Cast Net size and weight for baitfish

[news_watch]

All:

Just moved to the lake (part time) and ready to get the "learn the lake" "gotta spend your time" part of striper fishing started.

First off:

What size net is best and what weight?

My experience casting has been in salt, and 6 ft. is the biggest I have tossed.

I need to know what is a good size and weight to get to the fish when lower in the column while also being a good size to learn on for tossing the bigger nets.

My technique sucks, but once in a while I'll catch a fish......

Thanks,

Suits

[coheasion]

Suits - I would suggest going to the Live Bait section of the forum and reading some of the posts there. there is a huge post just on cast nets that has some very good information.

That being said a good all-purpose net would be a 8' radius net with 1/2" netting and 1.25 to 1.5 lbs lead per foot.

Keep in mind, nets are like golf clubs and at the end of the day no single net will work for every bait situation.

[bushwacker]

I second everything cohesion saId. I was in your same boat two summers ago I bought an 8’, 1.25lb 1/2” mesh. That was a good starter net that is still one of my go to nets down to 15’ , but I also have three more to go with it now. Nets are like Pringles you can’t just have one

[johnr]

I carry three nets.

7’ 1/2” mesh and 1.25lb / foot
10’ 1/2” mesh and 1.5lb / foot
10’ 3/4” mesh and 1.6lb / foot

The first net is for alewives at lights and smaller baits in shallow water. It was cheap and I throw it when I think I might be dealing with snags.

The second net is an all around net. I like it for bigger baits at lights in summer, and any bait down to about 15’.

The last net is for big, fast bait in water down to 30’. It’s a beast to throw, but it usually only takes a few throws to do the job.

If I could have only one it would be the 10’ 1/2” mesh. It does everything moderately well.

[Yam]

I have several nets. Each if them have their own purpose.

1. 10 ft 1 inch 2.0 lbs per foot. This is my batting donut net. If you want to be able to throw all day long, throw this in your yard prior to your day on the water. All other nets feel like throwing air after throwing this thing.

2. 12 ft 1 inch 1.0 lbs per foot. This is my favorite net if the bait is big. The light weight and big mesh keeps it open longer as it sinks but if dollar bills are around, it's a nightmare to clear. Works well down to 20 feet.

3. 12 ft 3/4 inch 1.3 pounds per foot. This is the net I use most due to the fact that it doesn't gill dollar bills. It doesn't work well below 15 foot. But "well" is subjective.

4. 10 ft 3/4 inch, double row duct taped, 1.5 lbs per foot. This is my goto net when the bait is deep. I have caught bait in 50 foot water with this thing. However, either bring a crane to pull it up or spend alot of time in the yard with net 1.

5. 10 ft 1 inch 1.3 lbs per foot with insanely thick mesh. This is my shallow, rocky, river net that will pull up boulders and monster mongos with minimal damage to the net.

6. 10 foot 1/2 inch 1.5 lbs per foot. I rarely use this net but it works great for all bait in shallow water. Very gentle on scales of larger bait It also works okay for ales but tends to become a Xmas tree if the ales are small.

7. Old salt 7 foot 3/8 in. This is my son's net but I once used it as my primary net when I was more of a spoon fisherman. Once big bait fishing became my passion, this net went bye bye.

I share this with you to emphasize that bait fishing is an art and each artist has to develop his or her own style over time. The above are my current tools that I have learned work well for me. Yet, you can't just go out and buy them. You have to develop your net arsenal over time. Given your situation, I agree that a good starter net would be an 8ft 1/2 inch. If you then really get into it like many of us do, that 8 footer will end up on the bottom of the lake and will be your last net that small.

Welcome to insanity.

[lund2]

Yam.....this is awesome. as i expand my horizons to move to a 12' net your specs are very helpful. im currently trying a 12' 1/2" 1.6lbs....and its pretty heavy

do you still use the shrimper method for these larger nets?

I've started to learn a new way of throwing where i put a good bit of lead line over my shoulder. hoping that will take some weight off my shoulders.

[Yam]

May 30, 2018 11:03:25 GMT -5 lund2 said:

Yam.....this is awesome. as i expand my horizons to move to a 12' net your specs are very helpful. im currently trying a 12' 1/2" 1.6lbs....and its pretty heavy

do you still use the shrimper method for these larger nets?

I've started to learn a new way of throwing where i put a good bit of lead line over my shoulder. hoping that will take some weight off my shoulders.

Yes I use the shrimpers method. Other than the method that the Shad Man uses, it's the most efficient method there is. Problem with his method is that it doesn't work for bigger nets unless you are King Kong. The downside to the shrimpers method is that it does get you wet. Other than that, it's fast, effective and most importantly, it evenly distributes the weight of the net across your whole body.

A 12 foot, 1.6 pound net is a beast. A 12 foot net requires more body torque than a 10 footer. Thus any extra weight is magnified. My 12 ft, 1.3 pound is as heavy as I would go on a 12 footer.