treated or untreated net bag?

[TH]

I am going to order a new Beckman net.. I am going to go with the

Columbian Special
SPECIFICATIONS:
34" x 40", 1/2" O.D., drawn aluminum hoop
1 1/4" x 6' long drawn aluminum handle
34" x 65" bonded and stabilized nylon bag
Overall length: 9' 4"

My question is.. do I order it with a treated or untreated bag?

My last bag was treated and it was ok.. a little more hook friendly! But the bag seemed to be much stiffer.. not sure that I liked that... :smile:

This will not be a C&R bag, strickly a kill bag! :smile:

Any ideas and insight is greatly appreciated!

[Gun Rod Bow]

I have an untreated bag and it get's fish in great, getting them back out can be a chore. I'm gonna buy a new treated basket for springer season. I've used my buddies and the treated one's are sure alot better to get fish out of, especially with kwickies.

[ZaQ]

I was told the treated bags were tough on the fish, the ones you have to release.

[Bob Barthlow]

Travis, I've had Beckman's with both..... GO TREATED!!! ........I try REAL not to net fish we're going to release.

No more taking 20 minutes to get a plug outa the net with cold fingers.. [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]

[ 01-15-2004, 10:15 PM: Message edited by: Rapid Robert ]

[monoman]

TH

If it's a "kill bag" go treated!
If your in a limited kill zone, have a soft, shallow net bag, not a treated bag.

[Wreckless]

I bought a "rubberized" Frabill for the specific purpose of releasing, fish quickly that aren't too tired. Was I mistaken?? [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

I know I shouldn't put'em in a net, but I've had a hot shot treb BURIED in by thumb while it was still in a wild chinooks jaw AND a treb of a k14 in the palm while releasing a wild coho. I have gone to some siwash hooks, but unless it's an "easy" release...I net 'em.

Any other suggestions...long pliers..Bogagrip...whatever.

[TH]

Which bag is best for keeper sturgeon? treated or untreated?

[HOGTIDE]

Dude....a real man would go with the untreated GAFF-HOOK!!!!! :smile:

But really, have you ever tried using a "Tailer" on chinook or Steelhead ? I have seen many Kenai photos with Tailer being employed. It would be nice to have a contraption in the boat that doesn't take up so much room.

I personally have an oversized "untreated" Beckman for chinooks. It is nice to handle , but really allows the hooks to penetrate and tangle. My favorite net might be my smaller steelhead unit. It is a cheapy by Line-Line with a synthetic web. Really light and non-snaggy and works well...but it doesn't look really cool

[Hookset]

Treated all the way. The rubber coating is great for several reasons; 1)hook removal, 2)releasing fish, 3)netting sturgeon (a sturgeon will tear up an un-treated net in short order) 4) survive more use and abuse.

In my ealier days, I used to catch sturgeon with a tailer even though I missed a few on the first go around. The I missed a very large keeper for my brother, of course he never let me forget it. So I started using a un-treated pro-line nylon net for keepers only. After just a few fish, the nylon was frayed, then a hole developed and that was that. Enter the Beckman treated extra large hoop. After three seasons that net was still going strong.

I've seen the model Beckman calls the Columbian and that's a nice size net. Still, I thought mine was a little bigger in width.

On a side note......I remember a sturgeon guide who carries three nets and I've witnessed him having to use all three to land customers keeper fish.

Gregg

[ZaQ]

How much does the treatment cost?

[Sturgeon Tom]

Net a Sturgeon? Just pick it up by the tail and put it in the boat. I have not found a keeper that I could not do that with yet. I have put a few oversize in to get the hook out to. Now you have to cut off the hook because you can't take it out of the water.
st

[Wreckless]

OK S T I'll bite....you have a net for OVERSIZE!!!! :shocked:

WOW

ZaQ, The treatments are SPENDY AND PAINFUL!!! :grin: