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Location: On the O |
Recently I saw a post (not here) that had a fish listed as having a 27" girth. The guy was adamant he measured it correctly but when others posted some fish with comparable numbers he quickly backed down. I believe him when he says that when he measured it that's what the tape said.
It got me to thinking about how he could have been so far off on the girth. I've always girthed them in the net but wondered if a big girl laying on the bump board with her belly all flopped out would add an inch or two?
Has anyone noticed anything like this?
Where do you typically measure the girth? Mid fish? More in the upper area behind the head?
Anyway, obvious slow day at work but headed out tomorrow for another crack at a fall fatty, the question is just how fat is she going to be? |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | I am not certain, but I had always thought the girth was the largest measurement regardless of where it is found. |
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Posts: 325
Location: Otsego, MN | I am with 14ledo81... Largest measurement you can get on the fish. One must be sure to measure at a perpendicular angle to the fishes length otherwise if at an angle you will have an exaggerated measurement. I've only measured a couple and always did them in the net.
I wonder if someone could also get an "exaggerated" measurement if they stroke the belly moving its stomach contents... I feel that could be cheating. |
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Posts: 8828
| I can't see how one could possibly mess up a girth measurement. That said, I believe a lot of people lie about it. Girth your leg just for fun. Then ask yourself how many fish are really in the upper 20's to 30".
That said, what we see in pictures doesn't always tell the whole story, either. Showing the side of a fish tells you little about how fat it is across the back. Tilting the fish a little one way or the other doesn't show the height well. Bending the fish or holding the head out further than the tail doesn't show the length or the proportions well.
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Location: Ontario | I agree with Muskers, very important to measure perpendicular.
Many people are over excited when taking measurements, why not let your buddy to double check,
this should eliminate most mistakes. |
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Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | I find it amazing how people get all up in arms over other people's fish measurements. They mean nothing to no one except the person who caught the fish yet the ones that did matter those same people could care less. I could care less who measured what and how. |
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Posts: 8828
| I think it dilutes the results for the rest of us. I think there are a lot of guys who catch a giant fish and then measure it and girth it and think "crap. 51x23... That guy the other day got one that had was 53x27.."
I think falsified measurements inflate the expectations for a lot of new anglers on what they should be catching and how often. If they found out how many 50's were actually closer to 48 and how many 27" girths were closer to 24" they'd be singing a different tune.
When you have a bunch of guys posting pictures of very nice fish and then inflating the measurements, it dilutes the accomplishment of the guys who are actually out there catching fish that are bigger and don't even realize it.
There was a guy a while back talking about what he can do to catch bigger fish in IL, because all of his fish are under 45"...
No doubt looking at all the pictures of big fish coming out of MN and Canada and thinking he's doing something wrong down here in IL because his fish don't look like that.
The more seasoned anglers probably understand what a "big fish" is in their area, but a lot the new guys are beating themselves up for not catching a fish that probably doesn't even exist where they are fishing. Similarly, a lot of guys are comparing their legitimately measured and girthed fish to what everyone else is putting up out there and questioning their success and their methods, when in reality, they're catching the biggest fish out there.
Some guys are out there to catch the biggest fish in the lake. Some of them HAVE and don't even know it because the last three guys that caught a big fish out there lied about the measurements.
That ain't right.
Edited by esoxaddict 11/5/2014 5:12 PM
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Posts: 7084
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | I have about a 34" girth these days, which is nice versus the 40"er I had say 7 years ago.
But here's my thought on sorta close, maybe not kind of measurements: if that what you feel the fish is, and what YOU feel you should go on facebook, here and wherever and say it is...then cool. If you're exaggerating (lying?) to the masses, I hope you accomplish whatever you are setting out to accomplish. You know how big it was, so whatever you choose to say is you choice.
Now I look at the fish I catch, and I actually DO measure them on the bump board (i dont girth'em) and then I look at fish that are held waaaaaaay out (I call'em "smudgers" because they almost smudge the camera) that are said to be bigger than what I caught...and I smile. And I hope they are accomplishing their goal. |
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Posts: 299
| It's the angler who has to live with it if they purposely lied. I can understand small mistakes when your rushing. For example: most of those tapes we measure girth with have a 1/2" or more tag end at the beginning of the "0" mark. The measurement should start at 0 to get an accurate girth. I've seen some just wrap it around and assume the "0" mark is at the very tip of tape measure. I've also been told by some the girth measurement can vary between girthing a fish out and in of water. Either way..I don't worry too much bout other people's fish |
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Posts: 32926
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I don't measure the girth of any muskies I catch anymore. I don't much care, so I figure no one else will. |
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| to expand on what Slamr said. When pushing the musky into the camera to get it looking bigger than life, dont forget to take your pinky and push the camera facing gill plate to the camera as well. Its "Musky Modeling" 101. |
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Location: oswego, il | esoxaddict - 11/5/2014 5:10 PM
I think it dilutes the results for the rest of us. I think there are a lot of guys who catch a giant fish and then measure it and girth it and think "crap. 51x23... That guy the other day got one that had was 53x27.."
