Conference wahoo::fishing

    
      Brian,
    
    
     I personally would not trust a conversion ruler, I know we caught
    a 19.5" salmon on winni weighed about a pound (light) and last sunday
    I caught a salmon that was 19" and weighed a strong 2.5 lbs. so
    the only true way to weigh a fish is by a scale.
    
    
                                       good luck
                                              Lee

    The golden rule is designed to give you a genral idea of how much the
    fish weighs based upon the average weight of fish that length. 
    Naturally some fish are fatter than others so this is not 100%
    accurate, but for your 'average' fish, it'll be in the ballpark.  If
    you want really accurate weights, get livewells and a good scale and
    have a weigh-in.  But for what your doing, catching and releasing fish 
    and trying to see who catches the most weight for fun, the golden ruler 
    is fine.  
    
    donmac
    

    I  think for the price you pay for one of these golden ruler
    you could pick up a scale or 2, i've seen some of the small
    scales go for under 5 bucks. personally, i thought of both
    but with this note, i WILL invest in a scale. the new digital
    scale goes for for roughly 27-33 bucks depending on where you buy
    it. and a pocket scale can run from 3-10 bucks.
    I do like the golden ruler i think it has the right consempt
    of giving out a ball park figure.
    
    		tight line'...................Ronni

    
    most of us agree that a deliar scale is for the birds,but the only way
    one can tell is by hanging barbel weights to check its acurracy. I have
    had one for years and never used it because of its reputation,however
    just for the heck of it I weighed barbels on it and found that it is
    very accurate from 1lb to 8lb at 1lb increments. now verses calling my
    weight like i normally used to do, i quickly weigh and release. for the
    five bucks or so its not bad.

    I don't know the deliar and other cheaper scales are hard to use.  The
    hook on the deliar is less and a 6 and trying to clip that to a bass
    thats flipping all over is very difficult.  The only other scale that
    looks good is the nordic for 30 wich is 3 times the cost of the rulers. 
    For quick release and the fact this is for fun, I think the rulers look
    ok.
    
    But you guys didn't answer my key question which is do you believe
    there is a tremendous difference in length vrs weight of a small mouth
    verses a largemouth?
    
    Brian

    re.-1
    
    >But you guys didn't answer my key question which is do you believe
    >there is a tremendous difference in length vrs weight of a small mouth
    >verses a largemouth?
    
    I'm not a biologist, but I'd say overall, no, there is not that much
    difference.
    
    A river smallie is probably not as fat as a swamp rat bass.  But your
    river run largemuth may be rather sleek himself.  But in general, I do
    not think there is that much difference based upon the distinction of
    the two species.  I think health, habitat and available food supply at a 
    given time are the major factors that will determine how fat or skinny
    a bass is.
    
    donmac

    I have used the golden rule once at a tournament and it was right on!!
    Now I know that different times of the year this would not be the case.
    If the Bass is loaded with eggs then the fish should weigh more,  Or in
    the spring a male bass may be lighter then in the summer when it is
    feeding regular,  OH BTW the time I used it was mid July.   As far as 
    small mouth go I dont know??  I think a golden rule is about $20 and 
    a digital scale is about $30, I know those digital scales are real
    accurate when used properly.  
    
    Les
    
    

    Brian,
    
    Just for the heck of it, what does the Golden Rule say about an 18"
    bass. The one I caught was nice and sturdy - not skinny, not tubby.
    Someone guessed it was probably 4lb, but I'd like to know what the Rule
    says...
    
    Thanks,
    
    Ed

    Ed
    
    According to the rule its 3'4.5 oz.  
    
    Also the golden rule is only $10. verses the $30 for the nordic scale.
    
    DonMac
    
    I know what you mean about the habitat equating to the weight, but it
    just always seems that largemouth consistently have the girth I
    genrally don't see on the small mouth?
    
    Brian

    Ed, there is a standard formula that you may want to use for getting a
    fairly accurate weight for largemouth bass. I believe the golden ruler
    is based on this formula.
    
    Weight= length x lenght x lenght
            -------------------------
                     1600
    
    
    Weight = 18 x 18 x 18     5832
             ------------- = ------ = 3.645 lbs
                 1600         1600
    
    I weighed a bass I caught earlier this year on my Normark scale that 
    I had crossed checked with my clubs new electronic scale and it weighed
    in at 6 LBS. With the formula it came in at 5.997 LBS.
               

    Thanks for the magic formula, I'll use it until I can either get a
    scale or calibrate my deliar!
    
    I wonder, though, since we've all seen both fat and skinny bass
    (especially skinny in early spring) so it somehow seems like the
    formula can only be a good approximation because a skinny bass can put
    on weight without getting any longer, but maybe the difference isn't as
    great as it might seem.
    
    Ed

    no difference it goes for lg & sm mouth bass, if it didnt
    it, would specify, i think it goes for just bass in general.
    they sell the golden rule, i think for 2 or 3 species so that
    if there was a different rule for lrg and sm mouth they would be
    selling 2 different ones for each species of bass. everyone agree?
    
    		Ronni (who picked up a smally at lunch)

    Well this weekend we went up to the Belgarde Lake systems for out
    annual Ota Brothers fishing tournement.  In three days of fishing we
    bagged a grand total of 123 lbs between the four of us.  My brother Bob
    netted 38 lbs himself.  Our average bass was about 1.5 lbs with each of
    us catching at least one three lb bass and there was a single 4lb caught.
    
    The most amazing catch of the trip was my brother Mark.  We came in at
    11pm and were just doing a few casts in the marina bay to unwind.  Well
    he was using an tiny torpedo and caught a 20"  Brown Trout on 6 lb
    ultra light tackle.  That trout must have weighed at least 4 lbs.  What
    an amazing catch!  I could hear his drag stripping out at least 100
    yards of line in seconds.
    
    Overall it was a grand fishing trip.
    
    Brian