Pond Boss
Posted By: RC51 Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/12/14 01:49 PM
Well I am not sure anyone posted anything on this yet. But Saturday my son caught a 17 inch 2.6 pound LMB and the gape on it was 2.75 inches from inside to inside of mouth. That reading is from side to side not top to bottom. Here are 2 pics of the fish. 1 is in mid jump!

RC





Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/12/14 03:57 PM
RC51 - Great! thanks for remembering to measure the mouth size of a largemouth bass. I will see the information gets to the right location.
Posted By: RC51 Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/12/14 04:29 PM
No problem Bill. Glad to help out!

RC
Posted By: Shelby County Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/12/14 06:20 PM
What is the correct gape measurement for LMB or any other fish?
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/12/14 06:43 PM
There is no correct or standard gape measurement. Every bass and fish of a specific size will have a gape measurement close to the average for that species and body length. Note there will be a little variation of width (+/- 15%) based on natural species variation for that species. Note most of variation or differences will be in the technique used to measure width by each person. Once we get numerous measurements the trend will be evident.

So --- all you pondmeisters and anglers get to angling and catch some fish, any fish, and measure the width of its open mouth held open usually by pinching it lower jaw. Report back here and we will tabulate all the data, and put it in the archives. Gape measurements will provide pond managers an idea of how big a food item each fish can eat. With these great informative data, Once again we will be the best pond and fish management forum on the web!. RC provides good advice in the next post for making measurements .
Posted By: RC51 Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/12/14 07:17 PM
Keep in mind like I said up above that measurement I took was from inside to inside of it's mouth not outside to outside. IMO inside to inside is what really maters when it comes to fish eating ability. I know that sounds simple but I caught myself at first taking the measurement outside to outside casue it's just natural to put the tape on the outside edge and read over. Just FYI.

RC
Posted By: jakeb Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/14/14 02:46 AM
Bill and others, won't the gape of an overweight fish be smaller than expected? I suppose enough data points will cover this, but I caught a 4 lber yesterday that I thought had a very small mouth. I did not measure the length but I would guess it at 120+ rw.
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/16/14 11:33 AM
FWIW

LMB
Length: 13.25"
Weight: 1.3 lb
Gape: 1 7/8" top to bottom, 1 7/8" side to side (inside measurements)

I'll try to include a photo next time
Posted By: MSC Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/16/14 11:50 AM
Originally Posted By: jakeb
Bill and others, won't the gape of an overweight fish be smaller than expected? I suppose enough data points will cover this, but I caught a 4 lber yesterday that I thought had a very small mouth. I did not measure the length but I would guess it at 120+ rw.


It sure seems to me that yes, fat bass look like they have smaller heads. Skinny bass look like they have bigger heads.

RC51 way to go on the really cool pic of the bass airborne.

Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/16/14 01:22 PM
Question: ".won't the gape of an overweight fish be smaller than expected?"" You will see some variation in the mouth gape of individual fish species. The amount of variation is part of the data set for each species. The average or normal is what is most important to get general ideas about what that fish species can eat. IMO on average, overweight fish are not the average but the exception in most ponds. In reality based on how most ponds are managed, older bass are probably more often underweight than overweight.

When taking gape measurements you can include the fish's weight but it is not necessary. The total body length with mouth width is more important than weight IMO.
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/18/14 02:39 AM
HSB caught tonight:

Length: 16"
Gape top to bottom: 1 3/4"
Gape side to side: 1 5/8"
Weight 2.2 lbs

No pic again, dangit!
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/19/14 12:32 PM
My buddy caught this yesterday, biggest LMB to date out of my pond at 3.5 lb.

The HSB are approaching 2 lb with the biggest one at 2.2 lb so far with the BG growing nicely as well.

Pretty exciting times for 19 months after stocking!

Length: 18"
Inside gape top to bottom: 3"
Inside gape side to side: 2 7/8"



It's highly likely the LMB shown was one of about 10 that I bucket-stocked from 8-2012, before I knew any better, although none were over 2 lb.
Posted By: esshup LMB Mouth Gape - 05/25/14 03:33 AM
I caught 3 LMB today that were in the measurable catagory (that is unless you want even 6" LMB measured, and if so I can do that) I have a number of culls in a cage.

