Pike contest entry

[bowzonly]

Gonna have to trust me on the length, it was 27 inches. Very hard to get good pics of pike next to a ruler when you are alone and I didn't want to stress the fish any further. No big deal as I am sure someone will beat this anyway. Heck I plan on beating it myself and next time I'll be better prepared for pics. Believe it or not it was my first time ever weighing a fish. Is that the way to do it? Caught 3 total, one on a spinner bait, one on jerkbait and this one on a wiggle wort. Had one more follow on the wiggle wort.

[NorthJerzyG]

Nice catch Bruce, way to get the ball rolling!!

You don't actually have to puncture the skin, you can slide hook of the scale up through the gill cover right near the tip of the bottom jaw....

[FASTEDDIE29]

Nice job dude. We have an entry. WHOOOOO-HOOOO!!!! I know its going to be hard to get the pics and weight fellas, do the best you can. Bruce get out there and catch some more. TIGHT LINEZ!!!

[buzzbaiter]

YIKES no need to harpoon them like that. Especially for a 4lb fish

You can...

a)gently place the scale hook in the lower jaw w/o puncturing it letting the weight of the fish hold it in place or

b) as Fast said, go through the gill opening but NOT over the gills. Either way is risky because pike are rambunctious during release and they can either tear themselves up or they'll tear you up with their 1/4" teeth.

I have a scale/ruler combo so it comes in handy.

[acabtp]

Originally Posted by buzzbaiter

YIKES no need to harpoon them like that. Especially for a 4lb fish

You can...

a)gently place the scale hook in the lower jaw w/o puncturing it letting the weight of the fish hold it in place or

b) as Fast said, go through the gill opening but NOT over the gills. Either way is risky because pike are rambunctious during release and they can either tear themselves up or they'll tear you up with their 1/4" teeth.

I have a scale/ruler combo so it comes in handy.

even safer: just leave it in the net and weigh the fish+net, then subtract the weight of your net

[buzzbaiter]

Honestly I'd never weigh a pike or musky or pickerel. No easy way to do it. I've got scars all over my fingers from just trying to release them!

Or do the old measure length/girth, then this formula:

L x G x G divided by 800. So a bass thats 20" long with a 12" girth would weigh around 3.5 lbs. You can estimate length as well. No need to wrap the fish up in a tape measure

So a 27" pike with a say 10" girth would weigh around 3.4 lbs. Pretty close to the scale.