Use a Ruler to Weigh Your Fish
For panfish, bass, trout, pike, muskie and walleye
Yes, it is possible to get an approximate weight for many species of fish by measuring their lengths. To estimate the weight of your catch, measure the fish's total length - from tail to the mouth - then refer to the appropriate table below. The weights listed are based on averages of each fish species measured across New York State. For assistance in identification of your catch, obtain a reliable field guide or check out DEC's "Freshwater Fishes of New York" series (see link at right).
Remember, if you wish to practice catch and release, a fish's length can be quickly marked on your fishing rod, landing net, boat seat, or any handy object that can be measured later when a ruler is available.
Panfish
| Length | Bluegill | Rock Bass |
Black Crappie |
Yellow Perch |
Brown Bullhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Weight | Weight | Weight | Weight | |
| 7" | 4 oz. | 4 oz. | |||
| 7.5" | 5 oz. | 5 oz. | |||
| 8" | 7 oz. | 6 oz. | 4 oz. | 3 oz. | |
| 8.5" | 8 oz. | 7 oz. | 6 oz. | 4 oz. | |
| 9" | 10 oz. | 8 oz. | 7 oz. | 5 oz. | |
| 9.5" | 12 oz. | 10 oz. | 8 oz. | 6 oz. | |
| 10" | 14 oz. | 12 oz. | 9 oz. | 7 oz. | |
| 10.5" | 1 lb. 1 oz. | 14 oz. | 11 oz. | 8 oz. | 9 oz. |
| 11" | 1 lb. 4 oz. | 1 lb. 0 oz. | 13 oz. | 9 oz. | 10 oz. |
| 11.5" | 1 lb. 7 oz. | 1 lb. 2 oz. | 15 oz. | 11 oz. | 12 oz. |
| 12" | 1 lb. 10 oz. | 1 lb. 4 oz. | 1 lb. 1 oz. | 12 oz. | 14 oz. |
| 12.5" | 1 lb. 14 oz. | 1 lb. 7 oz. | 1 lb. 3 oz. | 14 oz. | 1 lb. 0 oz. |
| 13" | 2 lb. 3 oz. | 1 lb. 10 oz. | 1 lb. 6 oz. | 1 lb. 0 oz. | 1 lb. 2 oz. |
| 13.5" | 2 lb. 7 oz. | 1 lb. 13 oz. | 1 lb. 9 oz. | 1 lb. 2 oz. | 1 lb. 4 oz. |
| 14" | 2 lb. 12 oz. | 2 lb. 1 oz. | 1 lb. 12 oz. | 1 lb. 5 oz. | 1 lb. 6 oz. |
| 14.5" | 2 lb. 4 oz. | 1 lb. 15 oz. | 1 lb. 7 oz. | 1 lb. 9 oz. | |
| 15" | 2 lb. 8 oz. | 2 lb. 3 oz. | 1 lb. 10 oz. | 1 lb. 12 oz. | |
| 15.5" | 2 lb. 6 oz. | 1 lb. 13 oz. | 1 lb. 15 oz. | ||
| 16" | 2 lb. 11 oz. | 2 lb. 0 oz. | 2 lb. 2 oz. | ||
| 16.5" | 2 lb. 15 oz. | 2 lb. 3 oz. | 2 lb. 6 oz. | ||
| 17" | 3 lb. 4 oz. | 2 lb. 7 oz. | 2 lb. 9 oz. | ||
| 17.5" | 3 lb. 9 oz. | 2 lb. 11 oz. | 2 lb. 13 oz. | ||
| 18" | 3 lb. 14 oz. | 2 lb. 15 oz. | 3 lb. 2 oz. | ||
| 18.5" | 3 lb. 6 oz. | ||||
| 19" | 3 lb. 11 oz. | ||||
