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Posts: 284
Location: Eagan, MN | So, here in the middle of winter, I'm watching the same musky shows you guys are and keep wondering about a couple of things that I consistently see (or don't see) on just about every show.
Why does the net man stand right next to the guy fighting a fish with a 9'+ rod?? Wouldn't things be a lot easier if the net man and the angler stood on opposite decks given the length of the rods used today? Remaining on opposite decks would give the angler more room to move around unimpeded and is the perfect distance for which to lead the fish right to the net man standing a rod length away - and using better rod angles at that. Maybe this tendency to stand next to the angler is just a hang-over from the days of short rods? Or maybe this makes for better TV? I dunno. Standing shoulder to shoulder with an angler fighting a fish with a 9'+ rod just seems like such an awkward way to land fish.
Also, I find it interesting that more guys don't have a system for securely tying off their net at the side of the boat when a fish is in the bag. No need to have someone hold the net or sit on top of the handle when you can quickly and securly go hands-free, with the net in the same position. BTurg showed me this trick years ago and is standard procedure now. Some rope, duct taped around the end of the net handle to form a loop, along with a place to attach the loop, is all one needs in the simplest form. When a fish is in the bag, I tie off the handle rope on my compartment lid handles. Metal clips or fasteners can also be used though. Figured I was the only one NOT doing this at the time BTurg showed me this trick. Guess I was wrong. Things are sure a lot more efficient when the net is tied-off to a pre-determined spot in the boat, leaving the fish securely in the water in the bag with the net draped over the gunwale. Then all anglers can attend to other chores (grabbing cameras or video equipment, getting release tools organized, wetting bump boards, clearing the 'work space', etc.) in preparation for the photo session; all the while the fish is safe in the net, securely tied to the boat at the end of the handle. Works great and never had an issue in the years we've been doing this.
Brian
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | What about leaving the bag in the water waiting to net the fish? Am I the only one that wants my partner netting my fish to hold on to the extra bagging?
I like the handle tip Brian! I usually just hold the handle of my Lakewood up, slide the net handle through, and that works for me unless it is really choppy.  |
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Posts: 1247
Location: On the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY | I use a downrigger clip taped to the net handle to hold the net bag from floating forward.After netting the fish the round Beckman Net handle snaps into the Downeaster Salty S-10 Rodholder to give you hands free while the fish is in the water within the net bag holding pen. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | a much easier and simpler way to keep the net secured is one of those rod straps like this..
http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Poly-Rod-Strap-Rod-Holder/pro... I placed mine on the back battery compartment lid parallel w the boat and simply put the handle under that and it's secure, the hoop is angled up, out over the water, pretty much zero chance of the fish jumping out, you can have the net on either side w this ....once the fish is unhooked we can leave the fish right in the water, get the bumpboard out, camera ready etc ... very handy.
can be seen in these pics...
one thing I have noticed this fishing show season is by and large the net jobs are horrible... maybe I'm just blessed with good netmen but dang, talk about bad net jobs! also, I'm not a big fan of the guy holding the net bag, I've seen it all too often when they go to let it go getting hooked on rod holders, etc... I never hold the bag and rarely fubar a net job!
Edited by BNelson 2/7/2014 5:56 PM
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Posts: 121
Location: Forest Lake, MN & Bemidji, MN | CiscoKid - 2/7/2014 4:55 PM
What about leaving the bag in the water waiting to net the fish? Am I the only one that wants my partner netting my fish to hold on to the extra bagging?
X 2 man, pet peeve, letting the bag hang in the water. Just asking for trouble. Along with trying to net the tail end of a fighting fish. Can't believe how often it seems to take place on shows. |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | When filming you want the net man and the angler in the shot if possible AND you don't want either standing next to the camera man knocking him in the water with a $10,000.- 30,000 camera.
A rope on the net would drive me nuts. Net the fish and hook the bag to a cleat, takes two seconds and nothing extra to cause problems.
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I have used a tether for about 20 years or so now on my nets, and now just drill a hole through the net handle and thread a heavy duty neck lanyard with a good clip through it. Then, I attached a simple eye-bolt on the front side of the steering console (or somewhere on the front, not in a position to be tripped on or bent) to attach the lanyard to.
For me, my net sits level with the gunnel and I can work as needed with the fish.
Steve |
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Posts: 540
Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN | Well I'm glad some one has brought this up but these shows are suppose to be showing every one HOW TO be in the right place or how to fish a simple weed bed or a rock PT.
