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AndrewYBarbo.
What do you experienced guys that fish tournaments recommend in a measuring board? My son got a 2 pound penalty yesterday at weigh in during a Youth Fishing League tournament. This was his first tournament in this series and we knew the fish was close to the sixteen inch length limit for Conroe. My son went up and expressed his concern about the length and said he wanted to make sure it measured by their board so he didnt get a penalty. It was a little over sixteen inches on the BCB board that came with our boat. Mouth of fish was closed, we measured it before putting it in the live well and again on our board before weigh in. Guy took the fish and said it was short and gave him a two pound penalty. Difference between about fifth place and last out of around twenty in his age group. My son told the guy he wanted to measure it with their board before getting a penalty but was told it was too late. He communicated this beforehand. I was told later they had a board on a table that my son could have used but they never told my son where it was before they measured the fish. Im not sure my son communicated with them the way he intended, hes fifteen, but he was not happy about the penalty and swore he told them. We had discussed this before he walked up from the boat to weigh in. So, my question is, whats the best board? The guys who weighed in the fish told me their board was certified and he didnt care anything about our board, our board was bent, and that the game warden could care less also.. I told him I fully understood their board was the only one that mattered and that was the reason my son wanted to measure the fish before weighing in. I told my son lesson learned and to get over it. We are fairly new to tournament fishing but knew the rules, the whole reason my son questioned the guys beforehand. Im not trying to make a big deal out of this at all, just want to learn and get a more accurate board or one that is certified I guess.
There is no such thing as a certified measuring board. 14″ is 14″ and 16″ is 16″. If your board is bent, then yes it will make a difference. The board in a BCB is as certified as the next.
Every legitimate event has a courtesy table, or an approved board. The proper method would be to compare your board against the tournament weigh masters. There are usually authorized boards and for example RedMan once used all Golden Rule boards, as did BCB, which was the gold standard. This (Golden Rule) became hard as they were difficult to communicate with and receive product in volume from. Thus BCB began looking at other boards and it is a very critical component that only one person approves. They matched exactly with the Golden Rule measurements and are checked for authenticity frequently. The first board prints received were off between 1/32 and 1/64 of an inch on screening. The other issue is a bent lip on a board, they get stepped on and bend the riser tab, which lengthens the board usually. Measuring fish is another art that requires some talent and experience. If you dont flip them and verify, then you can make errors. The proper answer again would be check the BCB board against the official board to relieve your conscious. It is always a good idea to verify the measuring board, especially if they dont have a courtesy table, and measure them again when sacking them to be sure. The ones at the Invitational were always Golden Rule and we do provide a courtesy bump table also. BCB
Thanks, the board isnt bent as far as I can tell and its practically brand new since it came with my 2017 Eyra. My son took our board up there but they said they could care less about our board as theres was “certified”. . I hadnt heard of a “certified board” but thats what the guy told me. I sure didnt want to argue but thought the guy should have just told my son where the bump table was. It was crowded with lots of kids, parents, grandparents, and my son didnt see it which is why he went up to ask them. I didnt care it didnt measure by their board, just hated he got the 2 pound penalty. Like I told him, lesson learned and lifes too short to worry about that kind of stuff.Off to Rayburn tomorrow and fishing there Tuesday and Wednesday. Excited as its only my second time there, first time in my own boat. Last edited by C130 on March 12th, 2017, 7:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Good quality that he took it personal. He should have compared the bump table to his.
Actually, what should have happened is that the tournament organizers actually put people in these positions that have an interest in making an event as pleasant and interesting as possible. This “it doesnt matter” sounds like words from a true jerk.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
I had a belly board @ one time, aint seen one in years though. but it was slightly indented so the girth of a fish allowed it to lay as flat as possible on the board.
I have to say, my Golden Rule and BCB do not measure up (no pun intended). Ive put them side by side on a flat surface and made sure neither is bent. if it doesnt measure on both, it goes back in the lake.
I gave up on the thin boards. Went to the pro series 1/4″ thick board from golden rule / gator grip. As thick as it is – it wont bend and its cnc milled to accurate both on the face and measuring strips. I havent brought a fish to the scales that didnt measure since I got it.
I have not had an issue with measuring problems. For future practice, leave a cull ring on any fish under 14.5″. Fish will shrink 1/8″ sometimes in a live well. All tournaments will have a bump board separate from weigh-in line. At that point check the fish.
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