanks Leavon, I was referring to the last picture. let me dig up the old hard drive and I will show you what 5 pounders look like. I know you have seen them, but my 5 pounders look a little different than yours. Maybe it is a north south thing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KEVERS

Scale Tales i always say, a tape never lies. Exact weight can not be determined by length alone you are right, but with the length and enough experience you can get almost bang on with a weight estimation. I do not doubt what you are saying about water temps at all, i never knew the prime water temp was 70 so that is a bonus for me. In my area which is basically your area Alex, in July a 17" bass is around 2.25 and a 21 is a 5 lb on average but there is always a few exceptions to what i am saying.

Its the stories you here of anglers catching 6 to 7 lbs bass in lakes i would catch at biggest a 5 lbs 21" and they tell you it was 20". I believe that from Simcoe, but not from the lakes that i personally fish. Once you get to know a body of water, and catch enough fish, you are never far off with guessing weight from length, bass or brookie.

---

I have done a lot of reading on bass and have books on them. Water temps are really important to bass. That is way they get so big in southern US and in Mexico. But when it comes to stories guys say....well you get to a point where guys let them think what they think and just worry about yourself.

That is what I do now.

Fish to me are measured in three categories.

Too small

Eater

Too big

This is a purely subjective scale of measure based on any number of factors (whats on the stringer, if I feel like cleaning fish, incoming weather blah blah blah).

Ive literally measured thousands of fish, both on a board for length and on a scale for weight, theres no clear cut answer to how much a fish weighs based off of length. I personally find measuring fish based on length pretty uselss in any regard. A 20" smallmouth doesnt mean squat to me. Say "five pounder!" and I'll get excited though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alex Bass Man

I have done a lot of reading on bass and have books on them. Water temps are really important to bass. That is way they get so big in southern US and in Mexico. But when it comes to stories guys say....well you get to a point where guys let them think what they think and just worry about yourself.

That is what I do now.

---

I guess that is why the record smallie is from dale hollow river, longer growing season. Makes total sense. I do let guys think what they want to think, but sometimes you gotta call them out on it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blasted_saber

Fish to me are measured in three categories.

Too small

Eater

Too big

This is a purely subjective scale of measure based on any number of factors (whats on the stringer, if I feel like cleaning fish, incoming weather blah blah blah).

Ive literally measured thousands of fish, both on a board for length and on a scale for weight, theres no clear cut answer to how much a fish weighs based off of length. I personally find measuring fish based on length pretty uselss in any regard. A 20" smallmouth doesnt mean squat to me. Say "five pounder!" and I'll get excited though.

---

I guess i am the opposite because when i hear 5 pounder i automatically ask the length so i know for sure. Show me a pic beside a tape then i will believe, a pic of a scale could be totally bogus.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KEVERS

I guess i am the opposite because when i hear 5 pounder i automatically ask the length so i know for sure. Show me a pic beside a tape then i will believe, a pic of a scale could be totally bogus.

---

I'm the exact same way, hard to get excited when someone says 5lber because they are usually 3's! Lol