Exaggerated fish sizes

[Killertraylor]

Is it just me, or is everyone sick of hearing about 30-40 lb. chinook being cought by everyone that are actually 20-30? I've seen several people now in Chinook and Ilwaco with reported 30 to 35 lb. salmon that I'd eat raw if they were more than 25 lbs. I've found a ton of people out there that are calling 30 lb. salmon 40 lbr's. I think most people would think they had a 50-60 lb. salmon if they actually cought a 40 pounder. We got a 48 pounder three years ago (cannery scale weight, not gutted) and about 6 fishermen on the dock all guessed it was bigger than 60. I myself have seen lots of big chinook (used to gillnet in Alaska in college) and guessed it was 55. I have a picture of it in my office and everyone thinks it's a Kenai fish. I've seen a few hundred salmon in port now this season and have probably only seen 3 bigger than 30 lbs - are we just prone to exaggeration when it comes to fishing? Does it bother anyone else like it bothers me? Does anyone actually weigh their fish anymore? Do most of you know how ******** huge a 40 lb. chinook is? I'm actually a pretty good guesser (I'm almost always within one lb. up to about 26 lbs), but over that, I need a scale. Maybe I'm just sceptical (and jealous) about all the 35-40 lb. posts on ifish I've seen recently...

[ 08-26-2002, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Killertraylor ]

[ampersat]

fishing folks exagerating the size of the fish they're catching?? naah, that never happens.

:tongue: c'mon lob another slow and easy pitch over the middle for me. :grin:

it does seem like a lot of people are claiming HUGE fish this year. i also haven't heard a lot of talk about the scales they're weighing them on either. i'm not pointing fingers at anyone, just a general observation.

[Get Bent]

It's a little known fact that fish are shipped by volume and not by weight. These fish have been grown using the most modern of facilities; however, some settling does occur after catching.

We value your comments as an angler. If you have any questions or comments about the fish that you just caught, please contact us at our customer service department at (800) GET-BENT. :grin:

[Tacklebuster]

It's funny you mention that Joe cause I have been saying that to myself for two years or better. I lived in Alaska for 5 years and have seen a lifetime of 40 to 55 pound salmon. I personally weigh each and every one of my fish that I report a "weight" on. I also will have a witness to the weighing.

There are a lot of big fish that are in the river this year but most people get pretty excited and, well you know the rest. I am also a pretty goot guesser when it comes to fish weight but I also guess on the conservative side just in case. You can buy a good digital scale for about the price of a few good wobblers. I hope to see you on the river.....

Chris

[Deepslayer]

Maybe that's why fish tales is a synonym for lies. I don't think we are going to change something that has been going on since man learned to fish! Just take all of the posted weights with two grains of salt!!!
,Ed

[husker]

i never weigh fish......and i always guess the weight.......but then i take it home and use the fish weight calculator on the willies page to bring me back to reality.....a fish that is 30" is no more the #15-17.....a fish that is 40" can weigh over #35

['ZZZZzzzzzz']

KT:

Since a reliable scale is often inconvenient I have gone to measuring the length of the fish. For example my largest Springer this year was bright and 41" long.

Do any of you have a good formula for converting length to pounds? I have seen that used pretty accurately for Halibut.

Anyway I hear you about the common over statements, but even so it is good to hear where folks are catching some fish!

I haven't weighed many of my own fish but go by inches. I don't post weights either.

Has anyone ever notice that the weight of fish in Fishing and Hunting news far excede their length? :grin:

[Mojo]

The same thing goes for trout and other fish. I now have a tape measure in the boat for Sturgeon, Salmon and Steelies. I got tired of people telling me I was full of carp.

I marked my trout net with a Sharpie at 16", 18" and 20". It's funny, I started catching a lot more 16" trout, and a lot less 20"ers. Hmmmm, must have something to do with harmonic convergence or global warming or something....

[Sturgeon 42]

I guess weight on fish I throw back (Tule) but I do weigh all others and have caught many others in the 40 lb. range, but is fun guessing the ones that go back.... :grin: :grin: :grin:

[parker]

Here's a game for you all to play. I'm 5' 11" and here are two realistic photos (no camera tricks). Care to take a stab at the weights?

Here's a 'nook.