| 19.5" | |||||
| 20" |
Bass and Trout
| Length | Smallmouth Bass |
Largemouth Bass |
Brook Trout |
Rainbow Trout |
Brown Trout |
Lake Trout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Weight | Weight | Weight | Weight | Weight | |
| 9" | ||||||
| 9.5" | ||||||
| 10" | 8 oz. | 8 oz. | 6 oz. | |||
| 10.5" | 9 oz. | 9 oz. | 7 oz. | |||
| 11" | 10 oz. | 11 oz. | 8 oz. | |||
| 11.5" | 11 oz. | 12 oz. | 10 oz. | |||
| 12" | 13 oz. | 14 oz. | 11 oz. | 10 oz. | 10 oz. | |
| 12.5" | 15 oz. | 1 lb. 0 oz. | 12 oz. | 11 oz. | 12 oz. | |
| 13" | 1 lb. 1 oz. | 1 lb. 2 oz. | 14 oz. | 12 oz. | 13 oz. | |
| 13.5" | 1 lb. 3 oz. | 1 lb. 5 oz. | 1 lb. 0 oz. | 14 oz. | 15 oz. | |
| 14" | 1 lb. 5 oz. | 1 lb. 7 oz. | 1 lb. 2 oz. | 1 lb. 0 oz. | 1 lb. 1 oz. | |
| 14.5" | 1 lb. 7 oz. | 1 lb. 10 oz. | 1 lb. 4 oz. | 1 lb. 1 oz. | 1 lb. 3 oz. | |
| 15" | 1 lb. 10 oz. | 1 lb. 13 oz. | 1 lb. 6 oz. | 1 lb. 3 oz. | 1 lb. 5 oz. | 1 lb. 0 oz. |
| 15.5" | 1 lb. 12 oz. | 2 lb. 0 oz. | 1 lb. 8 oz. | 1 lb. 5 oz. | 1 lb. 7 oz. | 1 lb. 2 oz. |
| 16" | 1 lb. 15 oz. | 2 lb. 4 oz. | 1 lb. 11 oz. | 1 lb. 7 oz. | 1 lb. 9 oz. | 1 lb. 4 oz. |
| 16.5" | 2 lb. 2 oz. | 2 lb. 8 oz. | 1 lb. 14 oz. | 1 lb. 10 oz. | 1 lb. 12 oz. | 1 lb. 6 oz. |
| 17" | 2 lb. 6 oz. | 2 lb. 12 oz. | 2 lb. 0 oz. | 1 lb. 12 oz. | 1 lb. 14 oz. | 1 lb. 8 oz. |
| 17.5" | 2 lb. 9 oz. | 3 lb. 0 oz. | 2 lb. 4 oz. | 1 lb. 15 oz. | 2 lb. 1 oz. | 1 lb. 11 oz. |
| 18" | 2 lb. 13 oz. | 3 lb. 5 oz. | 2 lb. 7 oz. | 2 lb. 1 oz. | 2 lb. 4 oz. | 1 lb. 13 oz. |
| 18.5 | 3 lb. 1 oz. | 3 lb. 10 oz. | 2 lb. 10 oz. | 2 lb. 4 oz. | 2 lb. 7 oz. | 2 lb. 0 oz. |
| 19 | 3 lb. 5 oz. | 3 lb. 15 oz. | 2 lb. 14 oz. | 2 lb. 7 oz. | 2 lb. 11 oz. | 2 lb. 3 oz. |
| 19.5 | 3 lb. 9 oz. | 4 lb. 4 oz. | 3 lb. 2 oz. | 2 lb. 11 oz. | 2 lb. 14 oz. | 2 lb. 6 oz. |
| 20 | 3 lb. 14 oz. | 4 lb. 10 oz. | 3 lb. 6 oz. | 2 lb. 14 oz. | 3 lb. 2 oz. | 2 lb. 9 oz. |
| 20.5 | 4 lb. 3 oz. | 5 lb. 1 oz. | 3 lb. 10 oz. | 3 lb. 2 oz. | 3 lb. 6 oz. | 2 lb. 12 oz. |
| 21 | 4 lb. 8 oz. | 5 lb. 7 oz. | 3 lb. 15 oz. | 3 lb. 5 oz. | 3 lb. 10 oz. | 3 lb. 0 oz. |
| 21.5 | 4 lb. 13 oz. | 5 lb. 14 oz. | 4 lb. 3 oz. | 3 lb. 9 oz. | 3 lb. 14 oz. | 3 lb. 4 oz. |
| 22 | 5 lb. 3 oz. | 6 lb. 6 oz. | 4 lb. 8 oz. | 3 lb. 13 oz. | 4 lb. 3 oz. | 3 lb. 8 oz. |
| 22.5 | 5 lb. 8 oz. | 6 lb. 13 oz. | 4 lb. 13 oz. | 4 lb. 2 oz. | 4 lb. 8 oz. | 3 lb. 12 oz. |