15" long Male 2 1/4" horizontal gape
19" long Female 3" horizontal gape
19" long Female 3" horizontal gape
Posted By: george1 Re: HSB Mouth Gape - 05/25/14 07:20 PM
14 inch HSB yesterday - vertical gape ~1.75".
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: HSB Mouth Gape - 05/25/14 10:04 PM
Measurements for 4"-6" LMB are very welcome here. We would like to have a full data set for all sizes of LMB & HSB. Take a ruler along when you go fishing.
Posted By: highflyer Re: HSB Mouth Gape - 05/27/14 11:30 PM
Bill,
We caught several LMB at our farm this past weekend. Here is the data I collected:

7 1/2 inch LMB 1 1/4 gape
7 1/4 inch LMB 1 inch gape
9 1/4 inch LMB 5.5 oz 1 1/2 inch gape
17.5 inch LMB 3LB 2oz 3.125 inch gape
17.75 inch LMB 3lb 7oz 3.5 inch gape
18 inch LMB 3lb 11 oz 3.5 inch gape

The first three are from last years' spawn, the other three are two or three years old.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: HSB Mouth Gape - 05/28/14 01:50 AM
Thanks Highflyer for helping. Any other anglers willing to help us??? I had to go catch some LMB for pictures for an upcoming article. Here is the gape of 3 of the bass I caught.
6.25" LMB Gape 0.88" (22.5mm)
9.1" LMB Gape 1.45" (37.0mm)
10.0" LMB Gape 1.57" (40.0mm)

Highflyer's data is close to my measurements.
Posted By: highflyer Re: HSB Mouth Gape - 05/28/14 02:11 AM
Bill,
I will have a few guys over in a few weeks and I am sure we will get you more data. BTW, I did take pictures of all the LMB including the gape, let me know if you would like any of those photos.
Posted By: esshup Re: HSB Mouth Gape - 05/28/14 04:39 AM
Originally Posted By: Bill Cody
Thanks Highflyer for helping. Any other anglers willing to help us??? I had to go catch some LMB for pictures for an upcoming article. Here is the gape of 3 of the bass I caught.
6.25" LMB Gape 0.88" (22.5mm)
9.1" LMB Gape 1.45" (37.0mm)
10.0" LMB Gape 1.57" (40.0mm)

Highflyer's data is close to my measurements.


Were the dial calipers digital or electronic? wink
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/29/14 03:40 AM
Caught tonight:

12.5" LMB gape 1.625"
12" LMB gape 1.75"
11.5" LMB gape 1.5"
11.5" LMB gape 1.625"
11" LMB gape 1.5"
10.5" LMB gape 1.5"

Interesting with smaller fish having larger gape!

They were measured on the cutting board, not with a dial caliper but still very accurate measurements smile
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/29/14 04:33 PM
Thanks guys for all the great data collection. We will have a very beneficial data set with all your help.

Some of the variation in measuring the gape can be in the amount of stretch of the jaw and how the fish is held. Numerous variables can enter the measurement gathering 'picture'. Generally a smaller fish does not have a larger gape assuming each is the same species. When that happens, I question my technique and I re-measure. There is some natural variation of sizes (lengths-widths) among the same species. I'm not saying it is impossible, just doubtful or questionable. It does make evolutionary sense that an individual with a slightly bigger mouth has a competitive, predatory advantage.

A fish that is growing extra fast may have a slightly smaller head & mouth as evidenced by those here that are raising "football" shaped fish. Also a bass with low RW or is stunted may have a slightly over sized mouth compared to the body length? Basically we are looking for averages or trends for the species.
Posted By: Ross Baker Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/01/14 06:49 PM
Fished for a few minutes this morning. Didn't catch any braggers. Measured two LMB.

Both had identical #'s across the board:

L: 14.25"
W: 1lb 3oz
G: 2 3/8" horizontal

Both were females. Had just a small small amount of roe inside. A little light on RW.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/02/14 12:45 AM
Hey Ross - thanks for contributing some bass length and mouth measurements. We will get some good data with guys like you helping.
Posted By: Ross Baker Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/02/14 03:03 AM
Originally Posted By: Bill Cody
Hey Ross - thanks for contributing some bass length and mouth measurements. We will get some good data with guys like you helping.


Bill, sorry I had not referenced back to this thread recently and knew you wanted smaller bass measurements as well. I caught several 6"-10" fish that I just tossed back w/o measuring.
Posted By: snrub Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/02/14 04:05 AM
9" LMB 1 1/8" mouth gape.

