Besides length, get circumference size too. You do not have to weigh it on certified scales, all you need is a picture, length and circumference measurements and submit it to TPWD, or that was the way it was when I caught the Lake Lewisville LMB record of 11-8. Didn't have a camera when I fished Lake Alan Henry the previous week, or I would still have the SMB record there. 20" X 14" and weighed on a scale at 3-12, even though we guessed her at 5 lbs. Hope this helps.

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

I see where you are coming from its no challenge other than just doing it. I want to be on the website and get a certificate and all that nonsense. It might not mean anything to anybody else but I think its neat. Another factor would be bragging rights. The main reason though is Ive been fishing this lake for 25+ years. Ever since I can remember and im only 31 years old. Somehow I guess this ties me to my favorite lake in my mind of course. Plus I hope I can pursuade people to want to fly fish more and try to break their favorite lakes records. Im sure this is all cheesy but hey someone had to first submit all the records there are currently...
Without them this would not be a topic.

Congrats on your record.
Thank you for your help.

To each his own right. Good luck man, hope you catch a giant.

I've submitted a few junior records for kids that have fished with me and have one warmouth record myself.
The scales used to weigh the fish had to be certified, or they could be certified within a short time after the weighing to make the record legit.

the requirements are explained well on the tpwd fish records and awards web page and the forms can be printed from there as well.
I keep copies in my boat and truck in case they are needed, mostly by junior anglers but you never know when it might happen. I'm ready in case I break the Rayburn bass record this weekend in the mc donalds tourney.

Thanks for the info.

Good luck!!!

Not hard to get a record where none exist yet. All it would have to be is a legal keeper and not even a lunker.

C&R records are measured by length and have to meet the minimum length requirements for TPWD's Big Fish Awards. Good luck and post your results.!

Buy this Scale and send it to and official weights and measures company like This One to get it certified. I bought 3 scales and had them all certified. It cost me a little under $30 per scale total. Myself and my fishing partners got 15 records in the last year and I plan on getting a couple world records this year.

may not be very hard to establish a record in some cases but it is a record regardless and it can be a very special thing for a lot of anglers, young or old.

thanks for that link Txmedic, I've searched for a place to certify personal scales and have been unsuccesfull. That will make the process much easier, than trying to find a place with certified scales when you need them.

nice info.


good luck in your quest! I hope you get it.

Here is a link to the application from TPWD. It only mentions Notary and State Private or Public to be certified weights. The SAL MUST be certified, too. Hope this helps. At least, that is the way I read it.

http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/programs/fishrecords/

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

Thanks 1442. I stand corrected.

tr

#3 on the weight records category for water body records reads:

3.Fish must be weighed on certified or legal-for-trade scales within 3 days of the catch date. Certified scales are scales (either electronic or spring-based) that have been, on an annual basis, certified as accurate by a Texas Department of Agriculture Licensed Service Provider or the International Game Fish Association

State records are required to be notarized.
The certification by the texas depertment of agriculture licensed service provider or international game fish association part is what throws me off as to how scales can be certified by any other means and still be used to submit records.
Txmedic, do the scales certified by the company you linked to have a department of agriculture sticker with date of certification?
I've talked to a couple different people with TD of A and they both said that my cull m rite scales could not be certified. My cull m rites have been dead accurate to the one hundredth of a pound, compared to certified scales at grocery stores, on every fish that I have helped submit as water body records in the past. I actually had two cull m rite scales and they both read exactly the same, but one has since bit the dust.

I certified my scales using the same company in the link about 4 years ago. TPWD approved the certification and I was awarded a Water Body Record. Not sure on a State Record but for the Water Body Records you will be okay using the company in the link. Your scales will need to have a serial number and the certification is good for two years then it will need to be certified again.