| 23 | 5 lb. 15 oz. | 7 lb. 5 oz. | 5 lb. 3 oz. | 4 lb. 6 oz. | 4 lb. 12 oz. | 4 lb. 0 oz. |
| 23.5 | 6 lb. 5 oz. | 7 lb. 14 oz. | 5 lb. 9 oz. | 4 lb. 11 oz. | 5 lb. 2 oz. | 4 lb. 5 oz. |
| 24 | 6 lb. 12 oz. | 8 lb. 7 oz. | 5 lb. 15 oz. | 5 lb. 0 oz. | 5 lb. 7 oz. | 4 lb. 9 oz. |
| 24.5 | 7 lb. 3 oz. | 9 lb. 0 oz. | 6 lb. 5 oz. | 5 lb. 5 oz. | 5 lb. 13 oz. | 4 lb. 15 oz. |
| 25 | 7 lb. 10 oz. | 9 lb. 10 oz. | 6 lb. 12 oz. | 5 lb. 11 oz. | 6 lb. 3 oz. | 5 lb. 4 oz. |
| 25.5 | 6 lb. 0 oz. | 6 lb. 9 oz. | 5 lb. 9 oz. | |||
| 26 | 6 lb. 6 oz. | 6 lb. 15 oz. | 5 lb. 15 oz. | |||
| 26.5 | 6 lb. 12 oz. | 7 lb. 6 oz. | 6 lb. 5 oz. | |||
| 27 | 7 lb. 2 oz. | 7 lb. 13 oz. | 6 lb. 11 oz. | |||
| 27.5 | 7 lb. 9 oz. | 8 lb. 4 oz. | 7 lb. 2 oz. | |||
| 28 | 8 lb. 0 oz. | 8 lb. 12 oz. | 7 lb. 8 oz. | |||
| 28.5 | 8 lb. 7 oz. | 9 lb. 3 oz. | 7 lb. 15 oz. | |||
| 29 | 8 lb. 14 oz. | 9 lb. 11 oz. | 8 lb. 7 oz. | |||
| 29.5 | 9 lb. 6 oz. | 10 lb. 4 oz. | 8 lb. 14 oz. | |||
| 30 | 9 lb. 14 oz. | 10 lb. 12 oz. | 9 lb. 6 oz. | |||
| 30.5 | 10 lb. 6 oz. | 11 lb. 5 oz. | 9 lb. 14 oz. | |||
| 31 | 10 lb. 14 oz. | 11 lb. 15 oz. | 10 lb. 7 oz. | |||
| 31.5 | 11 lb. 7 oz. | 12 lb. 8 oz. | 10 lb. 15 oz. | |||
| 32 | 12 lb. 0 oz. | 13 lb. 2 oz. | 11 lb. 8 oz. | |||
| 32.5 | 12 lb. 9 oz. | 13 lb. 12 oz. | 12 lb. 2 oz. | |||
| 33 | 13 lb. 3 oz. | 14 lb. 7 oz. | 12 lb. 11 oz. | |||
| 33.5 | 13 lb. 12 oz. | 15 lb. 2 oz. | 13 lb. 5 oz. | |||
| 34 | 14 lb. 7 oz. | 15 lb. 13 oz. | 14 lb. 0 oz. | |||
| 34.5 | 15 lb. 1 oz. | 16 lb. 8 oz. | 14 lb. 10 oz. | |||
| 35 | 15 lb. 12 oz. | 17 lb. 4 oz. | 15 lb. 5 oz. | |||
| 35.5 | 18 lb. 0 oz. | 16 lb. 1 oz. | ||||
| 36 | 18 lb. 3 oz. | 16 lb. 12 oz. | ||||
| 36.5 | 19 lb. 10 oz. | 17 lb. 8 oz | ||||
| 37 | 20 lb. 7 oz. | 18 lb. 5 oz. | ||||
| 37.5 | 21 lb. oz. | 19 lb. 2 oz. | ||||
| 38 | 22 lb. 3 oz. | 19 lb. 15 oz. | ||||
| 38.5 | 23 lb. 2 oz. | 20 lb. 13 oz. | ||||
| 39 | 24 lb. 0 oz. | 21 lb. 11 oz. | ||||
| 39.5 | 25 lb. 0 oz. | 22 lb. 9 oz. | ||||
| 40 | 25 lb. 15 oz. | 23 lb. 8 oz. | ||||
| 40.5 | 24 lb. 7 oz. | |||||
| 41 | 25 lb. 7 oz. | |||||
| 41.5 | 26 lb. 7 oz. | |||||
| 42 | 27 lb. 7 oz. |
Pike, Muskie and Walleye
| Length | Walleye | Chain Pickerel | Northern Pike | Tiger Muskellunge | Muskellunge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Weight | Weight | Weight | Weight | |
