Reply With QuoteI have heard if you put them on ice they shrink some. What did they use to measure the fish?
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Minnow
Embarrassing and Costly Lesson
I have officially learned why I have read so many times people claiming they do not keep fish under 12 1/8" or 12 1/4".
My buddy and I fished Sardis Saturday morning and had a great day. We caught about 40-50 fish and kept 17 fish.
We pulled the boat out after lunch, when we couldn't stand it any longer, and headed for the house. The game wardens were at the ramp and asked if we did any good, I was honest and told them that we had done fairly well. He asked if he could see our fish so we stopped and jumped out to show him. He looked in the cooler and said he wanted to measure them.
By the end of it all, I had bought a ticket for two short fish. One probably being a 1/16" of an inch short and the other being about 1/8" short. He asked if we were using a drop in style measurer and I confirmed we were. He said those style measurers had made MS a lot of money over the years. For the ease of use, I will continue to use the drop in style but I will also have a metal ruler on board to confirm any fish close before it gets an ice bath.
This is not meant to be a GW bashing thread, he didn't kill a short fish, I did. This is simply a reminder to really check the lengths because we were not out there trying to be outlaws and keep short fish. We had probably thrown back 10-12 fish, or more, measuring between 11-11.75".
We were informed that the mouth of the fish must be shut when measuring a fish. You can pinch the tail but can not open the mouth of the fish to manipulate the length of the fish.
Regardless, I have probably a $200 (or more) bag of crappie fillets at the house. Can anyone please suggest a beautiful bottle of white wine to go with those high dollar fish?
Crappie.com 1K Star General
I have heard if you put them on ice they shrink some. What did they use to measure the fish?
tcounty LIKED above post
Crappie.com Legend
Game wardens use golden rule You have to make sure lip is centered on the bnm measurer Also on Corp lakes make sure it goes to bottom
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Crappie Wall Hanger II
Ouch. Sorry to hear the bad news. I use a golden rule and always make sure they are 12.25 with tails fanned out. I had heard you could pinch the tails, but never seen anything in writing showing the correct way to measure fish.
Crappie.com Legend
Ouch, let us know if you don't mind as to what it cost, I have heard many different amounts but I won't share them with you as to not give you a heart attack!!!!
Glad you had a good day, I keep mine alive even this time of the year, they measure better.
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Crappie.com 1K Star General
If you cut a slot in the drop in measurers they'll work pretty good, but when in doubt throw it back.
Fish have to be OVER 12". That one gets a lot of people. They do draw up in ice and they are longer on one side after being in ice than the other. If you're getting checked and one is a 1/16" short have them flip it over, sometimes that works. If it ain't 12-1/4 I won't keep it.
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Crappie.com 1K Star General
The drop in measures 1/8th inch short. The company that made them measured from the front of the plastic. The plastic is 1/8th inch thick. I have always used a ruler of some sort. But in this heat they get hot and those fish will flop like crazy when u put them on there. So a friend of mine made me a fish checker but he cut the end out and slid a gold rule under it. So now I'm able to drop my fish in and also have the reliability of the ruler. As far as measuring yes u can pinch the tail until it's parallel. As far as fish shrinking, we have tested and they do loose 1/8th inch of length once you kill them. All I can figure is that something in there jaw collapses when they die, because the skeletal structure can't shrink. I have never gotten a short fish ticket and been checked a lot. Make sure the fish is OVER 12 1/8th if your going to kill it.
Crappie.com Legend and Mississippi Moderator
Court cost will vary by county . Sardis used to be a better deal than Enid . was the ticket for "a" short fish ? or two ?Must you appear in court?
Last edited by Eagle 1; 06-27-2016 at 12:45 PM.
Crappie.com 2K Star General
Sorry for your loss. I wish they could use some discretion when clearly there was no intent to cheat. Maybe put in a rule like Washington allowing one or two grace fish.
Crappie.com 3K Star General
