Tell us how you avoid net losses

[wobble-wacker]

My Friend John is not very happy when netting doesn't end with the desired result which is a fish in the box we can brag about. I went through some red faced moments trying to explain why the net wouldn't hit the water or couldn't get the bag under the fish - caught on the rod holder. DON'T GET THE LEAD LINE IN THE NET AND BE READY WITH THE KNIFE! DON'T GET THE NET IN THE WATER UNTIL THE FISH IS ON ITS SIDE. BE READY - THE FISH IS COMING TO THE NET EARLY. This salmon fishing is a different world from sunfish, crappies and walleyes in Minnesota. WE NEED MORE ICE TO COOL THE FISH AND BEER. After 6 years of coaching my technique is getting better - maybe. Actually, John is getting more tolerant of mentoring a Midwest hard head Swede. What do you have to tell an inexperienced netter - Ocean, river or lake?

Dick images/icons/shocked.gif

[Fishhead]

WW, A good bet is to keep the slack in the net tight. Do this by putting the bottom of the net in the right index finger thats holding the extension pole. This acts like a trigger and keeps the net from hanging on something. I usually wait until the fish is tired and let the guy playing it stear it into the net opening. Then let the net loose with the trigger finger. Make sure that you keep the net out of the water until you're ready to net the fish. The net only gets the fish excited if it's not ready to be netted. Good luck. images/icons/grin.gif ............Fishhead Vic

[Phil Layer]

An important part of the net job for me is making sure the guy on the rod lifts the fish's head just before I net. Then, if the fish dives (which they usually do), I have that little advantage of having a head start on getting it under him so he can swim right into it.

Being a Swede, you've got a reputation to defend...great fishermen in that part of the world.

[Hoosier Daddy]

First, grab the leader.......oh wait.....nevermind

[Vinny]

Question: Does steering the fish into the net mean the the fish goes into the net head first or front half/middle of the fish from underneath (scooping as opposed sweeping)? It seem the fish is less likely to excape a scooping motion from beneath.

[Threemuch]

Spend $50 or more on a quality salmon net. The hoop should be at least 36" long, and 30" wide at a minimum. Bigger is better. Long handle is better than short, but can get in the way in a small boat. The bag should be 48" deep and weighted. Small nets can work, but it' tricky. Most consistantly successful anglers will have a very large net.

Always net the fish headfirst, fish can't swim backwards (although they can stop swimming and let the current take them!)

Keep the slack of the net in your hand at the neck of the net, don't release until the last second. This will keep the bag from snagging on a cleat or tackle.

If you have the room, motor the boat in a very slow circle around the fish, this will keep the fish off one side of the boat instead of the transom and away from yucky props and lower units.

The the netter should be in the stern corner. The angler should be behind and closer to the bow than the netter.

When the fish is in the bag, lift the net until the fish is in the bottom of the bag, then point the net handle and the sky and lift straight up. Do NOT try to lift big fish up with the net horizontal to the water, this can and eventually will result in a broken net. Plus moving the net handle to vertical traps the fish in the bottom of the bag with no way out.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:
NEVER lift the fishes head out of the water, or try to thumb the spool and horse the fish closer to the net at the moment of truth. I know you are excited, but here is where it really pays to be calm. I have seen so many fish lost by an impatient angler trying to put too much pressure on a fish too early.

[Tanner]

The key to avoiding net losses is keeping your overhead low and your gross profits high. images/icons/grin.gif

[Fish Hunter]

Great posts. All I can ad is:
-Never reach way out away from a boat for a fish. Grief will result.
-The person fighting the fish needs to reel all the way up to the splitter when the fish is ready to net.
-Take the rod holders out to clear the way.
-Pay attention to potential net snags in the boat
-Use a sliding lead dropper. You see them on sturgeon rigs. If the lead gets in the net, you won't lose the fish. Put a plastic weed guard though the main line ahead of the slider, looks like the top part of a golf tee.

