How big is this fish

[url]http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/122536189.html[/url]

This was caught in Minnesota near Ely, MN a few weekends ago......some are arguing on one of my canoecountry sites that this is a 9+ largemouth. These are the same folks who swear by the length/girth measurements to estimate weight. NO scale was used on the fish, but they said this fish is 23.5 inches long with a girth of 21. The same length fish with a 18in girth went 8 15.....

I say NO WAY is this fish 21in girth....but what the hell do I know.

I do know I caught a couple over 7 this year from KY that would have EATEN this bass......

What do you guys think..........

Later,

Geo

I say 6.4. But who knows.

its a picture, but its a pretty stout fish no doubt. id say an easy 8 if not more,especially if the measurements werent fudged

It is hard to judge by looking at photos, but just from looking at that one photo it loioks about six pounds to me. Either way it is a nice fish, but I just don't see 8 pounds. Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong though!:D

Typically an 8lb largemouth gets odd looking....Their eyeballs get huge....I'd say that fish was 6 1/2-7 but probably not an 8

No way thats a nine pounder.......7 maybe.

I agree, does not look like 9lb to me. I am headed up that direction (kind of) next week and I hope I can find a real 9lber

I'd guess 7lb at the most. Still a nice fish.

No way it's big enough to break the MN record. It's a great fish though and I love her attitude about releasing it.

I say 5.5 maybe 6. Unless she is a big woman with big hands that fish just doesn't look that big to me. Of course without the fish and officially recorded data it's nothing more than a good conversation.:)

That bass would go 9 lb if the ladyholding it is 6'9" and weighs 420 lbs

If that is 9 lbs in MN then I am moving there for my 2 inch Johnson here would be a 2 footer there