What net size and Length?

C

Chris Bulovsky

New member
Sport Fishers- What size landing net do you like? Have you found a good place to keep it on the 22's? I need a new one and don't like the short one I'm using now. I fish mostly for trout and salmon. Pike, Walleye and Small Mouth are also in the mix. Also interested in how and where people mount them.
Please tell me what works for you.

Thanks

Christopher Bulovsky
 
As far as net size I can't remember but it's the big ones made for salmon. Looks like the trolling nets featured here.

And as far as where to keep them while fishing I like up on the radar arch in a rod holder.Keeps the net out of the way, but close enough to get to when you need it. If you don't have an arch you can buy a plastic single rod holder like the single one in this pic.

You just mount that to the outside of the cabin, far enough up ( a couple inches from the gunnel) so that the net will sit in there nice and sturdy. Thats what I had on my old arima, and it worked quite well. I could run with the net in place with no worries. But had to build a canted plate out of wood for it to sit perfect. Not sure if you would need to or not on the CD.

Sark

Links edited by Da Nag
 
Chris-

You'll have to pick the net out yourself based on your fishing types and where you decide to store it, but here are some ideas:

Some of the newer ones made up of soft machine woven netting are great for not harming catch and release sensitive fish, such as trout, but trebble hooks from lures really get tangled in them quickly and are hard to remove.

The simpler tied and knotted plastic multi-strand ones are easier to use in this respect. The size of the netting squares is another consideration. Bigger ones for bigger fish, but not so big that the smaller fish you'll net fall through the mesh. This type of netting is also much easier to repair than the fine woven type.

The longer the handle, the easier they are to use, but up to a point where they become akward due to the extra handle shaft in the way once the fish is really close to the boat.

Storage is another issue. The simplest place I've found to get the net readily available and yet out of the way of fishing rods, downriggers, and everthing else, is to mount the net vertically behind the hooked open cabin door. (Most folks have rod storage on the starboard side.) Some may choose to mount the net in the middle rear of the cockpit in front of the motor well, but it's much more in the way there, IMHO.

Take a piece of PVC pipe large enough to allow the handle of the net inside, and mount it down alongside the door hook. The length of the handle is also involved in this, as a handle that is too short will allow the net hoop to jam down in between the door and the cabin bulkhead. Too long a handle, on the otheer hand, will allow the net to spin in the wind. However, there are ways to make a short or really long handled one fit here, just requiring some more ingenuity and hardware, such as a bottom stop for a short one, and some friction lining in the storage tube for the longer one. Some higher quality nets also feature a sliding handle that stores up inside the net hoop to reduce their length for storage.

You can also mount the net on the roof laying it horizontally, but you'll have to add some form of keeper hardware to hold the handle. Moreover, if it's not really secure and you move the boat w/o tying it down good, you'll lose the net over the side going through the chop.

If you think you'll ever drop the net over the side accidentaly, you might take off the handle end cap and stuff the inside with styrofoam macaronni for some flotation to save the (net) day! A net would be hard to see or find if you were looking for it in confused seas, just like a lost spinnaker pole on a sailboat. I'd wrap the handle with a bright colored tape in an open spiral pattern so it could be seen easily.

Nets should be stored inside the cabin or some other similar place, as leaving them out in the sunlight and elements eventually breaks down the plastic fibers of the netting.

Almost all net frames and handles are made of aluminm or Al alloys. There may be some ultra light carbon fiber ones available, but they'd be disproportionately expensive, and the money could better spent elsewhere, such as a downrigger upgrade.

It might just also be that if the different types of fish you'll be catching are too dissimilar, you might in turn consider having two nets of different types instead of one universal one.

Others will have more ideas to share with you, I'm sure!

Good Luck Fishing!!!

Joe.
 
Christopher,
I use the largest deepest salmon net I can find. It has a 60 in handle and collapses into the hoop for storage. I use a single rod holder to store it while fishing. While cruising I lay it flat on the roof on a piece of carpet and hold it down with bungee cord between the roof handrails. I will post a pix in my album.
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I use a large, deep net, 5' handle and carry it mounted in about a 14' tube which is mounted on a piece of teak, rearward angle, against the very rear side of the lazarette (spelling). This makes it reachable and extends the net off the backside of the boat. It eliminates a dripping net on the roof or in the cockpit and works well for me.

I don't have any close up shots of it on my 3rd Byte album, but will put one on their when I get back home from Seattle, Feb. 12th. If you look at my album it will show the relative attitude of the net.
 
you might want to check with the rules and regulations for your area. WA is currently contemplating making it mandatory for no knot nets.
 
Here in in the West we use knuckle buster for reel , a fish glove ,or bare hand, barbless hook , and practice catch and release for salmon fishing. You can see it on BCTV every sunday morning by Gary Cooper , if you want to see how it's done , it's a blast really get you adrenaline going! Halibut is what we like too put in our deep freeze! Large net are use to retrieve my hats or my lab !





SEARAM
 
I like a large salmon net with a retracting handle. One that slides into the net circle itself. As far a storage I keep it in the rod holders on the radar arch. that keeps it out of the way until you need it.

A good trick with a net is to rubber band the bottom of the net to the net handle. Just put a rubber band around the handle and then gather the bottom of the net into a tight bunch and slip the rubber band around it. this keeps the net from flapping around in the wind and tangling any rods that are in the rod holders next to it and helps keep you from hooking the net on rods, downriggers, boathooks, and cleats while tiring to land the fish. It also keeps the net from inverting when you put it in the water to net the fish. The weight of the fish will pull the net out of the rubber band as you net the fish.

For flotation I fill the handles with the spray in foam that they sell at home depot. The stuff for filling in gaps in walls. I also rarely pay more then a dollar or so for a net. Yard sells are great for nets. I buy one everytime I see one and keep the extras in the garage.
 
I actually have one of the smaller Salmon nets that I have been using for the last few years. However I just won a large Beckman in a raffle this summer so when I get the boat in the water I will have two nets to use. I really like the smaller one for a couple reasons.

1. It has a hex shaped handle so it is very strong.
2. It has a tape measure applied to the handle for easy measurement of the fish.
3. It is flat black so it doesn't reflect light when landing the fish.
4. It is knotless so it doesn't snag up too much (still does but not bad).

The new Beckman is a nice shiny red anodized knotless net. It is nearly double the size. It will be interesting to use it.

On my sled I always kept the net along side the seats next to the gunnel where it was often a pain to get out. On the C-Dory it will be in a rod holder mounted to the post that holds the extended roof up or in the Rocket Launchers I intend to mount on the back of the extended roof.

Normally, in the past I don't even get the net out unless I know I can keep the fish. Instead I will bring the fish up to the boat and look at it first by holding the flasher. Only then will I net the fish and bring it in the boat. To me a good de-hooker is just as important to have as a good net! Plus they are very handy for snagging the release clip! Just ask Roger :)
 
Hey finally something I can contribute to. :D


I tried using my rocket launchers to hold my net but found out that once the net was wet it would drip on my head. So I bought a flush mount rod holder sorta like this one
i012491vr02.jpg
except mine has only a 15 degree angle. I got it at west marine.

I mounted it in the port side gunnel facing forward right behind the cabin bulk head. THis works perfect for me as the net is out of the way yet easy to get to. I have a kicker motor on the starboard side so if I was to mount it on that side using pvc as suggested It would block my view somewhat. I hope to get some pictures of it in my photo album soon.
 
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