First one I have caught since fingerlings were placed Sept 2, 2013. Did not weigh it, but it looked fat and healthy.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/05/14 04:20 PM
Here is a link to dLowrence's 22" LMB. He gets an 'AttaBoy' for remembering to measure the mouth gape of this dandy LMbass. Here is the challenge - can anyone catch a larger basss and remember to measure the mouth gape???
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=378870#Post378870
Posted By: highflyer Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/15/14 11:50 PM
Bill,
We caught a few more LMB yesterday. Here is the details.

3lbs 4oz 17.5 inches MG 3.25
3lb 10oz 18 inches MG 3.50
2lb 14oz 17 inches MG 2.5 This fish looked like it had been injured and the gape reduced


Also, the CC we caught were all over 100% RW.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/16/14 12:19 AM
highflyer - thanks a lot for taking time to measure bass mouth gape for fish in TX. Isn't doing fish science fun? More should try it instead of constantly jaw jerking their bass. At a minimum allow your angling and bass catches to be more meaningful. Now if others in other US regions will help us with more measurements we will have a great data set for mouth gape and predation tendencies of HSB and LMB.
Posted By: DNickolaus Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/16/14 07:59 AM
Haven't seen any recent activity in the HSB gape thread, so adding the latest data summary here. Still happy to collect SMB, HSB, YP data if folks get it. This plot includes all data above.

Posted By: Ross Baker Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/23/14 02:11 AM
Caught a couple of LMB before dark tonight:

19.75" long
3 3/8" gape
3lb 1oz. (Very skinny bass. 75% RW)

17.50" long
3.5" gape
3lb 3oz
Posted By: esshup Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/26/14 10:47 PM
I caught 5 lmb last evening at the pond, and I'm guessing the total weight was between 20# and 25#. Caught one more tonight, tag #10. 18 3/4" long; gape 3" any way you measured it. It was a dead even 4# for a RW around 114%. It seemed skinnier than the ones that I caught yesterday.......

Today I brought the note pad, pen, scale, and ruler with me. 3 of the ones caught yesterday are residing in a cage waiting for the fillet knife. I'll post measurements when they are prepped for surgery. wink grin

I used this 5" Sebile magic soft jerk bait, in Bluegill color because Cabelas didn't have Perch color. The LMB didn't care!

They wised up today and I could see them looking at it but not hitting it. I DID have 3 swings and misses tho.....
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/27/14 12:11 AM
Those are some nice catches!

I've never used that bait so I did some research and found a great tutorial on just about every way to rig and use them.

http://youtu.be/LfbI-SCK3JU
Posted By: esshup Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/27/14 04:37 AM
I used 2 weights on the hook under the belly and twitched it back in, pausing once in a while. Sometimes they'd hit it on the fall, sometimes while I was twitching it.
Posted By: Ross Baker Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/27/14 09:31 PM
What pound test line do you typically fish those lures with?
Posted By: esshup Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/27/14 10:31 PM
I was using 8# Vanish.
Posted By: Ross Baker Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/27/14 10:38 PM
Thank you. At cabelas now. grin
Posted By: Ross Baker Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/29/14 08:09 PM
Caught a few more LMB if you are still looking for data?

1lb 2oz, 13.75", 2.25" gape
1lb 3oz, 13 7/8", 2 3/8" gape
0lb 14oz, 12 7/8", 2.0" gape
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/29/14 09:09 PM
Ross - thanks for catching and measuring. We are always looking for more measurements. We can never have too many fish mouth measurements. Those PBoss anglers on the Lk Erie trip did not even get any walleye mouth gape measurements. Shame on them.
Posted By: Cray Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 06/30/14 12:50 AM
I just noticed that I posted these to HSB mouth gape by mistake. They are LMB


21" long
3-5/8" gape

19-1/2" long
3-1/4 gape

10-1/2 long
1-1/2 gape

18-1/4" long
3-1/4" gape

20-3/8" long
3-3/8" gape

21-3/8" long
3-7/16" gape

22" long
3-3/4 gape

17-1/4" long
3" gape

18-1/4" long
3-1/8" gape

19-7/8" long
3-1/4" gape

I have posted pics in photo gallery.
Posted By: Ross Baker Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/06/14 02:34 AM
A couple more LMB:

