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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | After reading the other post, expecting good advice on netting, I thought maybe it would be a good idea to start one on how to avoid boatside disasters.
I learned netting out on Lake Michigan chasing salmon. Blew a few fish as I was learning, but I got pretty proficient at it. The two things that stood out about successful netting were holding the bottom of the bag tight to the handle with your lower hand until the net is in the water, and no hesitating, pick your time and do it fast. That was the hardest part, learning when it was in your favor to stick the net in front of the fish. The optimum time was always with the fish coming towards you, not staying in place thrashing or going away. I always try to jam the net in front of the fish as close to the fish as possible, with no sweeping it through the water with the mesh billowing out behind trying to catch up to the fish. Of course, you can't do that fishing by yourself, but I find it is my best way for most situations netting for others.
The problem with muskies for me is that often they have big lures t-boned with hooks sticking out on both sides of the fish. It's awful easy to get the hooks snagged on the mesh up near the hoop and then it's big trouble. I had my biggest fish ever hung up like that and only a minor miracle saved the catch. When I'm netting, I try to make sure I don't put the net in the water much more than half way so the lure is centered in the mesh when I scoop the fish. It doesn't work all the time but over all it is pretty good.
So, what are some of the ways that work for the rest of you? I'm sure there are some pretty good methods out there that maybe the rest of us haven't been heard. | |
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| Amost-b-Good great advice I particularly like the part about doing it fast. It's torture when the fish is sliding on the surface toward the boat and the net man/woman is asleep at the switch. Another thing to do is once the fish is in the bag lift it up don't lift the fish out of the water but get that hoop up above the surface. | |
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| Has anyone used that Frabill Kwik Kradle? I fish mostly by myself and the Power Catch can be a alot to handle with one hand. I thinking that possibly the Kwik Kradle might be just as effective and easier to handle. It is not really a cradle, it is a narrower net with a lowered front portion. | |
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Posts: 97
| 1. Net the fish on the first good opporitunity. 2. When you commit, do it fast. 3. I like the fish about a foot under water with him coming in parellel to the boat, so if he shakes his head the water resistance slows him down a little. 4. Never go tail first.
On a side note, this was the first year I used a finsaver pen type bag, and was really impressed. | |
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Netting Technique