northstar
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I love catch and release because it means I will have really nice fish to catch next year and so will you and your children and their children ect. Since there are now many laws related to slot limits it is nice to have a quick way to measure our fish and get them in the cooler or back in the water as quickly as possible. Here is a little something we installed when we traded boats this summer.
Photos are: 1) A sturgeon too long for the 48" measuring strip on the bottom of the old boat. These are much like over grown aluminum T squares the carpenters use to measure sheet rock. Minus the T of course. We pop riveted them in place. They are available at Menard's, Lowes, Home Depot, ect. You can tell we have been fishing a few days because the floor is slimmed up pretty good. 2) This is a fatty cat that either hasn't been measured yet or hasn't been tossed back in. The deck is really slimy here. In fact, the deck would get so bad by the third day of fishing it was almost impossible to walk. 3) because of that, we put this platform (trough) in the new boat so we could just lift them up once out of the net, do a quick measure and over they go. Works terrific even on large sturgeon. This will measure up to 62", our current record instead of the 48" in the old boat. We like bigguns. 4) & 5) Some looks at the removable head plate. You just slide the fish up to the plate, push the tail down and out they go. The plate is removable so it will not cut the boat cover once we head home. The sides of the platform do not go the whole length so it is easy to take a bucket of water or a hose and wash it down. Sorry the order on the photos got mixed a little but you get the picture. 
Edited by northstar (11/06/09 03:26 AM)
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Briank
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That another thing that's cool and sad about sturgeon and catfishing.
Few companies make anything for fishing these fish.
A person has to see the problem and then make a work a round, 'cause we can't go to the Cabela's catalog and just buy something.
Heck, it's only been within the last three years that Moores and Everts have been stocking "no roll" sinkers. 
Nice post Mr. Star! Floors do get slippery!!
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Briank's Trophy Catfishing and Sturgeon Adventures
Photo's From the 2009 Season<<
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Ralph Wiggum
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I use a similar ruler but have a 72".
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~Ryan
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northstar
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My boat isn't wide enough for a 72" or I would have it. Crying shame we don't have some way to register a state record without killing it. It isn't even legal to bring it in now. There are many state records swimming around out there as pics on this website attest. I think the record sturgeon that has been netted by DNR is 72" and you can't bring one unless it is over 75". Who thinks this stuff up anyway?
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Northstar - Even as you have done it unto the least of my children, you have done it unto me.
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Ralph Wiggum
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Quote:
My boat isn't wide enough for a 72"...
Mine runs lengthwise on the floor.
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~Ryan
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smackem
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It all depends if anyone has seen it.  If not then a good fisherman will add a few inches 
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Farmboy1
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I have been kicking around building a sturgeon measuring device for a couple years now for the excursion. PLEASE NOTE: MILLION DOLLAR IDEA AHEAD 
I wanted to build a 80" (always prepared) long measuring tool, with one end to butt the head to, and a "cradle" to set the fish in. I figured if you had a flat bottom with the tape in it, then sides that have a small slope to them to help support the fish as you measure. Then a place to hold your girth tape on the side. I think a plastic would be great for cleaning, and to keep as much of the slime as possible with the fish and not in my boat, but I think my first version would be wood.
Anything I am missing?
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I would rather be sittting in the boat thinking of God, then sitting in church thinking about fishing.
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Nic Habeck
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I measure mine in inches and lbs... 
Like the measuring box on the transom idea, have seen a few of them around.
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Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught. ~Author Unknown
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rlamar
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Farmboy maybe you could cut a 4 or 5" pvc pipe in half, put a cap on one end for a bump plate, and a stick on measuring tape in the bottom of the pvc. Easy to clean.
Edited by rlamar (11/06/09 11:33 AM)
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northstar
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Good idea, but I'm afraid that large sturgeon and cats would exceed the curvature of a 4 -5 inch pipe.
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Northstar - Even as you have done it unto the least of my children, you have done it unto me.
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Jeremy Liebig
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muskie bumper
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www.smokertackle.com
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Farmboy1
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Quote:
Farmboy maybe you could cut a 4 or 5" pvc pipe in half, put a cap on one end for a bump plate, and a stick on measuring tape in the bottom of the pvc. Easy to clean.