1lb 6oz
14.75"
2.5" gape

And a skinny one:
3lbs 2oz
19.5"
3.5" gape
Posted By: esshup Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/17/14 12:02 AM
More data points. Most of the fish I didn't bother weighing except as a group to chart how many pounds of LMB are removed from the pond this year. Sex is after gape if known.
Caught 6-30 and 7-1
19" 3" gape
17 3/4" 2 3/4" gape M
19" 2 3/4" gape F
19" 3" gape
17" 3"x3" gape M
15" 2 1/2" gape M?
17" 2 3/4" gape
18" 2 3/4" F
Total weight of the above fish are 25#.

18 3/4" 3"x3" gape 5.51# F released back into the pond Floy tag #003. Re-caught today 7-16 on same swim bait in same area, she looked even fatter than on 7-4 when weighed. She spent 3 days in a cage before being weighed last time.

Caught 7-16
18.5" 2 7/8" gape 4.20#
Posted By: DNickolaus Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/17/14 12:23 AM
Thanks much gents. Gottem all in from here. All the LMB data looks nice. The goofy point is lovinliving's 16" long 1 5/8" gape fish. The trend says that size gape is an 11" fish. Big-mouth award so far goes to dlowrance with his 4"er.

Nice body of measurement data.

Posted By: jludwig Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/17/14 01:01 AM
Some more measurements:

1. 16" long LMB Gape 3"

2. 14.75" long LMB Gape 2.5"

3. 15.25" long LMB Gape 3"
Posted By: DNickolaus Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/17/14 01:16 AM
jludwig makes our 10th data contributor. Would folks like to see the LMB data colored separately by person? Could do a measurement only plot where you could see whose fish lie where. Just an offer. I make my living evaluating data.. no biggie to put together if it would amuse folk.
Posted By: Ross Baker Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/17/14 02:10 AM
If it's not much trouble that'd be cool to see.
Posted By: DNickolaus Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/17/14 09:28 AM
Posted By: jludwig Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/17/14 11:06 AM
Nice! I really like it.
Posted By: DNickolaus Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/17/14 01:56 PM
jludwig and highflyer have fish on the larger mouthed side of the cloud and lovinliving's fish are smaller mouthed. I think dlowrance needs to fess up to more than just one huge 4" fish... Would be interesting to see if any factors account for that. North vs South, are they all pellet fed or some only eat BG, etc?
You can kinda see the age of the fish population in the pond by how far up the curve that pond's fish are- that's neat.
Everyone feed us more data!
Posted By: snrub Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/17/14 02:13 PM
There could be some variance in how far one stretches the mouth of the fish.

When I measured, I was a little unsure of how wide the fish might have actually been able to open its mouth without my assistance. I've just not handled very many LMB.
Posted By: jakeb Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/25/14 12:36 AM
Caught and gill hooked a 5 lb 12 oz bass today. length 20.25 gape inside to inside 3.5 inch. ****Disclaimer length and game measurements were take about 2 hours after death and exposed to 100F heat.

Bill if you read this in exchange for measurements can you offer thoughts on my other thread http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=383224#Post383224

my misfortune is your gain, I would not have measured this fish due to the heat, if she had not died frown
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/11/14 03:44 PM
I sampled a 0.36 ac pond and caught 3 LMB. Mouth gape was:
10.75" gape 1 11/16"(43mm)
11.5" gape 1 7/8"(48mm)
11.75" gape 1 15/16"(49mm)

Also interesting - the HBG has a mouth gape twice that of a bluegill.
Bluegill 8.25" gape 5/8" (16mm)
HyBluegill 8.25" gape 1.25"(32mm)
Posted By: esshup Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/11/14 03:46 PM
I'd venture to say that a HBG and a LMB of the same size has a comparable gape.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/11/14 06:01 PM
Anyone with 8.25" bass that they can measure the gape for comparison with gape of an 8.25" long HBG?

Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/12/14 01:47 AM
Maybe Sprkplug can measure the mouth gape of a 10.75" long HBG so we can compare the mouth size of a large HBG and the LMB that I caught and noted mouth size above. Sprkplug is about the only one I know that has 10.75" HBG.
Posted By: Dave Davidson1 Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/12/14 10:12 AM
I'd also be interested in the gape of a Green sunfish.
Posted By: snrub Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/12/14 01:21 PM
Originally Posted By: Dave Davidson1
I'd also be interested in the gape of a Green sunfish.


