Catch & Release weight estimates

[balnacoil]

I always wonder about the weight estimates I see and hear about.
I am lucky enough to live on the banks of the Scottish Dee on a wonderful beat - Aboyne Castle. The ghillie (Alex) a couple of years ago bought himself a large net which has a weight scale built into it. Surly this should be something all ghillies on catch & release rivers if not all rivers should have as it saves any ambiguity about how big it was.

[storlaks]

That certainly would help. Last year my friend had 2 spring fish on the Dee, both over the magic 30lb mark, but we couldn't be exact. When you catch a fish of a lifetime and you know you have to put it back, it would be nice to know the exact weight. We estimated the biggest to be around 32lb, but it's an educated guess.

BTW, he's fishing Aboyne Castle in a weeks time, so I'll tell if he hooks another monster he'll get the exact weight this time (-: It's certainly something beats should consider when
re-placing their old nets.

[charlieh]

I've seen these nets for sale, but not in action. They do seem like quite a good idea.

I was told that when a certain famous Canadian salmon river went 100% C&R, the average reported weight of fish suddenly increased by several pounds in comparison to the long term average.

[tyneandrew]

Those nets are handy, they have got them on the Upper Scone fishings on the Tay now.

Shame i never caught one to be weighed in it!

[Bogyoch]

I always carry a flexible tape measure (the plastic one the wife can't find for her sewing) and note the snout to fork of the tail length. Then using the invaluable Salmometer that Graham Ritchie kindly gave to me, I read off the weight against the length. Whether this is accurate or not is always very debatable, but it is a good guide.

[exerod]

I've got a tape measure from the EA which has inches on one side and pounds (and those horrible kilograms) on the other. It gives weights for chalkstream summer salmon in the low teens that are about two pounds light but on the plus side it makes a 5lb Exe grilse weigh 7.5lb
Catching relatively few in a year I am usually happy to appreciate the fish for what it is rather than worry about its exact weight and only bother to measure any exception ones that come my way (thats anything over 12lb!)

Tight lines

Andy

[robmason]

If your maths is not up to Grahams formula you can use this nomogram:

www.letsflyfish.com/weight.htm

[wilbert]

I have just used the fish calculator @ www.letsflyfish.com/weight.htm and put the measurements of a a fish that I caught, weighed and measured last year and although the results varied a bit the average weight was bob on. The fish was 106 length and 54 girth and weighed 28lbs. The guide who netted the fish said that it was a little short for its weight but it was very fat so this is where the extra weight came from. Just like myself.

I also got bored whilst working nights and put my own height and waist measurements in to see how heavy I would be if I was a salmon. 126lbs is the answer which makes me about 5 stone overweight. A waste of time yes but hey its the night shift your supposed to do silly things.

[robmason]

Of course many factors could influence the variability of the formulae not least the origin of the salmon. Alastair Gowans' is based on Tay fish I believe.

[fishingd0]

robmason said:

. Alastair Gowans' is based on Tay fish I believe.

It certainly is not on Dee fish, thats for sure!

[robmason]

Stop knocking the man! I've seen him return fish on the Dee- in fact I have the photo's to prove it!!