I do think that fish vary in weight, but over a season, the ounce more or less, here and there, tend to average out and make no difference. In the pros they need a stage thing to sell. At least that's the belief. Of course is the fatter fish the smarter fish OR older fish? I doubt it. I believe fat is just what they are eating, combined with temps and climate and genetics. Length is more determinate of age based on the region of course.
Does an ounce determine the better angler OR the lucky one? Pros could use total inches, I think that's how they do the estimating while on the water and if you watch the ESPN leader board during the events, it seems to follow who wins. So they are proving the point already.
I think the main reason to use length is to protect the fish. If we could weight them quicker, or in water, then weighting would be ok. If we go by weight, I want the scale that errors highest every time at my landings.
I think I've lost more ounces in how the weight is read then how fat the fish is. I think mine were all scored when they jumped into the air, so my weights were lower than they should have been. ;) I think Ouitdee did that on purpose.. Just kidding. But sometimes they seem lower than the fish say and others higher. That's because of the wide range of weights the scales were reading as the fish are jumping around. Always take the highest number my fish can create, that's their weight. ;)
If we get a scale to weigh in water, I am for weighting. But remember we will need two of them, one for each group and they are expensive. Otherwise I would prefer not harming the fish by stacking them together and waiting on them to stop, before getting a number. That feels like a slot machine to me and I never do well with slot machines.
As long as we are all doing the same thing, I don't care. Just let me know before I fish...
Heres another possibilty.The league could purchase, 1 water scale and weigh the fish on the together nights and on split nights we can use the conversion chart.and if there were a chance of a tie at the end of season the total weight of fish scored on together night would be the tie breaker.
take a look out there for scales and please post what you find.
Thanks for posting your thoughts!keep um comming
I am ok with any system that is consistent for everyone. I do know from scoring and managing over a 100 tournaments that measuring is much faster and safer. You never have 4 fish dry waiting on the 5th. And you only have one out of water at a time. Much safer, faster and just as accurate, just not the stage show.
Since people prefer weights, then let's get more scales, better or at the least, accurate ones and go from there. As long as it is the same for everyone, I am good with it. I just want to get on the water and start pulling in the big hawgs..