homemade trough measure device for .99

All from scraps and plastic gutter.true value yard stick .99.

a ruler that long would be too optimistic for my fishing ability 

Very creative and no worries if it is claimed by the sea.  Just make another.  Nice!

In some kayaks, the footwell of the kayak can serve as a measuring trough for fish, if you glue a measuring tape to the side or bottom of the footwell.  Just lift up your foot, drop the fish in the footwell, slide the fish forward until its nose touches the end of the footwell, and measure it.  Berkely makes self-adhesive measuring tapes which could be used for this purpose.  Since the end of most footwells isn't perfectly flat or positioned at a perfect right angle to the bottom of the footwell, this measuring system wouldn't be as accurate as a commercial "Hog Trough" or a measuring trough like yakstatic's.  You'd need to estimate where a fish's nose would come to rest at the bow end of the footwell before positioning the measuring tape.  If you wanted to be more accurate, you could add a more accurate right-angle plate to the bow end of the footwell.  In some kayaks, foot braces would prevent you from sliding large fish all the way forward.  And you could only measure fish as long as the distance between the bow end of the footwell and the front of your kayak seat.

If you're concerned about losing your measuring trough overboard, you can glue closed cell foam to the back of it so it'll float.

Looks good to me!

In some kayaks, the footwell of the kayak can serve as a measuring trough for fish, if you glue a measuring tape to the side or bottom of the footwell.  Just lift up your foot, drop the fish in the footwell, slide the fish forward until its nose touches the end of the footwell, and measure it.  Berkely makes self-adhesive measuring tapes which could be used for this purpose.  Since the end of most footwells isn't perfectly flat or positioned at a perfect right angle to the bottom of the footwell, this measuring system wouldn't be as accurate as a commercial "Hog Trough" or a measuring trough like yakstatic's.  You'd need to estimate where a fish's nose would come to rest at the bow end of the footwell before positioning the measuring tape.  If you wanted to be more accurate, you could add a more accurate right-angle plate to the bow end of the footwell.  In some kayaks, foot braces would prevent you from sliding large fish all the way forward.  And you could only measure fish as long as the distance between the bow end of the footwell and the front of your kayak seat.

If you're concerned about losing your measuring trough overboard, you can glue closed cell foam to the back of it so it'll float.

Idk how that would work with my rudder peddles

Idk how that would work with my rudder peddles

In Hobie pedal kayaks, the area under your legs is not at all suitable for my footwell fish measuring trough idea.  In some other kayaks, it should work pretty well.

Nice work!

the rough metal edges will be hard on the fish if playing c&r...

the rough metal edges will be hard on the fish if playing c&r...

Its plastic