Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society

Fighting for Bass and Bass Anglers’ since 1973

BASS has a rolling research project to study the relationship between bass length, weight and age, to provide data to underpin our restoration and conservation campaigns. The project relies on members taking a few scales from a certain position on the bass, measuring the fish’s overall length, and submitting the scales in a special envelope with the length measurement and a few basic details. Some members do this with every bass they catch, and some do it on an occasional basis. Either approach is welcome.

Handling the fish

Bass are tough and they lose scales in the natural course of events in their lives, but we should be careful not to disturb the protective slime and scales no more than is necessary.

Taking the scales

Taking the length measurement

Returning the fish

Storing and submitting the scales

Download a pdf version of the guide

Bass scale
Bass scale

 

Where to remove scales and measure girth
Where to remove scales and measure girth

 

Bass scale annual rings
Bass scale annual rings

 

Illustration of bass scale size
Illustration of bass scale size

 

Scale envelopes
Scale envelopes
BASS Tape
BASS Tape

Thank you for taking part in this important work.

Geoff Gonella
May 2014