Before or after I smash them with my foot and throw them back in the pond for CC food? laugh laugh

Seriously, I caught about a 6" one last evening just before dark and about a dozen 1.5-3" in a minnow trap (along with some bullheads frown ). Several 4" ones by hook and line. The next time I catch some will measure the mouth gape for you.

A 4" GSF is more like a 3" BG as far as size, but the mouth looks as big as a 7-8" BG.

I don't like to see them get up to 6". Means they have already eaten way too many of my BG fry. I catch lots of GSF in the minnow trap when I set it but no BG fry. Keep hoping to finally catch some BG fry.
Posted By: sprkplug Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/12/14 02:53 PM
I'll see what I can come up with.
Posted By: Dave Davidson1 Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/13/14 10:42 AM
Better be careful stepping on a GSF. They might just bite your foot off or get up and kick you where it hurts.
Posted By: snrub Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/13/14 12:54 PM
No kidding.

I harvested my first bunch of FHM recruits out of my forage pond the other day. They were only about half grown, but the pond was so thick with them thought it would not hurt to take some biomass out. Got probably five pounds in three different trappings. Turned them loose in the old pond where the GSF are. Yesterday I was watching a shallow area that had recently been dug on the water entrance area of the pond for a filter/wetland area. Some of the small minnows were in there. 2-3" GSF were stalking the smaller minnows up into the shallow water, following their every move.

The GSF probably enjoyed my 5# of half grown minnows. mad I know they like the pelleted feed. A small GSF can take a whole pellet at once where a BG of similar size can't.

Bill Cody: 11" LMB 1 5/8 mouth gape.
Posted By: snrub GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 08/15/14 03:21 AM
Pictures of three fish below. At first I thought the first two I caught were likely GSF, but the mouth did not look big enough. Caught the third one and it looked more hybrid but with the same mouth gape. So I finally decided they were all hybrids. Likely ones I caught out of my main pond and transfered to the old pond where I have native GSF. I really have trouble identifying hybrids until I catch a full GSF, then the GSF is obvious. I've only caught a few larger GSF out of this pond (6") but tons and tons of 4" ones.

Fish one 7" with 7/8" mouth gape Picture 1
Fish two 7" with 7/8" mouth gape pictures 2 and 3
Fish three 7 1/4" with 7/8" mouth gape. picture 4

All three fish together picture 5

Sorry about the dirt on the fish in the 5th picture, but the subjects were not being cooperative for the group photo. They all went back into the pond.

Also sorry, no 10" fish. Really sorry.


Description: Fish #1
Attached picture 021.JPG

Description: Fish #2
Attached picture 022.JPG

Description: Fish #2 again
Attached picture 023.JPG

Description: Fish #3
Attached picture 026.JPG

Description: Group photo all 3 fish
Attached picture 029.JPG
Posted By: sprkplug Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 08/15/14 10:55 AM
Hybrids. The 10" fish will come.
Posted By: Sunil Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 08/15/14 11:35 AM
Hybrids, me thinks also.
Posted By: ewest Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 08/15/14 05:42 PM
Hybrid BG. One obviously has a greater GSF % genes that the other 2.
Posted By: snrub Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 08/17/14 01:26 AM
I kind of wondered if the third fish might have had some RES in it. It had different coloration on the body and bright white around the fins and belly rather than yellowish like the other two. I know coloration is not a reliable indicator, but the third fish just seemed to have pattern more like RES. GSF have light orange margins around the ear tab, but I thought this fish was darker. Pics do not show what I'm talking about very well.
Posted By: sprkplug Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 08/17/14 08:27 PM
Mouth gape on the 10.75" HBG measured a disappointing 1" both horizontally and vertically. I was pretty surprised by that, especially since the fish displayed predominantly GSF body dynamics.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 08/17/14 09:02 PM
Growing and catching a 10.75" HBG is a real accomplishment. Great job Sprkplug. The mouth gage for Sprkplug's 10.75" HBG of 1" and the mouth gape of my 8.25" HBG above of 1.25"(32mm) are noticeably different. I measured my fish twice. This difference in mouth size must be due to HBG of different parental crosses of BG male X female GSF vs BG female X GSF male?. I would suspect a somewhat different body composition when the sex of the parent fishes are reversed. FYI - Mouth gape of a 8.25" green sunfish is 1.3" (34mm). By my measurement the mouth gape of a 8.25" LMB is 1.3" (33-34mm). Anyone else have any 8"-8.5" bass to measure the width of the open mouth?.
Posted By: mnfish Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 09/08/14 03:53 PM
Not sure if your still collecting data. If so, I hope this helps. 6" long with 3/4" gape. This one was trapped out of an unfed 1/8 acre pond.



