Can anyone give me a ballpark figure on what a 42 inch cat would weigh? We caught one today in 10 fow trolling a # 7 Lunker Plunker. I have a pic but not sure how to post it. Took almost 20 min. to land her.
Check out this discussion awhile back.
The catfish formula for a BALL PARK weight.
I didn’t take a girth measurment. Thought about as we released her. Thanks
Low to mid 30’s probably
Mid to upper 30s, I’d say.
Thats what i was thinkjing according to my back and the effort he had to make when holding the fish, of course the battery for my scale was dead 
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Mid to upper 30s, I’d say.
We’ll both go with 35 then 
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Mid to upper 30s, I’d say.
We’ll both go with 35 then
Probably the best guess. I have a formula based on several thousand cats, but the bulk of the sample were southern cats, and there were some lake cats thrown in. Our cats are leaner than both of those. My formula gave 40 as the average weight for that length, so it’s certainly possible, but likely mid thirties.
So yeah – we’re both right. 
Thanks guys, just wanted some ideas from people in the know!
The fish in my avatar was 41″, 38lbs 14oz
This post had me playing with a bunch of numbers and doing some averaging from a few hundred fish that I have data for.
This is vague guideline I came up with. It should be around +/- 3lbs with it getting less accurate as the length increases.
That fish of Tyler’s must have had a big belly.
35” = 20#
36” = 22#
37” = 24#
38” = 26#
39” = 28#
40” = 30#
41” = 33#
42” = 36#
43” = 38#
44” = 41#
45” = 44#
46” = 46#
47” = 49#
48” = 52#
49” = 56#
50” = 60#
A scale trumps a tape measure like rock is to scissors or paper to rock…or was it scissors to paper. 
Brian, you keep saying that, but it’s obvious that it a lot of cases people don’t have a scale with them or battery is dead, or it fell in the water etc, etc (insert excuse here). It happens time and time again. I provided these numbers as a guildeline for those circumstances. To be honest, I think a tape measure (in most cases) is much easier on the fish as well.
I will always keep a scale in my boat to keep tabs on my personal best, but everything smaller gets a tape put to it.
Or…we caught one on Sat. and we had a scale and a soft tape. The Berkley digital scale said 29 lbs 2 oz and the tape said 43 in. and 24-25 in girth (its not always easy to get the best girth measurement)so which do I believe?
Actually with a soft tape the girth should be very close.
It’s much easier to get conflicting and or exaggerated numbers on the length due to the hills and valleys of the fish. I have a metal 48” ruler screwed to my bench seat and it’s as easy as laying the fish on the bench.
In just about every case, the scale is going to be the most accurate. The ONLY instances in which they might not be is if it’s a cheap spring scale, if it’s out of calibration, or user error (letting the fish bounce up and down and taking the highest reading).
If it’s the exact weight you are looking for than by all means use the $20 digital scale, it cannot be beat.
I’ve seen and measured enough fish now that I am confident to within 2-3 lbs and that is fine with me, until (if or when) I start approaching that 60lb mark…….I know wishful thinking
While I love all the info being gathered about the fish and I think the charts are valuable for people without a scale, but I have to disagree with the idea of measuring being easier to do or better for the fish. Well, I guess it depends on what else you do with the fish.
When I net a fish I pop the hook out, hook the scale on the net for a quick weight and then put the fish back in the water. It the fish is worthy of a picture I take it out of the net after weighing, snap the photo and then slip the fish back into the water.
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you keep saying that
Wonder why that is?? 
Ok…you want to hear it??
I believe in my less than experienced opinion, that a scole or a tape is no easier on a fish than the person measuring it. Case in point…did anyone see the pic of the Griz holding his record flathead?
Sorry Outdraft…your post is going to go waaay off topic…but we are all friends here and it’s going to be a good discussion for the newer folks taking up cats this year….I might learn something to…by gosh!
I haven’t seen any data that shows a cat died because it was weight was taken using a net and a scale…come to think of it, no data on a tape measured fish either.
I have a 104 inch soft tape in my boat..in fact I have too of them. I’m hoping I’ll catch one someday that I’ll have to use both on the 
same fish.
I prefer to use the net and scale because as long as the scale is accurate it is what it is.
Charts are only as good as the data entered as Matt suggested when he said most fish were from South of here and lake fish.
As far as what’s good for the fish…well to what extreame will we draw the line? Is lifting a 30 pounder out of the water into the boat better than using a net that will take off a bit of slime coat? What about the large spawning wounds? I think the slime coat was taken off there…and they lived.