I think falsified measurements inflate the expectations for a lot of new anglers on what they should be catching and how often. If they found out how many 50's were actually closer to 48 and how many 27" girths were closer to 24" they'd be singing a different tune.
When you have a bunch of guys posting pictures of very nice fish and then inflating the measurements, it dilutes the accomplishment of the guys who are actually out there catching fish that are bigger and don't even realize it.
There was a guy a while back talking about what he can do to catch bigger fish in IL, because all of his fish are under 45"...
No doubt looking at all the pictures of big fish coming out of MN and Canada and thinking he's doing something wrong down here in IL because his fish don't look like that.
The more seasoned anglers probably understand what a "big fish" is in their area, but a lot the new guys are beating themselves up for not catching a fish that probably doesn't even exist where they are fishing. Similarly, a lot of guys are comparing their legitimately measured and girthed fish to what everyone else is putting up out there and questioning their success and their methods, when in reality, they're catching the biggest fish out there.
Some guys are out there to catch the biggest fish in the lake. Some of them HAVE and don't even know it because the last three guys that caught a big fish out there lied about the measurements.
That ain't right.
fisherman who worry about what the other guy is doing will never be great fisherman. |
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Posts: 2026
| I stopped girthing them, because it made me feel fat. |
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Posts: 1272
Location: Walker, MN | mnmusky - 11/5/2014 6:45 PM
to expand on what Slamr said. When pushing the musky into the camera to get it looking bigger than life, dont forget to take your pinky and push the camera facing gill plate to the camera as well. Its "Musky Modeling" 101. Don't forget about the "lean back". If your head looks small, it must be a big-un. |
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Posts: 192
| I'm so excited when I catch a nice one I can't remember to do any of those tricks when taking the picture or making the measurements.......and I'm in a big hurry to get the fish back into the lake. My fish photos usually suck. |
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Posts: 46
| My favorite pics are the guys that do the cradle hold.... because they have to. You know its a big fish!
Edited by #1netman 11/5/2014 9:11 PM
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Posts: 303
Location: Not where I want to be! | Maybe the angler that exagerates the girth or length is trying to validate himself, not the fish. Maybe girth does not matter to some. That's fine, but no one enjoys being BS'ed. The fish are what they are, be happy with what you caught. |
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Posts: 1283
| I have never checked the girth on a fish, because they are mostly small and its not worth it. I do try and make the fish look good in the pic though. Like EA said in IL we just dont have those monsters a lot of you are so blessed to have. A good day for me is just seeing a fish, a great day is catching one. |
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| ^ I don't care where you fish, 50's are not that common. Though better in some places than others no doubt. |
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Posts: 1283
| I guess but reading and looking at the fish caught from members of the site. I didnt even waste the time on a nice 47 we boated this year in WI. Just seemed pointless to me, yet it was less then 3" from that magical 50" mark. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | here's my take on girths...first off, they are not hard to measure and measure accurately... fattest part of the fish, they do not vary from what I have seen in or out of the water so don't buy into that BS...I've girthed enough to know when I see one over 22" if it is or not... it takes a FAT fish to hit 24"... 26 and up .. super fattys... it is pretty blatantly obvious when guys post pics of girths that are CLEARLY exaggerated they either:
1. didn't girth it at all and are just guessing based on other exaggerated girths they have seen on the interweb
2. are pretty inexperienced and don't have a clue what they are doing.
sort of like guys calling a nice 50 incher a 40 lber... um no, it's not either...
to take a quote from Larry Ramsell... "don't say it unless you weigh it" ...goes the same for girths...
Edited by BNelson 11/6/2014 1:31 PM
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | So, true!
"I stopped girthing them, because it made me feel fat."
Even better insight from ToddM ->
"fisherman who worry about what the other guy is doing will never be great fisherman."
Have fun!
Al
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Posts: 295
| Whats wrong with holding a fish out for a picture? And taking a good picture? It is after all a picture of the fish isnt it? Is anyone searching fishing websites just looking for pictures of dudes? All the measurement drama aside, i really just want to see a big fish... not the guy holding it or the garbage on the boat or anything else. Hold em out as far as you can, gimme a good look. I could care less what someone else says about the size of a/their fish, but a nice photo taken from a lower position angled slightly upwards with the fish out for viewing purposes is waaayyy better than one of a guy holding it up against his size XXXL gut frowning at the camera with fast food wrappers all over the floor of the boat, regardless of the size of the fish. We all know what we're looking at when we see a picture. I dont need someone else to tell me if its a big fish or not, but i do like to actually see the fish if im going to look at it. |
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| ^That fast food sentence was darn funny!!! Nothing wrong with that at all. I just don't get that some peeps lie about what they caught. Like it even matters anyway. |
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Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | ToddM - 11/5/2014 4:11 PM
I find it amazing how people get all up in arms over other people's fish measurements. They mean nothing to no one except the person who caught the fish yet the ones that did matter those same people could care less. I could care less who measured what and how.