[Dogfish]

I'm with THREEMUCH on the technique, but I will also add one more to that. If you are trolling cut plugs, go with a shorter leader, I usually go with 48" max, but usually 36". This makes it a lot easier to control the fish at boatside. The long leaders, 6' and longer work great on big boats like charters and other boats over 40' because you are higher up above the water. When you are in a boat that puts you at water level, the longer leaders only make it harder to control your fish. Especially of you are fishing alone.

Some folks might say that you will scare the fish, but I have had many 20+ salmon days on my boat this year with this very method.

It is a pitty to do everything right to get a fish to bite, only to lose it to a netting error. We call that "crackering a fish."

[parker]

Just be sure you have a quality net. Beckman's are a good start.

Parker

[Fin]

Just remember, the net is to lift the fish from the water to the boat. It's the rod and reel that is used to catch the fish, not the net. It's more fun to play the fish on a rod and reel than to play it spashing in the net. Take your time.

[FishinMission]

All good points...but here's one I never saw...Make sure the guy (or gal) with the net is DOWNRIVER from the guy (or gal) with the fish on the rod. Alot easier to net them this way. And most importantly.....if possible...wait til the fish is laying on its side, and you can pretty much pull it around anywhere you want it to go...(Like into the net...HEADFIRST ) Seen too many fish go "BYE BYE" from people being too anxious, and in a hurry.

[SlabQuest]

Threemuch wrote the book on correct netting. I think that most fish are lost by an anxious netter lunging at a fish that has turned.

[Firedog]

Threemuch and fishinmission have it covered or you can just have it jump in the boat like we did yesterday. While waiting for my partners fish to get tired it jumped and landed in the motor well. Can't get much easier than that images/icons/smile.gif. Gave John Kraufer(SP?) and his clents a good laugh also. Just make sure the netter is patient.

[Backlash2]

"What do you have to tell an inexperienced netter - Ocean, river or lake?"

GIVE ME THE **** NET!!

[fishbait]

1. Get a big net with a loooong handle

2. clear the gunnels, rod holders, etc

3. stay calm

4. Fisherman up front, netter in the stern

5. stay calm

6. fish must be steared into the basket as the scoop being made

7. If you not absolutely sure the time is right to make the scoop, wait

[Threemuch]

Come on backlash! If you always take the net from the rookie, then he will always be a rookie! And you don't want that when it's just you and him in the boat!

Besides, the big kings are always spent when they finally come to boat. Easy net when they roll on their side and stop twitching. It's the middleweights, 20-30 pounds, that are tough because you get em to the boat hot and they still have a couple tricks up their sleeves.

Let he who has not lost a fish for his buddy with the net cast the first stone. I got hit in the head with a 10 oz sinker once when I reached for a 25 pounder and bumped it off with the net. Swift justice.

[Dogfish]

You can also just shoot it or gaff it! (just kidding, unless it is a halibut) I have also seen people with a broken net steer near another boat so that they could net it, or they run their boat to the beach and land the fish on shore, (only in the sound or areas of calm water, please).

There is a method of tailing a fish, and also grabbing a fish at the gills, but you should only use these methods if you will be keeping the fish, and then only as a last resort.

[4Salt]

You could always call Salmonator on the cell phone, and have him run over and net the fish for you. Judging from his signature, that would be my first choice. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[Jennie@ifish]

and....
NEVER extend the net until you have a fish on!
Bad luck, as is having a persuader out, or camera... or???
Sorry, changed the topic huh?
images/icons/smile.gif
J

[Backlash2]

Just a little kiddin' with ya Threemuch.. images/icons/grin.gif

Your instructions pretty much cover it. The only thing I can add is that netting should be a very quick thing. You see guys all the time that miss on the initial try, then darn near fall out of the boat reaching out for a now re-****** off fish. images/icons/rolleyes.gif

Get the net in hand, be ready as your partner brings the fish along side the boat. ALWAYS NET THE HEAD OF THE FISH. Judge your timing as the fish approaches, and make a QUICK scoop in front of the fish, follow thru to behind the fish, and lift the net handle straight up. If the fish does ANYTHING other than come straight in, get the net the hell out of the way. You've already got the fish to the boat once, and it's now almost pooped, don't blow it by bopping your partner's leader, or snagging their dropper.

