|
|
| Is there any way to avoid split fins from a net? I have a nice Beckman, but still see it from time to time. Any way, other than not netting fish, to completely avoid?
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 439
Location: Lake of the Woods, Morson, Ontario | The smaller the squares in the bag, the less split fins you will see.
The fin-saver bag (smaller squares throughout most of the bag) that Beckman made greatly reduced the split fins I noticed when I went to that style. There will still be some split fins, but it went way, way down. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | I used a Fin Saver from Beckman for a few years and saw little difference in split fins. I've had better luck getting the fish deep into the bag, avoiding fouled hooks in the mesh, and going to a bigger net such as a Big Kahuna seemed to help. I'm now using a Frabill Power Catch and find that if the fish is free to swim in the bag, fin damage is minimal. If they thrash too much, often by having a lure tangled in the net... fin damage will occur. Good Luck. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 84
| Get a Frabill net and always net the fish head first, I use a Frabill power catch net it has heavy rubber coating on bag and I haven't had any split fins. Its big enough to let the fish move around and calm down, I don't take the net out of the water, unhook the fish, take the fish out get a quick picture, measure and release. I keep the fish out of the water as long as I hold my breath, about a minute or less. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | fishingfrenzy - 7/3/2015 9:51 AM
Any way, other than not netting fish, to completely avoid?
Completely?? Yes, don't fish for them. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I have a Frabill Big Game Powercatch and don't feel like I have a problem with split fins. I have had just a couple tail fins split, but it's pretty unusual.
I have very little issues with tangled up hooks or fish with this bag, and feel like that is a better tradeoff than 'maybe' splitting a tail fin once in a great while. Having the fish get caught in the net with it's head out of the water and taking a long time to get it all untangled would probably be more frequent and harder on the fish. Many of the lighter weight nets seem more prone to tangles. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2
| Just got a the largest of the Drifter nets they make. It would be pretty tough to use if you fish alone because of the weight and size. Anyways, we put 3 fish in it this weekend, and could not beleive how much room they had. The net is very deep and wide so the fish sit nice in the water and not all curled up like they do in some smaller nets so they seem to stay pretty calm and not thrash around. Making a switch to that net was one of the best moves I have made. Like I said through, may not want it if you fish alone alot. |
|
| |
|
Location: sneaking out to get on the water ;-) | Another vote for frabils power catch. Rarely ever have a bait tangle or damaged fins. Used to have a cheaper frabil that wasn't as nice. Several of my fishing partners have the Beckmann nets but I'm not a fan, seems we spend more time trying to untangle the bait just to get at the fish. Check out the power catch you won't be sorry. |
|
| |
Split fins from net