Posted By: Sunil Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 09/08/14 05:45 PM
That picture is making me thirsty!
Posted By: mnfish Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 09/08/14 08:15 PM
Just following Dwight's lead on fish pics with some kind of beer advertisement grin Mmmmmmmm beer!
Posted By: highflyer Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 09/26/14 03:05 AM
Caught few LMB yesterday and this morning:

10.25 inches 7oz 1.75 inch gape
11. inches 8 oz 1.5 inch gape
19.25 inches 4Lb 8 Oz 3.5 inch gape 1.17 WR

Now if can only catch the four or five really big ones that are taunting me!!!

Yes, I did need bigger hooks.........
Posted By: highflyer Re: GSF or Hybrid - you be the judge. - 09/27/14 09:09 PM
I caught another yesterday.


11.5 inch, 10 oz with a gape of 1.5 Native LMB

Cody says - Hey - thanks for remembering to take some measurements of your catches. The information will be helpful as we compile it.
Posted By: snrub Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 09/28/14 09:48 PM
Originally Posted By: Dave Davidson1
I'd also be interested in the gape of a Green sunfish.


Dave, here ya go.

7 1/8" GSF mouth gape 1"
7" GSF mouth gape 15/16"
5 3/4" GSF mouth gape 3/4"

7 3/4" HBG 7/8"
7 3/4" HBG 7/8"
7 1/2" HBG 13/16"

7" BG 9/16" All from my old pond.

Fed a few pellets to the small GSF in close to the bank today. Fed a hand full then as I got a group gathered around, just threw out a floating pellet one at a time so I could observe. GSF are aaaaaagressive. I was amazed at 3" fish taking full pellets (the pellets I was feeding were game chow with multiple size pellets). No way would one of my BG (of the same length)in the big pond do that. The little BG would peck at it, but the GSF just swallow it whole. Sometimes 4 and five fish at once going after a single pellet, most in the 3-4" range (I have removed a lot of the 4" by trapping). Just need to be able to make the things grow bigger. They are one heck of a fish. Just don't get big enough. Have to settle for HBG.
Posted By: snrub Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 10/02/14 04:12 AM
One more GSF mouth gape.

GSF 5 1/2" 3/4" mouth gape

HBG 7 3/8" 15/16" mouth gape
Posted By: DNickolaus Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 10/02/14 02:39 PM
Looks like a chart update is in order. Weather is cooling now. My pond was high 60s top and low 60s at 13-14'.. prolly not much of a thermocline, but if there were big fish, good fishing weather. Get out and catch a few and measure gapes.

I'm heading down to the pond for the weekend (20 grit sanding on 1100 sq ft of 50 yo oak floors). Dump lotta data in the thread and I'll post a new chart early next week.
Posted By: DNickolaus Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 10/06/14 01:05 AM
Water temps: 58F top, 60F deep on a 42F morning. Chilly sitting out watching them eat.

Any gape data?
Posted By: DNickolaus Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 10/08/14 01:06 AM
All data reported is entered except the HBG/BG. Up to now we haven't been recording those. Let me know if we want to add.

Here's the plot of the various species we have been tracking. Following plot is LMB by owner.


Mouth Gape of Several Fish Species


LMB Gape by Pond Owner
Posted By: snrub Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 10/08/14 01:57 AM
LMB 14", 2" mouth gape.

This fish was 2-3" fingerling stocked last November. Caught it in main pond around 10", put it in old pond because found GSF that needed to be controlled, caught it today at 14". Guess it must like GSF. grin

GSF 7 1/4", 1 1/8" mouth gape
Posted By: snrub Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 10/09/14 01:38 AM
Was 65 at the surface here yesterday in a 3 acre pond.

LMB 12 5/8" 1 7/8" mouth gape

GSF 6 7/8" 7/8"
GSF 6" 27/32"
Posted By: highflyer Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 10/23/14 11:27 PM
LMB 4lbs 4 ozs 19.25 inches 3.5 inch gape

Temps are still in the 70's in our ponds.

