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| While my wife and I were fishing with guide Jodi Mills in the Moon River Basin last year, Jodi netted a 47.5" and a 42" that my wife had caught. I noticed that he netted both of the fish 'tail first'. I had always netted head first and I am certain that other guides that we had fished with had netted head first as well. According to Jodi, the logic behind 'tail first' is that it eliminates the possibility of the musky shaking while being netted resulting in a hook getting caught in the net before the fish ever makes it in.
What is the census on netting out there? Head or tail?
Sean Murphy |
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| I net them head first, there are a few reasons for this. First of all the fish swims forward so if it takes off as you net it then it will swim in the net and not out. Worst yet if the lure gets caught that fish is gone if it gets unhooked when netted from behind and in the net when netted head first. Another reason is that almost all fish are hooked in the head area and are coming to the boat head first I would find it hard and time consuming to try and turn the fish around at the boat, I mean the fish would be netted head first long before it can be turned around to net tail first resulting in more lost fish at the net.
Just get a net big enough and you should not have to worry about hooks getting caught before the fish is in the net, it has happenned to me twice in over 250 fish since I have had a net and only lost one of those 2. [:sun:] |
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| Head first eliminates the chance of LOOSING the fish after he bolts out like a crazy five year old kid who needs redolin.
Head first is then only way....the save way....so you dont loose your trophy!.
Can a fish swim backwards....NOPE! |
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| head first, when she makes a final atempt to shoot away it's all the way in the net. With tail first, she flips out of the net. Of course a craddle is better. Maybe I'll make one myself. |
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| Divani:
Craddles are ok, but it takes two people in the boat to properly use one and the fish must be sufficiently tired out to lead it onto the craddle. That, and the fact that the craddle must be lifted into the boat to unhook the fish which stresses the fish more than leaving it in the net and in the water. Really think large fish friendly nets are much better than craddles.
That's my opinion, of course I could be wrong -- just ask me wife!!!....:bigsmile:] |
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| I love this topic!!! |
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| Me too Jason, I net em from the tail because of all the afore mentioned reasons. 1 added note, most of the time when netting a fish the "netter" is bent over close to the water. Just imagine netting one from the tail that is a little green. You could give her a little "goose" and the fish could jump. Way too many hooks in the front end. I would not want to see anyone hooked in such a manner. Would not be very pretty. Get a big net and net them head first, better and safer. |
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| The worst scoldin my dad ever gave me was when he was bringing a big pike to the boat and I tried to net it, got it in tail first and the begger jumped outta the net. Head first is the way. m[:bigsmile:] |
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| Sean,
All of the above mentioned reasons are the reason you should always TRY and net your fish head first.
When you try and scoop a fish from behind.......too many ways to lose a fish.
Most times, you net a fish while it is coming at you, not going away from the boat. |
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| what else can you add...head first
Brad
breuerguideservice.com |
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| I normally net head first, but may opt to net a badly or lightly hooked fish tail first if conditions warrant. I believe your odds of losing a fish if you are too hasty in wielding that net are higher when you net head first; conversely, if you are patient and know when conditions are right, you will lose very few fish when netting head first. The trick is to let the fish tell you when they are ready. Also, make sure you are using a net of sufficient hoop size to get the job done. I'm using a Beckman Magnum Finsaver Pen, and it is everything anyone could ever want in a quality net.
I have to admit that netting has taken me a bit of getting used to over the past couple of seasons. I've been alternating between a release gaff and a Boga for the past 18 years, but find the gunwhales of my new boat too high to effectively use either tool unless I do it off of the swim platform. (That's a scary prospect in October/November!)
Steve Wickens |
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| Fish are eased into my Frabill Big Kahuna ALWAYS head first. |
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