I got a big native steelhead last week and was thinking it would have have been nice to get an actual weight on it. I thought for sure I'd broken the 20lbs barrier based on pictures I've seen of other fish that purported to be over 20lbs.

I took its measurements, 36.5x20 and it only came out to 18.83lbs. Anyway way this got me thinking of how I could get an actual weight without hurting the fish.

I remember I'd seen pictures of cradle nets and this looked like a kind of promising way to do it. You could just slip it under the fish, attach the scale to the net, give a quick lift and get a weight (subtracting out the net). The fish would be supported for its full length and couldn't thrash around for the short time it was out of the water.

What do you think?

Here is a link showing a cradle net.

cradle net

I just watched a show where they used one of those little jammies! it seemed to work very well, although I do not think most people would pack one of those around. I would imagine if you were in a boat, you would actually end up messing with the fish less with one of those things-if youre willing to pack it, I would say it was a great idea! the fish seem to simmer down quite a bit when they're held on all sides.

my .02

crayfin

most people use boca-grips for weighing records that will be released. i use a tail rope. the grips seem like they would hurt the fishes mouth. chatillon spring scales and boca grips are some of the few handheld scales that can easily be certified.

I keep records of how much hatchery fish weigh as well as length/girth. You can get a good approximation of natives with a simple length. A 36 inch steelhead of average girth goes ~ 14 pounds. 36.5, maybe 15. A girthy native will go 15 to 30% heavier than that. I'd guess your fish at about 17 pounds (a beauty). I brought home a hatchery buck with nice shoulders last winter that was 36.5 inches. It weighed 16.5 pounds.

ONLY 19 pounds? Geez, BossMan, that's a heck of a fish to be disappointed in.

If you wanna call it 20. I won't tell........

Just tape em...

Do not put a fish through unnecassary stress and trauma just so you can be sure it was 20.

FYI. DO NOT USE BOGA GRIPS ON SALMONIDS.

These things are great for salt water fish with heavy jaw structures, but they trash the jaws on salmon and steelhead.

Lot's of guys use catch and release cradles for muskies in the Midwest. Very minimal handling to the fish, and no need to bust their backs by ripping them out of the water by their tails or under the gill rakers. They may be worth a try in a drift boat, but not practical at all for hike in fishing.

I measure the length and for the first 24 inches, it's 4 pounds, for every inch after that, add 1 pound. It's pretty damn accurate.

Buy a good C&R bag for your net. Net the fish, weigh it in the net with a digital scale, take picture, release! I too am sick of not knowing the EXACT weight of the fish. From now on I dont go to the river without my scale or net!

after much thought, i have decided that the best thing is to lie about the weight. add 4 inches and several pounds.

Never try to figure out a sling to hold a C&R fish by the tail to weigh it, you'll hear it's back bone pop like a machine gun! Take a picture while you cradle it horzonitally just out of the water if you must but otherwise control the fish and kiss it good-bye. If it's a twenty pounder we'll believe you.

Beezer

Does the really "I just need to know" worth the higher mortality potential to the fish? If it's big do a quick estimate and let it swim away strong with minimal impact. Is someone's ego more important than the fish's survival?

Rich, are you saying netting a fish (in a C&R net) is bad for its survival? The other option is to pull over and landed the fish from the bank by hand, WHICH NORMALLY TAKES LONGER and is more stress on the fish. I've been netting my natives and practice C&R 100% of the time, and I can tell you netting a native does not injure the fish. Bob your comments on this, you use a net as well don't you? I'll admit your average net might tare up a fish, but not a soft small woven net designed for releasing fish!

BK, In my opinion a C&R net is cool, unless the practice is to lift the fish out of the water with net and man handle the fish to weigh it. Actually it would be great to see more anglers use a C&R net it better serves a dual purpose- allows an angler to net hatchery fish as well as lessen the impact on wild fish, but just like any tool, it's the operator who uses it correctly.

Where do you guys find the C+R nets I need to replace the bag on mine and can't find the C+R style.