Cody Note: Yea! Thanks for remembering about the fish squeezer science corner for taking mouth gape measurements.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 03/31/15 01:32 PM
Remember to keep taking some length and gape measurements of your bass this year for the forum data set. More largemouth bass gape information from 'esshup' who is thinking that the 1/3 length rule of thumb might be a bit underestimated where a LMB will eat a bluegill 1/3 the body length of the bass. IMO the 1/3 length rule is a conservative estimate and one that is not all inclusive. I think the rule applies to average maximum size BG the bass most commonly or generally eats as an optimum size of forage food.

Caught 2 LMB yesterday in TX. Remember these bass were likely prespawn egg laden fish.
Fish #1. 19" long, Female. 4.21# Gape 3"x3" Rw = 108
Fish #2. 20.5" long, Female. 5.89# Gape 3.5" x 3.5" Rw = 118
FWIW, it first struck and tried to eat a 7" BG that was on the line. The BG measured 3" tall.

So, the 1/3 the length rule of thumb might be a bit under-estimated.....
Posted By: george1 Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/04/15 10:24 AM
Bill, this little pound and half LMb had mouth gape of 2.5 inches.



Posted By: DNickolaus Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/04/15 10:52 AM
Did you get the total length of the LMB? We've been plotting vs TL.
Posted By: djstauder Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 05/05/15 01:09 PM
5 little LMB:
length(in) horizontal gape(in)
9.75 1.5
10.5 1.5
9.75 1.5
10.25 1.6
10.75 1.75
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/06/15 02:18 AM
Largemouth gape information:
22 1/4 long, 7 1/2 tall at the belly.
Mouth size: 4.25" tall by 4.0" wide gape
Weight was estimated between 7-8 lbs.
Standard weight for a 22.25" LMB is 6.45 lbs.


Pictures of the above LMB. Cecil mounted it for the SDSU Diorama
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=420322&#Post420322
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 09/19/15 02:34 PM
HSB caught this morning:

17.75" Length

1.75" Gape

Posted By: Bob-O Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 09/19/15 02:52 PM
Quite the fatty.
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/23/16 01:12 AM
I'll be recording stats from now on during my culling phase, so here's what I have so far.

LMB:
15", 2.5x2.25 gape, 1.6 lb 94% WR
15", 2.5x2.5" gape, 2.02 lb 119% WR
16", 3x2.75" gape, 2.0 lb, 95% WR
16.5", 3x3" gape, 2.48 lb 105% WR
16.75", 3x3" gape, 2.97 lb 120% WR
17.25", 3x2.75 gape, 3.3 lb 121% WR
17.5", 2.75x2.5 gape, 2.77 lb, 107% WR
18", 2x1.75 gape, 2.66 lb 85% WR

HSB:
18", 2"x1.85, 2.73 lb WR unknown
19", 2" gape, 3.17 lb WR unknown

Is there any information from BG or HBG that could/would be of value? I've already cleaned well over 300. Biggest one so far was 1.68 lb!
Posted By: CMM Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/23/16 05:52 PM
Consistently fat lm Keith, awesome. I am jealous, my wr still bounce around too much. Cmm
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/23/16 06:27 PM
Thanks, Cim although mine bounce around too.

A few more from this morning.

LMB:
20", 3.875x3.875" gape, 4.3 lb, 100% WR
14.5", 2x2" gape, 1.94 lb, 125% WR
Posted By: Bing Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/24/16 04:25 PM
Impressive. I've been at it 10 years and just now approaching getting 100 LMB or plus consistently.
Posted By: John Fitzgerald Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/24/16 04:50 PM
Looks like the largest gapes for given length have largest WR.
Posted By: Bocomo Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/24/16 05:00 PM
Originally Posted By: John F
Looks like the largest gapes for given length have largest WR.


Can someone chart that, please? WR vs. Gape?
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/24/16 05:40 PM
Originally Posted By: Bing
I've been at it 10 years and just now approaching getting 100 LMB or plus consistently.