I don't intend to sound all knowing, but netting is not that hard. I think people let the excitement get ahold of them too much. In hunting they call it 'BUCKFEVER'. I can't remember the last fish I 'knocked off' with a net.

[Mrdorkfish]

Oh Jennie.....i always have my net extended and ready to go.....especially when i'm by myself...Wednesday it was much easier to net my fish without having to click that button and extend it with one hand images/icons/smile.gif

Mrdorkfish

[Phish_on]

I'm with backlash ... practice on trout! Either you know how to do it or images/icons/mad.gif HAND ME THE NET.

[Pitch Pocket]

After my self said "experienced" netter knocked off 2 silvers and tried to knock off 2 more, I finally had to give him a lesson. Don't lift the handle straight up with the hoop in the water. Lift up with the handle parallel to the water until you have the fish in the net and the hoop is out of the water and THEN lift the handle straight up to close the net. If you lift the handle straight up while the hoop is in the water, you actually pull the open net against the boat and shove the fish out!

Don't try to lift a heavy fish (30 lber or so) out of the water with the net handle parallel to the water or you'll bend the handle. Silvers aren't that heavy and it shouldn't be a problem if you have a sturdy net.

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: SjP ]

[Jellyhead]

Here's my .02---

Never use a heavy lead dropper line!!!!!! If you're leader is 25# use 6#test or 10#test for you're dropper. If the lead gets hung up in the net and the fish makes another run, the lead will just pop off, and give the netter another chance (hopefully he only needs one chance images/icons/rolleyes.gif )

Aaron

[HOGTIDE]

The best netting advice I give to my partners is to "Use it like a spatula you are sliding under a pancake". Slip it under the fish. Lots of folks like to swing it in the current like they're dipping smelt. The fish just makes a U-turn.

...of course, with the pancake analogy, I'll always get a couple guys who will then try to flip it in the air! images/icons/shocked.gif

[boater]

also who ever has the fish on should stay as close to the side of the boat as possible to keep the tip of there rod away from the boat until the fish is ready to be netted, i see alot of people back up towards the middle of the boat when the netter is getting ready to net the fish, this leaves no room between the boat and the fish to put the net in the water, after the fish is tired they will usualy lay on there side and then you can have the netter put the net in the water (holding the lose part of the net to the handle with his hand) then the person with the fishon can guide the fish to the net, after the fish starts to go over the hoop of the net the netter drops the mesh, when the netter has enough of the fish in the net, lift the hoop up and pull the handle towards you and straight up at the same time. just my 2 useless cents worth.

[Pitch Pocket]

When I am at buoy 10 or any crowded spot I like to play the fish as little as possible. Get him to the boat. Remember we have to release non-fin clipped silvers and steelhead. I'm a fan for the rod backing to the far side of the boat and netting the fish quickly. If it is a "political fish" and the hook is not easily removed, cut the line and release the fish. I think the mortality rate goes up if the fish is on it's side and spent.

It's another story with a 35lb Chinook. Play him out, but if you have a chance to net him, get him. Your chances of landing a big Chinook are higher if you have him in the net. Your knots, your fray, the nick in your line, teeth.......too many variables reduce your odds of landing the fish.

If I can get the fish to swim to the boat, I'll net him. He can thrash all he wants in the net. If he runs I'll play him, but the net is on him if the net can get him.

[boater]

i was talking about keeper fish. if its a wild fish i will horse it in and cut the line unless the line is wrapped around it, then i will untangle it before i cut it off or remove the hooks.

[wobble-wacker]

These are all great posts. I'm going to have John read them all and let him know this flat-lander swede is now one step ahead of him with IFISH.NET.