I had thought of that as well, and agree that the size of fish I catch, it would be too small. 
I like the musky tape, but something like that seems to be designed to lay the fish on it's side. I think Sturgeon are made differently and seem to sit very well on their bellys. That is why I thought the flat area for the bellys, then a tapered up spot on both sides. I think for something manufactured the musky tape is as good as you can find, or at least what I have found.
If I can find some time, I will fabricate a mock up for the excursion this year, try it out, and see what modifications I need to make to it. I have been brewing this idea around for a while, and need to make reality out of it.
Consider it garage logic  Or as my Dad says, Heck it is cheaper then a shrink
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I would rather be sittting in the boat thinking of God, then sitting in church thinking about fishing.
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Ralph Wiggum
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Quote:
I like the musky tape, but something like that seems to be designed to lay the fish on it's side. I think Sturgeon are made differently and seem to sit very well on their bellys.
Yeah, the wing-like pectorals make it nearly impossible to lay a sturgeon on it's side. Unfortunately, with the tail configured as it is, you really need the ruler on the side of the fish and not underneath.
I lay them in the bottom of the boat with the snout butted up against a vertical surface. Then, I use my 72" ruler alongside the fish.
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~Ryan
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Farmboy1
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I had thought of that as well, and was thinking maybe a carpenters square with a magnet on it that would stick to the metal ruler. You slide the square along the ruler until it contacts the tail section. No guessing, not fudging measurements, and you can get the fish back in the water quickly.
I know, I have thought about this too much. 
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I would rather be sittting in the boat thinking of God, then sitting in church thinking about fishing.
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Jared Rypka-Hauer
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Quote:
I know, I have thought about this too much.
But what else is there to do in Mantorville?  
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Whoever first said "Better a bad day fishing than a good day at work" is the wisest person who ever lived.
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dtro
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There are some very nicely built Musky bumpers out there made of quality PVC that fold in half. Some of them even have pretty colors to make them picture friendly.
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Farmboy1
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Quote:
Quote:
I know, I have thought about this too much.
But what else is there to do in Mantorville?
As soon as I am finished with my place in Lake City on the river, I know who will not be invited
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I would rather be sittting in the boat thinking of God, then sitting in church thinking about fishing.
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Jared Rypka-Hauer
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Awwwwwww, come on dude... that was naught but a good natured, friendly dig. I have been trained by my wife's family to take the cheap shot when the opportunity presents, but it's a sign of acceptance and respect. 
Besides, I grew up in Faribault, which kinda gives me a right to pick on anything south of Lakeville and east of Mankato.
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Whoever first said "Better a bad day fishing than a good day at work" is the wisest person who ever lived.
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Jeff Jerry
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Quote:
Good idea, but I'm afraid that large sturgeon and cats would exceed the curvature of a 4 -5 inch pipe.
How about the light weight plastic culvert with a cap on the end? It should be lighter than pvc pipe and a bigger curve to it.
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northstar
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I like that. Anytime we can lighten up and still get the result we want that's good. It should also be easy to clean. Hmmmmmm. Good idea. 
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Northstar - Even as you have done it unto the least of my children, you have done it unto me.
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Farmboy1
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If you know me, you know I tend to take as much as I give. No ill will intended. I love a good dig as much as the next guy, problably more. Just cause I am better then you
Heck I grew up in Faribault myself. Was there pheasant hunting this weekend.
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I would rather be sittting in the boat thinking of God, then sitting in church thinking about fishing.
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Ralph Wiggum
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Quote:
If you know me, you know I tend to take as much as I give.
Ohhhhh, you lobbed that one in there, but I'm going to take the high road and not swing at it
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~Ryan
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Farmboy1
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Quote:
Quote:
If you know me, you know I tend to take as much as I give.
Ohhhhh, you lobbed that one in there, but I'm going to take the high road and not swing at it
OOOO, Thanks for that one
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I would rather be sittting in the boat thinking of God, then sitting in church thinking about fishing.
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How do you measure your fish?
Re: How do you measure your fish?
Re: How do you measure your fish?