Or, try your skill on this steelhead.

]

[ 08-26-2002, 02:29 PM: Message edited by: parker ]

[Killertraylor]

I think the length thing probably converts a lot better on halibut than it does on salmon, but I'm just guessing. I've cought some real "tall" salmon that weigh much more than a similar length fish that was shaped more like a steelhead - and we've all seen those sturgeon that looked like they swallowed a basketball - length wouldn't convert to lbs on those fish either.

Another factor is pictures. I've seen pictures of 40 lb. fish that I know were weighed on a scale that the picture doesn't do justice. I've also seen the opposite (Fishing and hunting news comes to mind). I've got a picture still on my digital camera of 3 nice upriver brights that were cought a few weeks ago. I'll try and get it downloaded tonight and post it tomorrow and let everyone guess the weights - we might have a little fun with this!

Parker - you and I both had the same idea at the same time - you posted that pic as I was writing this! I'm going to guess 29 lbs on the nook and 18 on the steelhead. This is harder than it looks!

[ 08-26-2002, 02:31 PM: Message edited by: Killertraylor ]

Salmon, 35 pounds

Steelhead 18- 22 pounds (it is hard to tell because you are squating?

Do you have the weight on these fish.

[Hogmaster]

Salmon - 42 pounds. Not a camera trick but you are holding away from you and toward the camera.

Steelhead - 27.5 pounds. Big steelie, but why would you keep that old scow to know how much it weighs?

Personally, I never guess weights based on pictures, even though I just did! :grin:

Bet I got it right! :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

[ 08-26-2002, 04:25 PM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]

[NEUTRON]

I don't know 'bout the feesh, but
the hat smells like dawg poop. :tongue: :tongue:

Who cares? how many? how big?

I just wanna fish... 15 k over bonnie yesterday... wow :shocked: :shocked:

[Fish Hunter]

I've been using a digital scale given to me as a gift last Christmas. Seems to work well. Got to admit it used to be awful easy and (and fun) to guess high. Ever notice how certain fish can grow when you talk to other folks in the same boat a day or two later?
The scale has helped my estimating on releasers. The numbers arn't evrything anyway.

Does this 47# URB look that heavy?
My scale said so. :grin:
Netting that fish for my buddy Ron was a real high point for me.

Please pardon this blatant brag post.
:tongue:

[Smily]

Okay I'll play.

Salmon: #19lb'er

Steelhead:# 15lb'er

:smile: Smily :smile:

Err ahhh maybe it was 25.45 lb's and 19.35lb.s

Ahhh phooey. I'll believe you, You would'n lie to me would you? Won't you just tell me?

[ 08-26-2002, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: Smily ]

[fishbait]

KR,

I agree with alot of what you said. I'm pretty good at judging a fish's weight, by sight and with my calibrated arm, and usually I just have to keep my mouth shut when people are holding up their fish and telling me how big they think it is. It;s my personal feeling that alot of the 40 we hear about are really 33 or so, like you said, a 40 and especially a 50 is a ******** big fish. I try to weigh anything that approaches 40 lbs or larger, If they are 35 and smaller, it's had to get too excited about them. If you think it's bad now, just wait till the Tillamook fall fishing gets going, lots of big fish..... And if I catch a 50+ (which I believe that is very likely) you can be assured that if I post the info the fish will have been weighed. I think there will be lots of big fish this year, one of my buddies that shares fall fish camp with me has gone to 80lb leader on one of his Keni Killers for fishing in the stumps. ...... I just can't wait.

[Jennie@ifish]

Does it bother me when people exagerate their catches? No. It's just not that important to me.

Does it bother me when I have to be on hold with ATT for an hour?

YES!

ATT did it! They've pushed me OVER the edge! :smile:

Jen

[ 08-26-2002, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Jennie@ifish ]

[William]

I've caught many salmon on the rod and reel, by net also. I fish with a Yurok friend of mine ever year on the Klamath, pulling net and I can pretty much guess within a pound or two. My biggest fish came on the Nestucca many years ago and I guessed it at 45lb, then we weighed it at Rays, 48lb 80oz. I was off a little. It is fun to brag some, but it can get out of hand sometimes.

