To net or not to net?

[Bobby Bass]

I was going out fishing and my partner asked me why I insist on having a landing net on board, He has never seen me use it and when I got to thinking about it I can't remember the last night it has even got wet unless it rained. So here is the question. Do you net all your fish or do you land everything by hand? I lip all my bass and lift all my northerns by cradling the belly. I don't remember what a walleye looks like

[Captain B.R.K]

Good question because I have a net and I can't remember the last time I've used it. I too lip all my bass and craddle or hand hold the NP's until they are off the hook.

I will use the net if I have a HUGE whatever on that I want to make sure I get a picture. I will also use a net if I'm out fishing walleyes and having a meal is a big deal OR the eye' is a nice size fish that I don't want to get away so I can snap a quick pic. Otherwise it just sits in the boat.

[delmuts]

i always have a net in the boat. usually for a bigger fish ( NP) that i may have a hard time handling, and!!! on the small lake i fish her ein iowa; we have some big catfish !! not even going to grab one of those babies!!!

[musky hunter]

Depends for me. Having a walleye boat with deeper sides makes lipping more difficult than on a bass boat. It depends on the size of the fish, and how badly I want to land it. Walleyes securely lip hooked up to two lbs, I just reel 'em in. Same with bass up to about 15". But over that, I use the net.

[Valv]

Catch several 10lbs to 20lbs salmons, and you'll remember the net immediately.

I tried to lift a walleye by the mouth once, but it didn't feel very good

Jokes aside, I do use it very often, I have one of these full rubber where fish and hooks don't get tangled and they work great. I rather scoop a fish in the boat than risking breaking the line or hurting it by lifting it in.

[Fishin4Life]

Quote:

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Catch several 10lbs to 20lbs salmons, and you'll remember the net immediately.

I tried to lift a walleye by the mouth once, but it didn't feel very good

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Funny story. Me and my dad were fishing. He doesn't fish a ton and he had a nice fish on theline. I was in the back of the boat and he was in the front. I get a short glance at the fish and I tell him "You've got a decent walleye there". He says no no, its a bass. I only saw a short glimps so said "ok but it looks like a wally to me". Just thinking whatever, haha. He goes to lip it like a Bass, and you see him jump a bit and looks at me. Hey you were right its a walleye. haha. I said I thought so, I do fish a bit more than you. Made for a good laugh on the water, and I even got to be right once!

Ok sorry to leave topic, back to nets now.

I always forget my net because I use it so little. The few times I have used it just got all tangled in the line and the hooks and royally t-ed me off.

[mille lacs muskie bum]

I usually use a net while bass fishing or pike fishing because it is not safe to lip a bass when you are using a bait with multiple treble hooks. Also I have been cut by walleyes when trying to grab the fish.

[stmichael]

I primarily use the net on fish that are larger...this also depends on the type of bait used. Crank baits I usually net. Too many close calls to not utilize the net.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

If Im trying to get some walleyes to eat or have a big one on the net comes out. I fish bass mostly and when Im on my own I just lip them but when I fish with someone else usually the net comes out for fish over 17". Also, anytime cranks are involved the net comes out. Ive got a rubber net, too. Never have to worry about hooks getting stuck and its easier on the fish.

[Ely Lake Expert]

Since I usually fish walleyes I usually use a net, but when I accidentally catch a bass I don't use a net, I just grab them by the lip.

[BobT]

What about the idea that nets are hard on fish? Anyone have any opinion about that?

Most of the time I prefer to use the net because I feel it is safer for the fish and me. I think it has a lot to do with how one uses it too. Trying to get your hands on a northern that isn't quite ready to be picked up can be a reckless manuever especially when there are treble hooks involved and the net can often allow you to get the fish unhooked a released before completely wearing the fish out. Personally, I think that is better for releasing.

Bob

[mntraveler]

I believe cheap nets are hard on fish. Beckman and Frabill both have very nice bags that are meant to inflict as little harm to the fins a possible. I'm sure there's more reading than anyone would care to do on the musky forum. I almost always use a net, but usually am muskie fishing. Now, if I have a small pike or bass there is not really any reason to.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

One of the reasons we got a rubber net was because it is easier on fish. Regular net material can rip up a fish's fins, cut them and take off their protective coating leaving them more vulnerable to disease.

[mtreno]

being mostly a msuky bum these days a net is a must. a good net!

i also have a 8 footer that expands to 16 feet with rubber netting for walleyes. makes pickin those eyes up when trolling real easy and much better on the fish.

if you have a cheap net and get a bigger fish just leave it in the water. remove hooks and pull the fish out of the net while the netting is still in the water. the weight of the fish on the netting is what gets them.