Northwest Fishing Reports

Just read in a previous post on someone who questioned nets. How many of you use them?

I only use a net when I am fishing in the sound because the fish are much bigger.

I use a (knotless) net for trout. My boat is a fish/ski so it sits a little higher out of the water, the use of a net makes it easier for me to bring the fish on board. I never use a net for Bass as I have read that it damages their skin.

WDFW recommends never using a net.

i normally would only use a net landing big fish in the sound but im considering buying a knotless net to reduce handling of trout during catch and release

I know I will get blasted for saying this, but I have a fondness for trout in the pan. Because of this, I use a knotted net (I know, I know) because I do not release the fish. I know this damages the fishes skin and may hurt them, but it is a whole lot better than being hoisted out of the water by a hook in your stomach. If the fish is small or borderline, I do not use the net in case I need to let it go.

I use a knotless net, always have, always will. Used one for years before the WDFW mandated their use in selective gear and fly fishing only waters.

Please could someone give me a accurate discription of a knotles net.
A picture would be even better.
P.S. I have always used a net for fishing just the way my grandpa and dad do. We also do eat most of the fish we catch. Atleast my wife and three boys do.

I never need to net it unless its in the sound. I will always eat the fish if I think its the right size and its a trout. I love fish damnit!

I have been wanting to buy a rubber net and that will probably be my next fishing investment. It will be very gentle on the fish and much nicer to have then a standard net.

I finally broke down and bought a frabil cradle because of the toothy critters in lake Tapps. The smallies even work well in it. The only problem, it does take two people to operate it. The guy on the pole can't work the cradle at the same time. Think real hard before lipping a tiger or even gilling one. I lost quite a bit of finger meat on the first one I caught and it was only 2 feet long.
I guess it is up to you how you do the release but I got to get a picture first.
Bill

Here are a few knotless net examples, however there are many types available in your local sporting goods store:




Personally, I only pull out my net when I am 100% ready to harvest a fish. If ever I plan to release a fish I see no reason to bring it on board. I will fight it until it is tired enough for the hook to be removed along side the boat, and if it comes off in the fight, oh well!

Matt

Another nice thing about them is is that they are a lot stiffer when they are knotless and so the fish don't get all tangled up in the net and if they throw the hook it's not hard to get it out of the net..

I think I have 5 nets in my basement and I dont go fishing without one and when I go away for the weekend Ill bring 2 or 3 just incase something happens to one of them. Short story; when I was 10 me and my cuz went on a 2 week trip with our grandparents around the state fished mosses , potholes , banks , the methow river , and a couple more. Nothing not one fish, but we had one, HUGE as far as I can remember and our grandmother told us to grab the net, nah we dont need one. So to this day I never go fishing with out the net. This weekend I used the net 1 time but with out the net we couldnt have landed him and I cant remeber the last time I used the net but Im scared to death of having a pole in the water with no net