[Hogmaster]

Really? Usually it is MCI! :grin: :grin: :grin:

Hog wanna be master. :tongue: NAH! Switch and see! :grin: :grin: :grin:

Parker - you did not kill that soreback steelhead did you!? :grin: :tongue:

See Mission, I told you my "weighed" 36 (according to you) was really a 52.

[ 08-26-2002, 03:46 PM: Message edited by: ****** ]

[parker]

Just be thankful you're not dealing with Sprint.

Ok, here's the honest to Glub results to the guessing game.

Don't read any further unless you want to see the results...

The salmon was 42 lbs even.

The steelhead was 27.5 pounds.

Notes: No, I'm not holding that salmon out in an exaggerated manor in front of me. That fish was touching me. Couldn't get it any closer to me. I do not do the "RT" thing when it comes to holding fish.

I was young and dumb when I kept that steelie. Wouldn't do that today. Oh well. It was a Quinault fish, and probably a hatchery fish to boot (pun intended).

[ 08-26-2002, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: parker ]

[Hogmaster]

Oooooo, looks like I struck a nerve!

Sorry Nan oooo k

But I just switched away. Couldn't afford them anymore!



PS - Parker - Electron is right - That hat must really be stinky! :grin:

[ 08-26-2002, 04:33 PM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]

[SureSet]

Next time someone holds one up and say's it's 40#+, offer to let them use your digital scale right then and there. It magically shrinks the weight by 20% right then...... :grin:

SureSet

[Fish Hunter]

Wow Parker, I would have guessed much smaller. The chinook looks very proprotional, not too hog like. Must have had good lenght.

No problem Hogmaster. You like my 52? LOL. I think Mission's scales need calibrated. He would not show me, but he said it read 36. :tongue: :tongue:



[ 08-26-2002, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: ****** ]

******,
I'd say it was no more than 35 pounds but I know how big you are. :grin:

Nice fish, my biggest from Alaska was only 41 pounds, on a scale about 6 hrs after I caught and bled it. :smile:

[5-Cents]

No need to gripe about over estimating the weight of any given fishy because it is actually a clincal sickness called kilopoundamania! This sickness makes otherwise normal men and women go out on rivers, lakes and the seven seas in rain, wind, snow, sleet blistering heat spending 10's of thousands of $$$ on boats, fishing poles, reels, line, lures, bait, fuel, beer, food as well as 1000's upon 1000's of lost man hours of work that God knows the economy could use all in pursuit of a fish that they could otherwise purchase at Safeway for $3.99 LB.

The general population think that people that suffer from this awful dibilitating ailment are crazed and they are right. People that suffer kilopoundamania my frequent web sites that are devoted to fishing and the like while they actually have to work or while they are home ignoring thier fighting, screaming kids, other members of their imidiate family, yard work and paying the bills.

Be very careful approaching somone that suffers from this terrible disease, and for goodness sake do not, under any circumstance befriend them because they will ask you to go out on their boat and then you know what will happen.... you will catch the sickness!

In short you can't help those who can't help themselves... I have to go replace the hooks on my spoons now :shocked:

[Hogmaster]

Closely related to that other condition frequently observed and known as bi-fishon disorder, or manic nofishon. Sufferers are known to hibernate for weeks on end only to bounce to their watercraft with irrational exuberance as other sufferers of the same affliction report, especially on internet sites, that "someone caught a big hawg."

This battle cry can cause innumerous involuntary responses of sick leave, gardening onophobia and honeydo anapnia (all related conditions). Beware this highly contagious pathagen!

Scientists once wondered if this was a virus carried by the piscatorial mousquito, but now fear that it is an airborne and some say even sight and auditory generated disease!

[ 08-26-2002, 11:12 PM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]

[bllelk]

Hunters have the same affliction. When's the last time you ever talked to one who shot an elk (or deer) inside 100 yards?

[5-Cents]

Did I ever tell you guys about the time that I was fishing and hooked a 100 lb salmon? The funny thing is while I was fighting it on my 2 weight flyrod this nice 10 point bull elk showed on the side of the river... oh about 300 yards from my boat. While I was fighting that grand daddy of a fish I pulled out my 357 Mag. hand gun... the rifle is too hard to handle while fighting 100 lb salmon. Any way I dropped him like a sack of spuds with one shot right between the eyes!