And they get a fish big or small and the net man is standing there with the net in the water when the fish is green as hell or the net man is reaching with out stretched arms
Trying to get the fish in the bag these Pros need a lesson in how to do it properly every time and this gets me also when they almost blow it they stand there and laugh about it
Iv been guiding for 40years and there IS no laughing when you blow some ones fish of a life time just saying |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Don and I talked about this last year and we are both appalled at how poorly some do it, and you'd think they'd know better. One prominent show personality (and often his partners) almost always puts the bag in the water too soon, and between reaching for the fish too soon or too far, or just plain being in the way before the fish is ready to be netted, screws up way too many net jobs. They often end up with the hooks in the outside of the bag or some other mistake, and wind up having to do gymnastics to flip it in. Maybe they do it to make for more exciting tv |
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Posts: 20218
Location: oswego, il | X3 on what Travis said. I hold onto the bag and let go as I scoop the fish. A loose bag in the water is a great way to hook the lure with the fish outside the net. We have seen it on TV already this year. |
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Posts: 1247
Location: Walker, MN | Yes, the bag in the water drives me crazy too. I also loop the bag onto one of the cleats to hold the net but on some of these shows they have what seems like a five minute conversation setting up "the catch" while the fish is still hooked and sitting in the net. I always try to unhook, measure, picture and release and often the clock ticks a little too long and we skip the measure or pic. |
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Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | Haha! Net your fish how you want to! I like the bag in the water waiting for the fish. The only net job that was ever screwed up for me was when the guy was holding the bag. I also just hook the bag on a cleat. No issues. |
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Posts: 69
| I have been part of a few hundred netted fish with 0 netting mistakes (knock on wood) the key is to make sure you have the fish head first and go quick when you decide to go. |
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Posts: 463
Location: Sw Pennsylvania | Personally I prefer to net my own fish. Its worked well for me. |
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Posts: 5171
| Hold the bag.0723 |
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Posts: 427
Location: Planet Meltdown | When I'm netting someone else's fish, I hold the bag and when the fish is ready im quick about it. Never had an issue netting someone's fish. I fubar'd one of my own net jobs last season and lost a nice fish. Funny though now that I think about it, it was with a 9' rod. It's a little tricky with longer rods fishing by yourself.
Edited by brianT 2/8/2014 7:59 AM
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Posts: 427
Location: Planet Meltdown | It would be nice if there was a product out there like a plastic cradle that sits flat on the gunwale that the net handle can sit in with some type of securing bungee cord or something. Anyone know if there is something out there like this? |
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Posts: 192
| I have a multi species style boat that sits fairly high off of the water. Because of this I like to work on unhooking the fish from the back portion of the boat so I am lower and closer to the water. Makes for an easier reach down into the bag when I'm leaning over the side of the boat. I just stab the end of the net handle through the steering wheel spokes and it holds the net perfectly steady. If I'm on the other side of the boat, I snap the strap that holds the passenger seat back down and then stab the net handle through that. Also work just fine.
I have two full knee replacements. Anyone that has knee replacements knows that crawling around on hands and knees on the front deck of the boat really isn't an option.
Edited by LarryO 2/8/2014 9:48 AM
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Posts: 540
Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN | I'll go along with the knee replacement thing not good |
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Posts: 2753
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Don- I'll also say tail first netting is not good, even if you capure the fish! Right, Howie M.? First & last time! I strained some muscles doing it, that I didn't even know I had! I should have just jumped into the water and grabbed the fish!!!!!! But it was #*^@ed cold water!
Have fun!
Al |
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Location: 31 | brianT - 2/8/2014 8:04 AM It would be nice if there was a product out there like a plastic cradle that sits flat on the gunwale that the net handle can sit in with some type of securing bungee cord or something. Anyone know if there is something out there like this? Yes, I think I found the best solution just laying around my garage in the form of one of those cheap plastic buckle straps left over from an old gym bag. I've also found that the netting process is way easier with two or three people in the boat, and it's not so much a necessity to have the net secured then. However, it's just one less thing to worry about when you secure the net handle when fishing alone. I use to put it in the Down East rod holder like Larry Jones (and that worked well), but prefer having the hoop closer to boat to work on fish. My netting system looks to be similar to Brad Nelson's except I drape the net/hoop over a Down Easter and just clip together that plastic buckle strap, I have the strap secured under the livewell hatch with 1 screw so it stays level from either side. Warning: with the net so close though, you will get some scratches on the side of your boat from thrashing fish hooks… the only scratches I kind of like J.
(solo double in the net.jpg)
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Posts: 427
Location: Planet Meltdown | That's a good idea Jerry. Thanks for the photo and tip. I also tried to put my net in a down east but that didn't work too well in my 1650 Fishhawk. The bag wasn't sitting deep enough in the water.
Edited by brianT 2/10/2014 7:42 AM
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | How about NOT netting every fish? I realize that these guys on these shows want to get a hero shot for the camera, but I know guys who net every single fish they catch. Seriously? I don't put anything in the net that I feel is 45" or under unless fishing a tournament. Everything else gets Boga gripped, quick pic and back into the water OR we simply use 18" needle nose and remove the hooks quickly while the fish is in the water and never bring them into the boat.. Those fish can get beat up pretty bad in a net...rubber coated or not. My .02
Edited by ShutUpNFish 2/10/2014 10:46 AM
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | My net hangs in the water opposite my kicker in the back of my Ranger 620VS. Working on the fish in the water from the front is a little high for me. The back of the boat is calm and lower. The net handle is held by my rod holder strap along side of my passenger seat. This gives me all the room I need to work on the fish while its in the bag resting. The hooks come out asap first thing. Client fish or fish I want pics of are the only fish I use a net on now. Boat side water released fish are my preferred method otherwise.
