Set the Record Straight, Don't Exaggerate

Fishermen are known for their tall tales and exaggerated stories. I hear crazy big fish stories all the time – “I caught a fish this big” – without any proof from a scale or a measuring board.

I've been guilty of a few exaggerations. For the longest time, I told people that the largest bass I'd ever caught was 7 pounds. I didn't have a measuring board or a scale photo to prove it. Unfortunately, I have no idea just how big the bass was. The biggest bass I've ever had on a scale was 6 pounds, 3 ounces. The “7-pounder” was bigger, but I still have no idea what it really weighed.

Investing in scale became a no-brainer for me because I wanted to know the actual weight of what I was catching. I wanted to set the record straight and back my “exaggerated” stories with some evidence.

Having a scale handy – even an inexpensive one – just makes sense if you're a competitive person looking to beat your own record. Make the investment, so you don't end up kicking yourself in the pants like I have. I wish I could tell you exactly what my biggest bass weighed, but I can't.

Editor’s Note: If you’re in the market for a good scale, take a look at the scale used by Major League Fishing.