Todd, you've been in the basement enough to Know better.
could or couldn't care less ? |
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Posts: 688
Location: Already Gone | Who cares. Just get it back in the water...don't disorientate the fish. |
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Posts: 556
| I don't girth them anymore either---Quick measurement--quick photo-- at the most and back they go. You can tell if a fish is overly fat just by the picture--no need to try and get an exact girth--and even if you did--all the experts would tell you why you are lying. I very rarely ever see anyone question a length---but throw that girth number in there and you are immediately called a liar!!! |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I don't post pictures on the net as my fish are only important to me. If its a big fish you can't hold it out in the old "EAP" extended arm pose. If it's a real good fish the picture will have to be taken with the fish on my lap and me sitting down. I watch the fish in the St Lawrence actually expanding in girth in the net or on the board don't know if its a swim bladder issue but the fish have no difficulty going back down so if you were to girth a number of times could get 2 or 3 different results . |
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Posts: 32926
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | What is the girth on this one?
I have no idea and don't care. It was a nice fish. Made my top 5 in 5th place. That's really all that matters to me, so why should it matter any differently to anyone else?
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Posts: 7084
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Minnow! |
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Posts: 8828
| I'd give that fish a 20" girth lol
That's what it's really all about out there, is you and the water and the fish.
For me, if I am out there for any goal except to be out there and have a good time, it's this:
1. Beat my personal best
2. Beat my number for most fish in a day
3. Beat my number for most inches of musky in one day
Beyond that, I really just care about having a good time out there. We've had some of our best days when we put one small fish in the boat. One of my most memorable days we raised a good 25 fish, most of which were pretty substantial. We caught nothing that day. But there were fish everywhere and every cast was exciting. Another that comes to mind is a day where we stumbled into a bunch of dink pike. We were calling our casts, and seeing who could catch one when they said they would. We were making bets over who would catch the bigger one when we doubled up, or who could predict the exact size of their next pike. By the time we got to fish #5, we were laughing so hard we could hardly cast.
It's all about the fun and the friends and the stupid #*#* that has everyone on the boat practically in tears. I remember every fish I've caught. But I have as many if not more good memories of the days were nobody caught anything. It's musky fishing, man. You're going to catch nothing most of the time. If you're not having fun trying to catch them, you're not having enough fun.
I fish because it's fun. I fish because at the end of the day I have at least one thing I can look back on and laugh over, which is more than I can say for most days of my life. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Slamr - 11/6/2014 7:54 PM
Minnow!
That's 'SS Minnow' to you, Slamr. |
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Posts: 720
| Geez Steve,
What kind of cracker are you going to put that one on? |
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Posts: 32926
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Ritz? |
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Location: Contrarian Island | Steve, nobody really does care what the girth of your fish was do we? point is you aren't saying it's a 30" girth either... I'm sure the same thing happens in the buck hunting world, guy shoots a 120 class deer, gets on the net and try to pawn it off as 150...
I'm sure in the bass world it happens too etc etc.... point is, nobody DOES care until guys totally exaggerate and fabricate sizes...
nice fish btw ....ate a sucker ey?!
Edited by BNelson 11/7/2014 7:36 AM
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Posts: 32926
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Yes it did. Pretty cool experience, Herbie is very good at what he does.
I don't much care if someone misstates a girth or length. Some folks do. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Who cares and why keep the fish out of the water any longer
I think it is so funny when I see My fish was 52.8 X24.5 
NICE FISH Steve !!!!!!!!!
Edited by PIKEMASTER 11/7/2014 8:21 AM
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Posts: 108
| I have girthed quite a few big fish...in the water during the release process. My reason in doing so is to get an accurate representation of weight without hooking the fish up to a scale. I don't girth fish anymore unless they are exceptionally obese..24"+ girth. 26"+ girths are a rarity in MN...these fish are true giants in the fall and I think very few lakes will kick out a 26"+ girth in November in MN. The largest girth I have ever measured was a 27" giant from Mille Lacs...I can't even imagine a 29" girth...hope to see one some day!! There are a lot of muskie fisherman who claim to catch 40 pounders when in fact they are probably way closer to 30 pounders. Does it matter??? Well...I do think an individual who catches an exceptional fish may not realize it is that exceptional when everyone posts a 26" girth on the internet when in fact the fish is closer to 22" girth. The best source of data I can point to in regards to photos and girths are Captain Rich Clarke's Sign Man Charters website...I can't think of anyone who would claim any of the girths he has listed are exaggerated.
