5+ lb Club - Accurate Weights

[JustinHoffman]

Hey Steve,

Good to hear your views. As for the digitals, I think you'll find the higher poundages they weigh (ie. 50 lb scale compared to a 10 lb scale) the higher of a chance to be out. I don't fish for musky or salmon anymore, so only carry a 10lb scale. For the last 7 years, it has weighed precise. This year it was off 1.6oz. The only downside to spring scales, is for the most part, they only measure in either 1/4 or 1/2 lb increments. Great for 30+ salmon, not so accurate if you want to know if you broke the 6lb mark with a largie or smallie. (Now, I'm sure the higher end spring scales may show ounces, but I'm not 100% on that..)
I'm presently working on an article for OOD (due out in March) that will showcase all of the scales currently available in Ontario. I will be showing their merits and downfalls, and will be spending some time on the water with most. It will be interesting to see the differences in spring versus digital, and also the new models that are currently out. Berkley has a new model coming out for 2007 that looks pretty sweet~! And X-Tools has a high end digital that I look forward to putting through it's paces...

Good Fishing,
Justin

[matcole]

don't get me wrong Justin, i wasn't getting on your back, i was just pointing out than some people are "overly sensitive' and take offense to this. I haven't come anywhere near to catching one of them Lunkers, so wouldn't even consider pushing one of my fish on there as a 5lb er

[spinner]

Many who catch a big fish and don't have a scale truly believe they do have a 5 but in reality, many times they do not. I've talked to people that catch lots of sevens and even those with 8's 9's and 10's. Some catch 7's regularly. I'm sure they really believe it too. Scales also read high in many instances and yes, sometimes low. It is always a good idea to verify your scales accuracy if you want your true fish weights.

The excitement of the catch also seems to make fish larger when initially caught as well. Many times fish seem to shrink half hour after caught when pulled out of a livewell to get weighed or looked at again. Time has a definite tendency to shrink the initial apparent size

[steve-hamilton]

i can't wait to read your article on scales justin....

but please do test some high end spring scales....not your crappy Canadian Tire scales...

shimano has come out with some really nice spring scales this year....

also, about the digi's, try and see if there is a model made (for any amount of money) that will work in temps below 4 degrees (thats when the normal digi craps out), or better yet, still works after getting WET!!!!!

(i mean, who came up with a non-waterproof digital scale...!)

[dana]

Sir,

I was surely not being defensive about Nigels fish...but not trusting digi scales myself i was relating how i feel ok about his weight due to me bein the one weighing the fish at the QBM Classic and how they weighed heavier
than my written weights. [now thats a run on sentence!]
I will admit that the "whiner" moniker was meant to rattle your chain a bit
but me thinks twas a wee wee bit o whinin laddie....[jk]
yes we all have talked to people who have "caught" 12 pound bass in Canada..and catch 7 or 8 pounders all the time.
I have a friend who when he hears these proclaimings just says:
"Nice fish".

In the end its just too hard to estimate some ones fish by a picture..
and if i sent in my girlfriends 5 lb lmb..it really does look like 10 pounder.
Possibly the other people's pics are just on the other side of the realm of
"camera to reality" accuracy.
In the end we must believe em.

have a good day

df

[Scum Frog]

I have to agree with Justin 100%...why post a fish that is bogus...you are only fooling yourself because unless it is very close to 5lb's most anglers will be able to tell.

[Bobber]

Thanks all for your comments on this. Justin is correct in that we want to as accurately as possible make sure that fish we are submitting are actually over 5lbs, as the gallery states. Now having said that, I am not going to question any submissions whatsoever, unless of course I can take the fish and fit it in my mouth or something. This is for fun only, and a chance to boast your catches. If someone says their fish is over 5, then I'll take their word for it, but let's keep it as real as we can. Anyone can question, but let's keep it a simple discussion without defensiveness.

If you're proud of the fish you caught and not sure it it's 5lbs, cause you didn't weigh it, then I suggest you put it in the Trophy Room and ask the community whether or not they think it is truly above the 5 lbs mark. You'll get a pretty accurate answer I'm sure.

Also keep in mind that not everyone can accurately judge fish size. I remember when I first started fishing prior to doing tournaments, I thought I was catching monsters. Well, imagine my surprise when I has my officials weights a the weigh in scales. I thought for sure their scales must have been broken.

My advice, if you question the weight, just ask.
Cheers,

[topraider]

The statement that spring scales are less accurate than digital scales is simply not true - unless you are talking about the cheapie models typically available at the bait and tackle.

Try a chatillon scale, if you can afford one... the 6 lb model weights in one oz increments, and actually weighs to 3 kg, and you can get it wet. Perfect for bass.

http://www.chatillon.com/Our%20Products ... scale.html

[Cancatchbass]

Topraider-

You've got it right.

The Chatillons blow any consumer digital right out of the water.

That's why all the fisheries people I know use them. They are accurate AND dependable.

Tom

[Seaweed]

Ok I have been thinking of posting this bass in the 5lber club photos but.... I didn't have a scale. Personally I think it was all of five pounds and then some but.... I didn't know. So Is is a 5lber?

Here are some shots.




Nice 18.25 incher no scale on board.

[BBRich]

Honestly Seaweed I've never seen a true 5 pounder that was any less than 20 inches, but if it was fat enough... After all, I wasn't there to actually get the true dimensions of your fish. It's a beauty for sure though either way.

[dana]

agree about spring scales..good ones are ..well, good!

5lb fish can be under 20"...
up north here they are
short and fat

df

[kunobasski]

Mr. Hoffman.
I have noticed that you have taken every opportunity to police this web page and discount any fish that seem to be smaller then advertised.

I have also noticed that you have made 2 seperate posts in which you point out with great pride how big your bass are, and give a great discription on "the characteristics" of "true monster" bass.

Curious, are those your biggest? And question 2, are those the only big bass you have ever angled?

I have to admit, as a reader only of this site, I was compelled to log in post my opinion on your childish behaviour. Many of the people posting thier fish may be slightly off.......but whats the problem.

The point of the idea is in good fun and give everybody who has caught a large bass and susupects it may be 5+ an opportunity to show it off. Not point out liars or cheats.

If it's any consulation at all justin, your fish are nice and accuratly weighed. But it looks like your attempting to scare off anyone even daring to post in hopes that your catch sits undisturbed as the "ONLY TRUE MONSTERS" on the page.

Might is start sending pics? I have caught a few big'ins? Oh yeah, you won't be able to dicount those, cause thier weigths are accuratly recorded on tournament result pages like south easterm bass, renegade, backwaterbass, petewawa bass master, etc etc.

Leave people be........let them have fun.

I bet you you carry those pictures around with you...dont ya?

Glory hunter........

Trevor Kunopaski

[D-mo]

Perhaps the 5lb club thing should just simply changed to "My personal best", to get away from all the elitest attitudes some people have about their own fishing abilities and or "knowledge".
Personally I dont give a rats butty wheither or not a fish is over 5lbs or not, or if scales used are properly calibrated.
Really boys ... grow up!
D-mo

[matcole]

I agree with the 2 previous posts, i think its time to get off your pedestal. You are basicaly calling that person a liar when you say that there fish is not nearly as big as yours, we know you can catch the big fish, you show us over and over with great reports. But this is meant to be a fun thing not meant to pass judgement on some elses prize. Whats going to end up happening now is that people are going to shy away from posting their pics on here for fear your gonna junp down their throats. Thats not what this is about. And how you can judge someones fishes weight by picture is truely a gift i must say! Lets try not to be glory hogs here!

Denis