do you use a net alot?

[TurnUpTheFishing]

If bass fishing the net doesnt usually come out unless its over 18", even then its not guaranteed to get used.

I prefer to hand land pike. Bring your hand in from behind their head so they dont see you and if they take of hooks are going away from you. Grab 'em behind the head, thumb behind one gill plate index behind the other.

Walleyes, depends. Eaters net 'em. Releasing, no net usually unless 20"+.

Muskies, get the big muskie net.

[tacklejunkie]

Small, eater size walleyes and saugers...no

For Lake Trout and salmon on Lake Superior... all the time

[OnAFly]

Only if I'm using trebles or it's a 'big' fish. Otherwise I lift them out.

[amateurfishing]

i got one this year for first time, nice big frabill with telescoping handle and rubber net, only use as needed like when my 10 inch bass took a dive last weekend & brought up a bunch of weeds with, this way i was able to net the entire mess without hurting fish or damaging my rod. It was 3:1 grass to 10 inch bass,not used on panfish just whenenver i think the situation calls for calming the fish or saving the rod.

[traveler]

steelhead yes, salmon on the big lake yes. Walleyes, pike...I don't even have a net in the boat, unless it's a targeted big pike or musky trip.

[slipperybob]

The problem is not the net like some people make is sounds. Okay a quality net makes a lot of difference, but it's really just the individual. If one is experience with a net, a fish can be landed much sooner and released quickly as well.

A landing net does take up some room on boat too.

[JohnMickish]

I use a Frabil Conservation series net with the extendable handle and I use it for just about every fish, except for pannies and small fish. I've gotten pretty good at just sliding it over the side of the boat to not draw attention to us boating a fish, which can be a drawback of using a net.

I will also say that there is more to netting a fish than just standing there and putting the net in the water making blind stabs at the fish. The person reeling in the fish also plays a part in how to properly net a fish as well, especially if we are talking trophy fish or tournament fish where mistakes will kill you.

[mrpike1973]

moter is great thanks for asking. i love it. i think from these comments i'll keep using a net

[mainbutter]

I almost never use a net.

Nets can be more dangerous to fish, unless they are HUGE, DEEP, and soft-meshed.

Of course, lifting into the boat is also bad for fish, flopping on the deck = not good.

Bass and crappies I can lip. Sunfish I can grab around the body. Pike I can grab the gill plate. I almost never catch walleyes. I always get a safe hold of a fish while it is still in the water.

When trebles are involved, it really depends on what I'm catching. If I'm catching eaters, it really doesn't matter, but I'm more likely to use a net because a netted fish is a caught fish. A boatside fish with no net still can throw a hook.

If I'm C&Ring a fish is truly hooked in a manner where I cannot safely land it without a large risk of hooking myself, well I just unhook it in the water and watch it swim free. Aren't needlenose pliers great?

For the record, I've never had a treble buried in me, but 99% of all northerns and bass get hand-landed.

The only time I use nets these days is with muskies. I've hand-landed muskies before and it's even easier on big ones than small pike, but because they are so rare for me to land and I REALLY want a picture of every one I hook, in the net they go. These nets are HUGE, with wide hoops, and very deep. The fish stays in the water, and the net is basically used like a soft sided in-water open-top cage.

[fishgutz77]

If I'm keeping fish I use a net, if not I only use a net on heavy fish.

good wet nets don't do alot of damage but some nets do.

clean wet hands help alot on sensitive fish like trout, and that slim you see on the carpet in bottom of the boat is a fishes defense system against disease. I like to get them out of the net and don't let them touch anything but your hands.good luck

[matthothand]

I only use nets on the great lakes and in tournaments.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Nets aren't really necessary for shore fishing, especially for Catfish. It would be nice yes but not needed. From a boat for Flatheads it is definitely a plus to have, but again they have huge mouths that are fairly easy to grab if you played the fish out.

[Tim Ellis]

I looked that thing over hard, but it looks to be very weak, and doesn't look like it would last a season. IMO, it's neat, and hopefully they can improve the design, but i wouldn't buy it unless your not worried about buying another one at the end of the season.

[Fever]

I fish bass primarily and when not fishing a tournament or in my league I never use a net. When the pressure is on the net comes out but as someone statede earlier the net doesnt need to be used to literally lift the fish out of the water it is used to secure the fish and prevent loosing it. Once in the net it can be lipped. All fish have a protective slime coat and really should only be netted if needed. A fisherman really shouldn't depend on a net as the fish rubbing up on and being lifted by the netting actually removes the slime coat and increases chances of infection. Very large musky nets are great for coraling the fish and allowing the water to continue to support the weight of the fish as the hooks are removed. I see too many people lifting fish out of the water with their nets... not good unless you plan on harvesting that fish.

[TruthWalleyes]