Regardless of the girth...enjoy the chase and enjoy every fish you encounter...they are all special!
Brett Waldera
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Location: Contrarian Island | I agree, Rich's site was unreal for huge girth fish... I was gonna post the link to his pics but he took his gallery down... anyone that wanted to see what true girths were should have seen the pics on his site!
EA, catching fish is fun too... |
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Location: On the O | Thanks for the input fellas.
I only girth fish 44" or bigger typically.
I think one of the only reasons I girth 'em is so I can plunk it into the weight calculator (I know that might be a touchy subject as well) cause without a doubt the number one question I get when showing a big fish pic to the non initiated is, "How much did it weigh?". Then either, "Did you keep it?" or "What did it taste like?".
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Posts: 42
| "They tell me your a muskie with True Girth..." |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | BigC - 11/7/2014 11:12 AM
Thanks for the input fellas.
I only girth fish 44" or bigger typically.
I think one of the only reasons I girth 'em is so I can plunk it into the weight calculator (I know that might be a touchy subject as well) cause without a doubt the number one question I get when showing a big fish pic to the non initiated is, "How much did it weigh?". Then either, "Did you keep it?" or "What did it taste like?".
Chicken. Especially on a Ritz cracker. |
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Location: On the O | I usually go with, "No I didn't keep it, it would taste like dirt, the thing is probably 100 years old...." |
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Location: oswego, il | Buliwyf - 11/7/2014 11:19 AM
"They tell me your a muskie with True Girth..."
I was trying to think a way to get a true grit reference I here.
still don't get how inaccurate or exaggerated measurements can get ones panties to fit into a thimble. |
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Posts: 51
| when you can hold the fish away from your body....its not a big fish.... |
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| WOLFFMAN - 11/7/2014 7:37 PM
when you can hold the fish away from your body....its not a big fish....
Makes sense if you are weak. Most adults can hold 20-50lbs away from their body... |
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Posts: 8828
| BenR - 11/7/2014 7:46 PM
WOLFFMAN - 11/7/2014 7:37 PM
when you can hold the fish away from your body....its not a big fish....
Makes sense if you are weak. Most adults can hold 20-50lbs away from their body...
Sure, when it has handles it's not slimy, and it's not flopping around trying to get away. |
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | LOL- Steve! She looks like she's about 1/2 your girth. You should be able to get pretty accurate measuement of that?
Talking about girths - look at Phil Schweik's Facebook timeline photo. Got girth?
Have fun!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 11/8/2014 7:24 AM
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Posts: 439
Location: Lake of the Woods, Morson, Ontario | Put more than a few fatties on the board this fall and didn't get the girth tape out at all. Girthed 1 fish last fall out of the 87 for the trolling season. Fat is fat. The number really doesn't matter to me. |
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| esoxaddict - 11/7/2014 8:56 PM
BenR - 11/7/2014 7:46 PM
WOLFFMAN - 11/7/2014 7:37 PM
when you can hold the fish away from your body....its not a big fish....
Makes sense if you are weak. Most adults can hold 20-50lbs away from their body...
Sure, when it has handles it's not slimy, and it's not flopping around trying to get away.
Big fish tend to be pretty calm when you handle them, but I am sure you already knew that;-) |
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Posts: 8828
| BenR - 11/13/2014 11:21 PM
esoxaddict - 11/7/2014 8:56 PM
BenR - 11/7/2014 7:46 PM
WOLFFMAN - 11/7/2014 7:37 PM
when you can hold the fish away from your body....its not a big fish....
Makes sense if you are weak. Most adults can hold 20-50lbs away from their body...
Sure, when it has handles it's not slimy, and it's not flopping around trying to get away.
Big fish tend to be pretty calm when you handle them, but I am sure you already knew that;- )
Yeah. Raise your hand if you never dropped a fish. |
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| esoxaddict - 11/14/2014 11:07 AM
BenR - 11/13/2014 11:21 PM
esoxaddict - 11/7/2014 8:56 PM
BenR - 11/7/2014 7:46 PM
WOLFFMAN - 11/7/2014 7:37 PM
when you can hold the fish away from your body....its not a big fish....
Makes sense if you are weak. Most adults can hold 20-50lbs away from their body...
Sure, when it has handles it's not slimy, and it's not flopping around trying to get away.
Big fish tend to be pretty calm when you handle them, but I am sure you already knew that;- )
Yeah. Raise your hand if you never dropped a fish.
I have dropped one very expensive fish.... |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I witnessed that one. Big fish. |
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Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | And it was an ugly thing to watch BenR! |
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|  I can see the humorous side of it these days:-) |
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Posts: 1023
| That fish is impressive Steve. Wow. |
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Posts: 209
| amazing that crappie lil ernie fish will never go away............... |
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