| 15" | 1 lb. 1 oz. | 11 oz. | |||
| 16" | 1 lb. 4 oz. | 14 oz. | |||
| 17" | 1 lb. 9 oz. | 1 lb. 1 oz. | |||
| 18" | 1 lb. 14 oz. | 1 lb. 4 oz. | |||
| 19" | 2 lb. 4 oz. | 1 lb. 8 oz. | 1 lb. 7 oz. | ||
| 20" | 2 lbs. 10 oz. | 1 lb. 12 oz. | 1 lb. 11 oz. | ||
| 21" | 3 lb. 1 oz. | 2 lb. 1 oz. | 1 lb. 5 oz. | ||
| 22" | 3 lb. 9 oz. | 2 lb. 6 oz. | 2 lb. 4 oz. | ||
| 23" | 4 lb. 1 oz. | 2 lb. 12 oz. | 2 lb. 9 oz. | ||
| 24" | 4 lb. 11 oz. | 3 lb. 3 oz. | 2 lb. 15 oz. | ||
| 25" | 5 lb. 5 oz. | 3 lb. 10 oz. | 3 lb. 5 oz. | ||
| 26" | 6 lb. 0 oz. | 4 lb. 1 oz. | 3 lb. 11 oz. | ||
| 27" | 6 lb. 12 oz. | 5 lb. 3 oz. | 4 lb. 2 oz. | ||
| 28" | 7 lb. 10 oz. | 5 lb. 12 oz. | 4 lb. 9 oz. | ||
| 29" | 8 lb. 9 oz. | 6 lb. 7 oz. | 5 lb. 1 oz. | ||
| 30" | 9 lb. 8 oz. | 7 lb. 2 oz. | 5 lb. 10 oz. | 6 lb. 5 oz. | 7 lb. 4 oz. |
| 31" | 10 lb. 8 oz. | 7 lb. 14 oz. | 6 lb. 3 oz. | 7 lb. 1 oz. | 8 lb. 1 oz. |
| 32" | 11 lb. 13 oz. | 6 lb. 13 oz. | 7 lb. 13 oz. | 8 lb. 15 oz. | |
| 33" | 12 lb. 13 oz. | 7 lb. 7 oz. | 8 lb. 10 oz. | 9 lb. 15 oz. | |
| 34" | 14 lb. 1 oz. | 8 lb. 2 oz. | 9 lb. 8 oz. | 11 lb. 0 oz. | |
| 35" | 15 lb. 7 oz. | 8 lb. 13 oz. | 10 lb. 8 oz. | 12 lb. 1 oz. | |
| 36" | 9 lb. 10 oz. | 11 lb. 8 oz. | 13 lb. 4 oz. | ||
| 37" | 10 lb. 6 oz. | 12 lb. 9 oz. | 14 lb. 8 oz. | ||
| 38" | 11 lb. 4 oz. | 13 lb. 11 oz. | 15 lb. 14 oz. | ||
| 39" | 12 lb. 2 oz. | 14 lb. 15 oz. | 17 lb. 5 oz. | ||
| 40" | 13 lb. 1 oz. | 16 lb. 3 oz. | 18 lb. 13 oz. | ||
| 41" | 14 lb. 1 oz. | 17 lb. 9 oz. | 20 lb. 7 oz. | ||
| 42" | 15 lb. 2 oz. | 19 lb. 0 oz. | 22 lb. 2 oz. | ||
| 43" | 16 lb. 3 oz. | 20 lb. 9 oz. | 23 lb. 15 oz. | ||
| 44" | 17 lb. 5 oz. | 22 lb. 2 oz. | 25 lb. 14 oz. | ||
| 45" | 18 lb. 8 oz. | 23 lb. 13 oz. | 27 lb. 14 oz. | ||
| 46" | 19 lb. 12 oz. | 25 lb. 10 oz. | 30 lb. 0 oz. | ||
| 47" | 21 lb. 1 oz. | 27 lb. 8 oz. | 32 lb. 3 oz. | ||
| 48" | 21 lb. 6 oz. | 29 lb. 7 oz. | 34 lb. 8 oz. | ||
| 49" | 23 lb. 12 oz. | 31 lb. 8 oz. | 37 lb. 0 oz. | ||
| 50" | 25 lb. 4 oz. | 33 lb. 10 oz. | 39 lb. 9 oz. | ||
| 51" | 26 lb. 12 oz. | 35 lb. 14 oz. | 42 lb. 4 oz. | ||
| 52" | 28 lb. 5 oz. | 38 lb. 4 oz. | 45 lb. 1 oz. | ||
| 53" | 29 lb. 15 oz. | 40 lb. 11 oz. | 48 lb. 0 oz. | ||
| 54" | 31 lb. 10 oz. | 43 lb. 4 oz. | 51 lb. 1 oz. |
