weighing catch and release bass

[Psandherr]

for all of us who practice catch and release know its bad to keep a fish out of water for to long.

But what if you catch a real nice bass and you want to weigh it.

Would anyone like to share there techniques.

Please none of that length calculation stuff i don't trust it!

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

weigh slings. they use a soft sling with a ring designed for a scale hook. remember when catching and releasing fish wet your hands. wet the object they are to be placed in or on. and get them to the water within a few minutes. have a camera ready for quick pics. digital age eliminates any excuses. a decent dig camera is $30. some even less.http://renegadetackle.com/?product=fish-weigh-sling

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

Also highly recommend anytime you are going to be touching the fish - try to get your hand wet and limit rubbing/touching. Also the sling if you used something like that. I have seen a lot of scars on fish tails (muskies) and northern just behind gills due to slim being rubbed off.

Same with side of a boat or seat if you have a tape measure...wet it.

 

[dingbat]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

I commend you on the thought of using something other than hanging them by their jaw, but with nothing at stake other than bragging rights, I don’t see the point.

The best thing I’ve found to handle fish is the Fishoff Glove. Developed and sold by a local fisherman
http://paxriverproducts.com/

 

[FlaCowboy]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

I can not recommend anything as I do not weigh any of them. However as others have said to keep your hands wet and I prefer to lip a bass but keep it vertical as opposed to "bending" it`s lower lip to hold it horizontal.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

No need to waste time futzing around trying to weigh a flopping fish, just take a quick C&R pic and let it go... if it's a big fish it'll look big in the pic and since you didn't actually weigh it you can make it any weight you want.

 

[94track]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

No problem weighing fish, Weigh it in your net and deduct the weight of the net. You never touch the fish so no harm to fish. I have done this for years and have never hurt any fish at all. I have done this with fish up to 32 pounds. Good luck and happy fishing!

 

[msaunoras]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

I measure length and snap a pic if necessary. I have a 20lb berkley digital scale but I've never used it

 

[lncoop]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

No need to waste time futzing around trying to weigh a flopping fish, just take a quick C&R pic and let it go... if it's a big fish it'll look big in the pic and since you didn't actually weigh it you can make it any weight you want.

LOL. Spoken like a true crappie fisherman. I agree, but there have been a couple times I found myself wishing later I had weighed the fish in the pic. I was so enchanted with a smallmouth I caught last fall I'd probably have a replica made if I knew the weight. It's not the biggest fish I've ever caught, but definitely the biggest smallie, and a big smallie by anyone's standard, especially for a river fish. What made it such a special fish though were the circumstances under which I caught it; multi-day float trip with my old man. Won't have too many more of those I fear.

 

[scipper77]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

largemouth bass do quite well out of water. I just hang em from the gill, get the number and throw em back. In my experience small mouth need to be revived if they are out for too long. If I land a real nice fish I take the time to get a pic. This extra time is where smallies don't do so well. I've never had a problem with a largemouth that didn't swim away right when it hit the water.

As far as technique, I keep a digital scale right near me at all times (in my back pocket when shore fishing). I fish way too much so I am pretty quick with the fish handling and return to the water. I don't spent much time string at the fish I just caught like it's the last big fish I'll ever see.

Also, rarely use a net. I either pull em out by hand or use my lip grip. My biggest this year so far is 4# 10 oz.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

as long as you dont hook the red gills and just the flap that shouldnt hurt them. i will weight these catfish next week when i fry them. went out to see what mph i could get from my new prop tonight and dropped a line for 2 1/2 hrs. caught these ten. but as you may be able to see with my username im no stranger to a catfish.

 

[lncoop]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

Hey, those are some perfect eating sized fish carl. Love the pic. What a cute little feller.

 

[jcornell26]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

My buddy has a net with an actual scale in it. Not sure how accurate it is, but it gets pretty close.
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/213267820/Trout_Fishing_Net_with_Scale.html

 

[scipper77]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

My buddy has a net with an actual scale in it. Not sure how accurate it is, but it gets pretty close.
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/213267820/Trout_Fishing_Net_with_Scale.html

I bought my fishing buddy a lip grip with a digital scale in it on clearance when I local sporting goods store was going out of business. They had them for $12. He lost it within a month :facepalm:. I wish I would have bought a few now that I see what they are worth.

http://www.amazon.com/Berkley-Digital-Game-Grip-Scale/dp/B000E7YQ7C/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1340906217&sr=1-1&keywords=digital+scale+lip+grip

 

[Psandherr]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

i was thinking of buying this lip grip because it is cheaper than the berkley one and the boga


http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Sho...roduct/93413/111891?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL

 

[scipper77]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

I personally would spend the extra money for the Berkely with the digital scale built in. You get what you pay for and you will end up carrying a digital scale along with the lip grip if you go with the one you linked.

I have the lip grip with the tape measure built in and a separate digital scale (see pic in post #10) and I couldn't be happier. I prefer the scale to be separate since I really only use the lip grip for fish with sharp teeth. Yes that's me walking on water in the second picture.

There hasn't been a fisherman with a similar skill set since the Bible

 

[Psandherr]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

I personally would spend the extra money for the Berkely with the digital scale built in. You get what you pay for and you will end up carrying a digital scale along with the lip grip if you go with the one you linked.

I have the lip grip with the tape measure built in and a separate digital scale (see pic in post #10) and I couldn't be happier. I prefer the scale to be separate since I really only use the lip grip for fish with sharp teeth. Yes that's me walking on water in the second picture.

There hasn't been a fisherman with a similar skill set since the Bible

the one i posted the link to has a scale its just not digital

it has a scale like the boga grips without the 125 dollar price tag

any one ever use the bass pro shops gripmaster

 

[BonairII]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

Just put a Bathroom scale in your boat. Hold the fish and step on the scale. Subtract your weight.

 

[scipper77]

Re: weighing catch and release bass

the one i posted the link to has a scale its just not digital

it has a scale like the boga grips without the 125 dollar price tag

any one ever use the bass pro shops gripmaster

I skimmed the reviews and it looked like the scale is not digital and starts with 1 lb. increments.