If I didn’t have a scale or my battery was dead…(not going to happen) I would use a measuring system too…and sending you (DTRO) a pm asking for the weight from my measurements.
OK, let’s put aside any argument about what is “safer” for a fish, Cats are a tough customer so neither side hold much weight.
How many posts do you see a year from Bass fisheman A or Walleye fisherman B or even from Catfisherman C who don’t have a scale with them but they have measurements and want to know a weight?
They ask for a weight…….
“Hey dude get a scale”
Well no schmidt sherlock
The numbers I provided and the formula that I’ve worked out (using hundreds of fish) is an easy way to get a ballpark figure. Nothing more nothing less. We all have our preferences and for me using a length or in a lot of cases length/girth works better for me.
I respect the Musky guys for doing this effectively for many years and it is what I’ve adopted for myself.
I don’t claim to be right, but when someone asks for weight based on a measurements, I’m not going to insult them by telling them to buy a scale.
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How many posts do you see a year from Bass fisheman A or Walleye fisherman B or even from Catfisherman C who don’t have a scale with them but they have measurements and want to know a weight?
D…None, but to be fair I’m not allowed in those forums.
I respect the Musky guys too. But for their organization in getting the season closed for Muskies in the winter.
Dtro, you know that if you look at a ski wrong they die. In the Musky case, it’s what’s best for the fish.
I was simply stating the obvious after Mr Holm pointed out his length/ weight of the fish in his avatar.
I think I was the only one insulted. 
Ok…I’m over it now. 
D….none??????
How did this post start? 
Sorry BK not trying to get up in your grill 
, I just have spent a lot time crunching some numbers in trying to come up with a simple way to help out folks who are curious with a weight when all they have is a length. I would guess a of us were there at one time or another. It’s not a perfect system, but I can guarantee you it’s a whole lot better than people shouting weights from the cheap seats based on a picture.
I will continue to use my tape and white rods, and you can keep doing the lesser way 
First you pick on scales and now the cheap seats. 
What’s wrong with the cheap seats? 
From what I’ve seen the cheap seats have been just as accurate, no that would be unfair. The charts are a good ballpark picture and I can see that fine from my cheap seats.
Must be the 7th inning stretch…I’m buying.
Here’s a great post from ’04 (thanks Matt!) and I don’t have to type it all over again.
ok you win Brian
A tape measure is no more accurate than guessing at a picture.
I’m out
I think that they both serve a purpose.
The measurements have been found to be very helpful in 98% of the instances concerning contests or league where people are competing on their catches…. It gives a measure of standard that removes any doubt about which fish is the larger…
That being said the next thing is “How Much does that Hog weigh” That is where a scale and in many instances multiple scales are used to “Double Check” in effort to remove any shadow of a doubt.
Both forms of measurement are completely valid its just that guys that do more competitive fishing have seen a few but serious discrepecies on the weighing of fish compared to measuring.
As far as what is better for the fish…… It comes down to the fisherman… and I think that most of us have the respect to treat the fish as gentle as possible.
I hope this made sense. 
That makes a lot of sense Larry. I didn’t think about the competition aspect, where a bouncing scale or weighing the net might makes things hard when you are using the honor system.
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A scale trumps a tape measure like rock is to scissors or paper to rock…or was it scissors to paper.
Hmmmm…it’s funny how some get wound up over the rock, scissors, paper game.
You win Dtro, a chart will be more accurate than a scale.
Fishing is supposed to be fun. Who gives a $hit? 36 pounds or 40 pounds, I am a happy guy!
Omg you guys are totally missing the whole point of my argument. I’ve alrerady said that a good scale cannot be beat….period
and Ryan, I totally agree I honestly could care less. I’m out there for fun and relaxation (until I hit the jackpot on Big Mamma someday then I will care).
But I’ve caught enough big fish to not care a whole lot anymore. There are a lot of people just getting into this obsession we call cattin and or happen upon a big fish by accident and would like to know how big it was.
It’s not about (and never has been) scale vs tape. It’s about getting an accurate number with simple measurements.
When someone hapens to not have a scale in the boat wouldn’t you all agree that you could get a better estimate with a tape than a picture???
I guess not
This time I’m really out
Dtro, I agree with your point.
What about a good eyechrometer? 
Ryan, just call it 42 pounds…as one old guy told me “It’s your fish story”
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Fishing is supposed to be fun. Who gives a $hit? 36 pounds or 40 pounds, I am a happy guy!
From this quote…. I’m gathering that your due for a big one… Just remember to leave the scale and tape measure and……. camera at home…. We love fish stories.. 
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