MMMMMMMM surf and turf that night

I guess I am one sick puppy!

Take care everyone :tongue:

[Hogmaster]

Hey Nickle!

You forgot to mention you either stayed at anchor or got to shore and your tag was for a handgun! Hate to see you get taken down for doing something wrong!

[5-Cents]

Hogmaster,

Ok you caught me I am a lying b*****d! It was a 90 lb salmon and the bull was not with the hand gun. It was actually bow season and I got him with my bow. It was not 300 yards it was only 120 in a 20 MPH wind! :shocked: I didn't want you to think I was too much of a freakin bullstud by now you know the truth the whole truth and nothin but mister!

It's getting a little deep I need to put my boots on.

On another note I am glad to see that someone is on the same bandwidth as I am.

CHEERS HOGMASTER!!!!!

[HOGTIDE]

Parker????? You must have had a bad scale???
That's a long slanky nooker.
I'd guess that salmon at #31...maybe, and the spawnhead at #22 max! :blush:

But, pictures can be deceiving. Some strains of fish are just built different. A Rogue River 40 pound fireplug can be the same length as a Columbia River URB at #30

[Hogmaster]

Oh, Nickle,

Rare air indeed it is my friend! There are sickos that abound around us too! I knew that nookie couldn't be a hunert pounder since the record is 98 and all. Woulda' been 99 from the one I caught but we left it out in the sun all afternoon while I ran after that griz with my javelin.

By the time I got him skinned out and built the raft out of his skin to float back across the river, that sucker had dried up to 97! Dang!

That was OK, though, since my buddy dip netted a 450 pound hali in tidewater while he was waiting for me that day!

Boots? Hell I got my snorkle on now! :grin:

:grin: :grin:

Hogmaster,

Your name should be BS Meister. :grin:

It's a good thing that I live at 4100 feet. Any lower and it would be over my eyes.

[HOGTIDE]

And here is an odd assumption...someone has a larger fish, therefore he must be a better fisherman???

In reality, larger fish eat more feed, more frequently and are probably more susceptible to any lure or bait offered. You could fish mediocre baits and still have a good shot a bigger fish!

There ...now I feel better about my boatload of lil *****ers this year :tongue:

[5-Cents]

Hogmaster,

OMG I did a doodie in my pants reading your post LOL many times over.

The scary thing is I wint to hiscrool wit the kind you talkin about!

LOL! I have tears in my eyes! :grin: :grin: :grin:

[HOGTIDE]

Hey, I didn't type a bad word. I said t*w*i*n*k*e*r*s ?

[Hogmaster]

Keta - :grin:

I'll consider the name change...

HOGTIDE -

I love it!

It takes real skill to catch those small nookies! ANYBODY could catch one of them big'ol hogs!

Yeah, that must be why so few of us bother getting those ****** class fish...

:shocked:

[crabbait]

Ok, Ok, I just wanted to see this one more time.

Muhahahahahahah!

[Dan Christopher]

crabbait
your showing the same pic all the time.

you taking lessons for ******??? :tongue:

just funning ya nooky

[kampy]

After my friend weighed his 35# springer on his spring scale I dropped it on my eletronic scale and it showed 26 #s . Two weeks later the smoked salmon tasted the same. Go figure. It's not the size of the fish, but the action of catching it that matters. Any Miss ifsher can tell you that. :shocked:

[kampy]

Hey crabbait, is'nt that the same fish you caught last year????? okay I know better. What's that saying. :shocked: More bang for you buck. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] Or was it a hen. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img] :grin: :grin: :grin:

[DJFISHS2XS]

I used to be a tournament director for a bass fishin club in Viriginia, I can guess bass with in a couple oz. But on thing I see with salmon is there is a big difference in each salmon caught, Ive seen short one's with what I can only describe as shoulders go over 20 pounds and long ones that are skinny that I would swear were 30 pounders just make 20....The little scales that are avalible are a distraction they tend to be wrong most of the time...my daughter who is six caught a big fish this year that I reported on this board (with a pic) as 27 pounds, I got this number by looing at a hand held spring scale that read 25 pounds but the same scale said my 10 pound down rigger balls were 8 pounds??? I have landed fish in the boat that I thought were huge just to rethink there weight prior to the fillet knife's first cut....so I dont think you can realy blame a over the top weight guess on fish storys you just have to subtract the excitement factor...DJ

[Mojo]

You know...this all goes back to Jimmy Houston. Every bass he ever caught weighs eight poinds. I think he got the nation's fishermen infested with the the inclination to "stretch" things a little.

