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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | I thought it would be fun to discuss landing net strategies, techniques, and functions of what (I'm thinking) so many people might consider mundane or not important when it comes to the final step of putting into possession that trophy walleye or other fish specie you just hooked and fought to the boat or shore. I truly believe that being a good landing net man involves as many technical facets and qualities as being a good instinctive shooter.
Being a Big Water Charter Captain and River Guide for many years, I've seen it all and have had a chance to examine the many mistakes while in the process of netting and the proper techniques to executing "the perfect net job". Lets examine some of the more common mistakes and if you can think of any others, fell free to add to the list. I'll list mine webster dictionary style, in the Latin first.
1. Premature E-netulation, or "he's still to green" syndrome. Trying to net the fish long before he has worked off any of his fighting edge. I guess the best teacher of this mistake is knowing the true stamina of the fish specie your catching. That is, catching enough of this particular specie to know what their tricks and signs are that they are ready to be netted. This remedy of course has to come with simple time put in, to learn each species habits.
2. Nettus improperous, or "coming in from the back door". Netting a fish from the back or tail first is wrong. And I know that many of you (maybe as kids) were taught that way. Heres the only point that I'll make on this technique argument. Fish cannot swim backwards very well, but they sure can swim forward awful fast, quick and hard.
3. Properous Timeingus, or "going down when I'm coming up". Good consistent netting is nothing more than good timing. The net should be going south when the fish is coming or being pulled north. This makes for a clean tangle free net job. Many things should be taken into consideration involving this process. River current or boat surge while trolling creates a current of sorts. Leaving the net or bag of the net in the water while waiting for the fish to tire and be brought in is a no-no. The bag webbing of the net will puff out in this current and be the first thing to reach the fish with a mouth full of hooks. That then puts him attached to the outside of the net. Remember, outside Bad....inside Good. A proper Thrust, Sweep and Lift technique should be used and practiced always. On my charters I simply tell the clients to keep reeling until the fish is in the net. I work out the timeing equation depending on how fast things are transpiring.
4. Jabitous/Reacherous, or "the two worse no-no's". Never Jab at a fish with the net. I know it tempting to do when it's just laying suspended there, but he will both see and hear it coming and have many flee options. And very few will end up with you as the winner. Never reach the nets length for a fish. Know your nets capture zone length and give yourself a comfortable leeway. Often times reaching accomplishes the same thing as the (Bag First) mistake. You want the fish on the inside of the net.
5. And lastly, Waverous/Signalous, or the "Hey we have a fish on over here". This technically has nothing to do with possessing the fish, but I feel must be mentioned. If you'd like to actually get to fish the same area you just caught this nice walleye in for a couple more passes, keep the net down in the boat until ready to actually use. Nothing like waving a 14' long black flag off the back end of your boat to attract attention.
Edited by walleye express 6/16/2004 11:09 AM
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Member
Posts: 3899
| Too funny, WE!
And let us not forget that size does matter. A large enough hoop and bag is important. I've got several nets to choose from, and just picked up a new Frabil with the twist-lock telescoping handle this year. I do a lot of muskie fishing, and was on Lake St Claire several years ago, and the guy had too small of a net, maybe even for the big eyes. needless to say, the fish wouldn't fit in the net, and we lost a couple because of this. I like a net to easily engulf the whole fish, as I slip it under it. Plus, the coated, no-tangle, hook proof bags are a definate plus. | |
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Member
Posts: 284
| Great tips.
It helps to hold the netting in your lower net hand until you go after her. | |
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Member
Posts: 1656
| You forgot one tip.
I call it the 8 # roll, after my uncle rolled about an 8#'er out of the net on a crawler harness....by miracle I still got the fish after he netted it the second time.
After Breakin' the reach/jab rule, he rolled the net bringing the net back into the boat, dumping the fish back in the drink.
I then proceeded to lecture him about the finer points of netting a fish. 
Biggest mistake I see trolling, is people reaching for the fish. | |
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Member
Posts: 377
Location: Neenah Wi | The person with the fish on has a little to do with a proper net job also.I like to tell whomever is with me to keep the fish moving into the net.And try to keep the head up.Some people like to let off when they think the fish is in the net when in all actuality it is only half way in.Thats when the reaching part comes in.Dan nice pointers. | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Risor.
Actually, what happens is the guys with the fish leans over to watch you net his fish. And by doing so, he usually leans forward and stops the forwarfd motion of the fish coming into the net, throwing the timing way off. Thats why I tell all my clients to keep reeling until I'm lifting him out of the water. | |
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Member
Posts: 39
Location: Coatesville, PA | Hello W.E. Obviously you are the professional here, and I admit I'm an amateur fisherman, but I'm an older fellow, 56, and I learned the old method of bringing the net up from the back of the fish. I believe the reasoning was that the fish wouldn't see the net coming. I understand about fish not swimming backward so well, but I have to question that netting the fish head first sure leads to a great chance of the hook fouling in the mouth of the net giving the possibilty of it shaking free. A swish net job will always work great, but a rim shot could be a lost fish. Most of my fishing experience was Atlantic coastal and bay fishing in my younger years, and we always netted from the rear or got a good butt chewin from the capt. In those days it wasn't catch or release, or play the fish out. Those were meat hunting days and the fish were winched in on pretty stout equipment. I've only gotten started fresh water fishing in the past few years after a long absence from any fishing at all. I have noticed other fresh water fishermen also recommending netting from the head of the fish. I'm kinda more comfortable netting from the rear so I guess I'll just continue on my way for now. It seems most lost fish are caused by the netter zigging while the fisherman is zagging anyhow so maybe head first or tail first isn't the biggest concern. | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Shellback.
I'm 52 and not that much younger than you. I've learned about 90% of everything I know about netting, by either making or observing the mistakes that have sent many a fish on it's merry way. Like I stated at the beginning, I consider netting to really be an art. And I've never personally caught the hooks in the fishes mouth at the front end of the open net when landing it. But have caught it once or twice on the bottom from reaching to far or jabbing at the fish. If I was on your boat, everything we did during the day would be your call. On my boat, it's heads first. 
Edited by walleye express 6/21/2004 7:39 PM
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Landing Net Stratigies.