Giant pike from yesteryear-how big?

[burbotman]

I came across an old picture of my fathers big pike. No tape or scale at the time.
Over the years we have often "debated" how big it was. AO pike experts share your thoughts.

Now before someone flames the obvious catch and keep, beat in mind this was the early 80's and we had not yet seen the cnr light

[SamSteele]

I would say around 20 lbs.

This one was 18.5 but skinny early spring.




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[Tfng]

I'd think around 18. Unless your dad has the hands of a pro basketball player it seems to be a skinny fish.

[Lowrance Fishburn]

20 lbs + or - a lb.

[mapleleafman3]

I'd guess around the 24lbs mark.

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by mapleleafman3

I'd guess around the 24lbs mark.

I'd say 22 to 24 lbs. It's head and depth are good and it is over 40" if the people in the picture are average size.

[Barnes19]

Originally Posted by Tfng

I'd think around 18. Unless your dad has the hands of a pro basketball player it seems to be a skinny fish.

I'm with this guy, I don't think it make 20lbs.

**note to self - another use for post it notes.

[Blastoff]

I don't think she makes 20 pounds but is close

[creighton]

19 Lbs 40 inches!!!

[BobNewton]

18lbs

[Speckle55]

43 inches/ 22.36 girth/ = 21#.4986

very nice Pike

here is Shannon with a 48 "/ 23#12 ... post spawn Pike

Thanks for sharing

David

[burbotman]

Thanks all for taking the time to weigh in...........

[lovich12]

Solid 10lbs.....

All joking aside, its hard to tell. I'm guessing 18-20. Great looking fish!

[pikeman06]

We call the honest 40 inchers caught through the ice 20 lbs. Not 38 inches but 40 with good girth no use sticking a scale hook in their gills to find out they are 19.5 or 21 lbs cuz they don't like that and usually go nuts when you take your hands off them. Weighed enough dead 40 inchers to say it's a 20. Once you get in that 43 to 48 range you got something special and they are rare in central and northern alberta. See some doozies from down south that put the northern Jacks to shame on this forum tho.

[wags]

Originally Posted by burbotman

Thanks all for taking the time to weigh in...........

That's just fantastic right there. I hope you meant to do that!

Cheers

[burbotman]

Originally Posted by wags

That's just fantastic right there. I hope you meant to do that!

Cheers

Haha, I most certainly did.

I thought this would be a fun thread to see the estimates would come in.
My analysis------ first "fact" of AO is that the poster of a large fish will always overestimate the weight. Second "fact" of AO is that other people will always say it is smaller. ( Ok so not really a fact but we have all seen this dog and pony show before)
The above said, my estimate is pretty much in line with most.

What I thought would be interesting on how people judged the size of this fish were two things.
1. The fish is actually held close to the body and not pushed out to appear larger.
2. No disappearing fingers and knuckles. Hands are actually in the picture ( I don't think the art of holding a fish with no fingers showing was even a thing back then)

I was pretty young at the time and only remember that the fish was huge.
For my estimate I thought I would try out some math.

The fingers are clear in the picture and from measurements I was able to determine a finger/knuckle to fish ratio of 10.83. From there it was a matter of measuring my fathers hand in the same position. Now the measurement I got is very conservative as his now 70 year old hands are not what they once were. This measurement was 100mm. Working the math out this puts the fishes length at 1083mm or or 43.22"
The girth is much harder as he had his hand under the fish which compresses the girth (unlike the rear naked finger pinch) taking some measurements and comparing to a mount with a 21" girth I guesstimate it 22". (Less sound math here)

Based on that I come up with 22lbs..... Agree or disagree it was a fun process and I do appreciate everyone who shared their thoughts.

I doubt I will convince my father that it is not 25lbs......on second thought I doubt I will try, let sleeping dogs sleep

[RavYak]

Agree with low to mid 20's.

[KegRiver]

It measures 40 inches plus or minus an inch.

I measure 18 inches across the shoulders.
The guy in the photo looks to be about my size. the fish is a little over twice his width at the shoulders, so 40 inches.

A good forty incher should weigh very close to 18 pounds but this fish is a bit on the skinny side.

I'd say, 16 pounds give or take a half pound.

It takes a very deep 40 inch pike to weigh 20 pounds.

Besides, I've caught a few in the 16 pound range and seen a few that topped 20 pounds. This looks like a 16 pound fish to me.