[Jennie@ifish]

Dang! I have been through that word list a thousand times and I still can't get rid of some of the words that don't need to be in there.
I got rid of twinkers now. I don't know what they are, anyway.
So twink away....
I hope I'm not saying something disgusting!
I love that pic of Crabbait, and he can post it daily for my pleasure! :smile:

Jen

[Hogmaster]

OK, seriously now for a minute.

This formula is one that several buddies and I have used to "weigh" fish in Tillamook for several years at an annual "weekend warrior" type contest.

It supposedly was developed specifically for salmonoids and we have compared it to scales and found it usually is very close. Note that it accounts for the short fat or long skinny conditions:

The formula: Length (in inches)X the square of the girth (in inches), divided by 800, minus .5. The result is weight in pounds.

Sounds complicated but it isn't that bad. I would like you all to try it and compare it to your scales and let (us) know how it trues up.

[Paddlefish]

My wife tells me that this male size estimation dysfunction isn't restricted to fish sizes.

What's she talking about? :shocked: :grin: :shocked:

[Killertraylor]

Maybe it's a scale discrepancy. I've got a really good spring scale similar to the ones they use for testing the pull on a compound bow. It says my 40 lb. stern anchor is 40 lbs. so I think it's accurate - now if I can just get a 40 lb. fish to test it...

Forgot to bring in the URB pictures, but no matter - I'm thoroughly convinced now that the picture has a lot to do with it. I'd have bet $500 that Parker's salmon was no bigger than 35. Pictures just don't show how thick a fish is.

Killer,
It is hard to guesstimate from pictures but 35 pounds was my thought too. [img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img] :smile:

No matter how heavy it was it is still bigger than I have caught for a few years.

[Phish_on]

Man, if I can't exaggerate the size of stuff, that's not much fun.

I caught a big fish in Alaska, and a guy walking by thought it was about 50 pounds. Since the guy looked like an Indian, that was all the accuracy I needed!

Exaggerating? The last chinook I caught weighed 26 and 1/4 pounds, and I went ahead and called it 26, so there! I usually don't weigh fish, I don't really care.

[parker]

Here's another one for you. I can only guess as to what this fish weighed, as it was released without a measurement. This picture didn't do it any justice. Look at the size and shape of the head - only the "hogs" have heads that look like that. Also, look at my hands (they are not small) - they are dwarfed in this fish. Big shoulders on this brute.

I guess somewhere in the 20-22 pound range. Saying something over 22 probably would be exaggerating.



Oh yeah, and ignore that Tadpolly in it's mouth! Those things (especially that color) doesn't work!

[ 08-27-2002, 09:14 AM: Message edited by: parker ]

Originally posted by crabbait:
]
Ok, Ok, I just wanted to see this one more time.

Muhahahahahahah!

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Does look huge when you are only 3 feet tall. :grin:

Parker, you do need a digital scale. :tongue:

[ 08-27-2002, 09:14 AM: Message edited by: ****** ]

[Phil Layer]

Holy Crap, Parker!

What a beautiful fish!

[Fish Hunter]

Some serious girth around the tail of that steelie. If you guys have never visited Parker's web site, you oughta check it out. I'd put it in the bragfest hall of fame. I aspire to have a website filled with steelies that big and monster bulls too! We're not worthy...we're not worthy!

[parker]

Ok, final photo. No more. I promise!



This one has yet to be weighed. Weigh in won't be around until the 17th of January. Any takers on guessing that weight on this little Princess?

[ 08-27-2002, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: parker ]

[Slow Roll]

Hmmm, bout 6 lbs, 8 oz.

I'm thinking that one's definetly going to be a keeper.

Congratulations to you and your family on the new daughter.

Paul B.

[Fish Hunter]

Bet you'll be the proudest of the last one! [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]

Keep those bruiser metalhead photos coming.