Bing, I started feeding AM LMB food as soon as they would take it (year 2, Fall of 2013) and fed them twice a day up until this year. And every LMB and HSB I've cleaned (all the ones I've listed) had pellets in their bellies, except the 20 incher which had a BG in it. He was my "Walter" who's been laying-in-wait in a deeply submerged tree and has outsmarted me for over a year, breaking me off more times than I care to remember!

https://youtu.be/j_h8C_rCbgU (my emotions were similar when I finally got him out of the tree!)

I've also been removing all LMB 12-14" and under since Spring of 2015.

So other than all of the other variables involved, is it the feeding program that got them there?

Or, just plain dumb luck, which gets my vote smile .

PS - thanks by the way!
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/30/16 12:56 PM
7-30-16
HSB:
18", 2x2" gape, 2.53 lb, WR unk.
17.5", 1.75"x1.75" gape, 2.62 lb, WR unk.

LMB:
18.875", 3.25x3.25" gape, 3.59 lb, 103% WR
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/31/16 01:30 PM
7-31-16

LMB:
14", 2.5x2.5" gape, 1.52 lb 108% WR

HSB:
20", 2x1.875" gape 3.52 lb WR unk.


Posted By: FishFan Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 07/31/16 02:14 PM
Would you prefer the measurements come from personal ponds or any bass caught? I normally catch quite a few 3-4lb bass locally with a 7lber caught on a frog last week. I'll try to take some measurements including gape of the bigger ones from the small pond I manage but they aren't easy to catch.
Posted By: FishFan Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/01/16 02:49 AM
I fished at the small pond today but only managed to catch one little bass.

10'' length
1.5'' gape
.926lbs

Will try to catch some bigger ones during the week and get measurements. I fished another local pond and caught 1 bass also. These measurements are close but not exact.

17.5'' length
3'' gape
3.85lbs

I'm sure some have seen videos of 3lb bass with 1lb bass stuffed down there throats. No limit on what they will try to eat when hungry.
Posted By: FishFan Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/01/16 07:36 PM
So much for that lol.
Posted By: Lovnlivin Re: Mouth Gape of a LMB - 08/03/16 12:51 PM
LMB:
17", 2.5x2.5" Gape, 2.93 lb, 113% WR
16", 2.75x2.75" gape, 2.07 lb, 99% WR

HSB:
18.5", 2x2" gape, 3.02 lb, WR Unk
___________________________________
8-4-16
LMB:
13.5", 2.125" gape, 1.03 lb, 82% WR

HSB:
17.75", 1.875" gape, 2.62 lb, WR unk
___________________________________
8-6-16
HSB:
18" 2x2" gape, 2.64 lb, WR unk
___________________________________
8-13-16
HSB:
18", 1.75x2" gape, 2.57 lb, WR unk

LMB:
17.25" 3x3" gape, 2.62 lb, WR 100%
16.25, 2.875x2.875" gape, 2.42 lb, WR 110%
16", 3x2.75" gape, 1.71 lb, WR 81%
___________________________________
8-14-16
HSB:
19", 1.875x1.875 gape", 2.9 lb, WR unk

___________________________________
8-15-16
HSB:
19", 1.875x2.25" gape, 2.8 lb, WR unk
___________________________________
8-17-16
LMB:
15", 2.5x2.25" gape, 2.66 lb, 156% WR
___________________________________
8-19-16
HSB:
17.5", 2x2" gape, 2.79 lb, WR unk
LMB:
19", 3x3.5" gape, 4.10 lb, 110% WR
16", 3x3" gape, 2.57 lb, 122% WR
17", 3x3" gape, 2.71 lb, 104%
___________________________________
8-20-16 - 8-26-16
LMB:
16", 2.75x2.75" gape, 2.46 lb, 117% WR
14.5", 2.75x2.75" gape, 1.58 lb, 102% WR
14", 2.5x2.5" gape, 1.36 lb, 97% WR
17", 3x3" gape, 3.21 lb, 123% WR
17", 3.25x3.25 gape, 2.78 lb, 107% WR

HSB:
15.5", 1.4x1.75" gape, 2.46 lb WR unk
18.5", 2x2" gape, 3.15 lb, WR unk
____________________________________
8-28,29-2016
LMB
17.5" 3x3" gape, 3.41 lb, 120% WR
15", 2.5x2.5" gape, 2.29lb, 135% WR
____________________________________
9-3-16
LMB
17.5, 3.25"x3.25" gape, 2.16 lb, 76% WR (very skinny!)
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