With my net handle along side of my boat and the hoop straight out the back I have a secure net and all the room I need to do my thing. If a bump board is needed I just lay it next to the net handle or on the back deck.
I also hold the bag until I quickly drop n scoop with one motion. Dont like the bag in the water with green fish. They are too unpredictable when they are close to the boat. |
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Posts: 785
| For guys who aren't fans of your net man holding the mesh; what issues have you run into with this? I successfully net all my boat partners fish this way. Just curious if it's more the person running the net that's the problem or a legitimate issue I haven't come across yet.
IMO holding the bag allows a person to get in position and if needed get out of the way much more quickly. It also keeps the bag from tangling in cleats or rods with a hanging basket. You just have to drop it when you go to scoop. I see this on TV now and then where they net the fish THEN try to drop the bag but by then it's too late and the fish it tangled high in the mesh. I also see people with the entire basket drifting around in the water with a green fish and way too often the fish tangles on the mesh outside the rim. I also like to anchor my net handle, I just clip my rod holder strap to the plastic loop on my Frabill net handle.
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Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | It's that I don't trust the person holding the net. The one time the guy did this, he was in such a panic that he never dropped the bag. The bait got hooked in the net (which was basically a wall of mesh that was never dropped) and the fish popped off. I was having a particularly bad year, so that one lost fish bummed me out and he felt really bad too. Since then, I instruct anyone new to get the net in the water to be ready to net the fish. Never had a problem since. Of course there can be drawbacks to doing it that way too, so i think it all comes down to the net man's preference. I still get nervous when i see someone doing this while im fighting a fish. |
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Posts: 284
Location: Eagan, MN | Skunk, I cringe when I see my boat partner holding the bag, waiting to stab the net downward into the water in front of the fish when the fish nears the boat. The bag, being 3' longer than the hoop of the net, tends to fold over on itself from the downward motion. The net needs to be 'inflated' by a forward and, IMO, somewhat of an upward motion by the net man to maximize the potential of netting the fish without incident. If the net is folded over and not inflated, that is when fish get snagged on the bag and start to wallow around and fight the net man - often getting away. In this scenario, the usual move is to flip the net and bag the fish with a little reverse move. Even if successful, that move is harrowing when a big fish is on the line. I can speak from experience there. Knowing when to bag a fish is important, too. Having an experienced angler as a net man is nice since they are better able to read the fish. More inexperienced anglers are when net disasters tend to happen. They stab at the fish at the wrong times and create all sorts of unnecessary boatside angst with big, wallowing fish. Guess it's all part of the excitment??
Brian |
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | Communication is the key to a successful relationship. Talk to your net man prior to and DURING the big event. Regardless of what is the right or best way... you both need to be on the same page for how it will be done. I hold the bag until ready to submerse the net (this helps avoid snagging a cleat or rod holder).... but plan to inflate the bag with some forward movement prior to the fish crossing the rim of the hoop. I wait for the angler to confirm that its time to submerse the net and close the deal. If I can't deploy for some reason, I'll be real clear about it and ready to re-position in the boat where necessary for the next most convenient capture point (usually the opposite end of the boat from last planned attempt so angler can lead the fish there). As for fastening the net handle down while unhooking the fish. I use a bungee cord through the seat post opening in the rear deck of my Ranger. However, the Rod Holder Straps look like real nice alternative. For me, TV is entertainment only. I understand why the netman shares the same deck with the angler for television.... but that is NOT how it will get done in my boat (or whomever's boat I'm in at the time). If TV was for educational purposes... I'd like to see more footage of guys actually unhooking fish. What tools are they using. How are they using them. Decision making process for when to cut hooks vs. pop them out. How they work with their partner. Etc. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I agree, trust is key, and simply being fast w the net, reading the fish much like you do in the figure 8 to know where/when to net them if they are green, for me I like to net fish asap, no sense in playing them out if you can help it...
try the rod strap JLong, many of my buds have incorporated them on their boats after seeing/using mine...
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | Brad, My bungee system is the same as your rod straps. Same concept, different strapping mechanism. Only difference is that my bungee is stored elsewhere until needed. I like it for now... as it keeps the deck clear of any potential tripping hazards. If I ever upgrade my rig.... I'm sure the Rod Strap trick will be at the top of my list. I may have to talk BrianF into adding it to his boat... as I still have trouble wrapping his nylon rope around the storage compartment cleat... especially with a big rush of adrenaline making your hands shake.... heh heh heh. |
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