Northwest Fishing Reports

I want to say, the person netting my fish is a dummy, but that is neither here nor there. The last few times out, my bud a longtime golfing buddy and fishing buddy(kinghunter) has been having serious issues netting fish. This season especially since we have been getting into larger fish, we really never had to worry about netting any fish we have caught. With that said, they way he has been doing it reminds me of someone trying to catch a butterfly . I do appreciate him at least making an attempt and netting my fish, but watching him go about it is driving me crazy. I have heard and read that when a fish sees a net, it will take off for another run.
Can someone please break down the proper way to net a fish, it will be greatly appreciated. :bounce: :bounce:

Netting a big salmon from shore is not that hard... The person fighting the fish should pull the fish into the net head first the person running the net should just put the net in front of the fish at a 45 degree angle and pick it out of the water. The net doesn't need to be jabbed at the fish. If the netter has waders on it is easier to pull a fish into a net if the net is all the way under the water.

I thought this article had a good lesson on netting basics (near the bottom).

Net it yourself, then there is nobody else to blame.

Gringo Pescador wrote:Net it yourself, then there is nobody else to blame.

Very true, but I still want to learn how to do it also.

Good find bent rod! I have always used a quick slide, scoop/lift and pull method. Keep the net out of the water until you go for the fish and close the net once it's in there! Hmm, maybe a video can be shot showing how this is done. Also, the person handling the rod needs to back away from the fish, this will bring the fish closer to the boat and make for an easy snare. Note: don't buy a rubber net, you can't close them and your fish can jump back out.

Here is another link to the same source, but with a little more detail.
Here is a link with a couple short video clips on netting steel head. video link.

I will say that netting from a boat is different than netting on shore though.....and like everything, it takes some practice. :bball:

Can't say that I've ever netted a fish on shore. Once you get the fish close to shore you can usually get behind it and flip it onto the bank with your foot, that is, if you aren't able to walk it up the bank. If you have a partner, they just need to grab the tail and "swim" the fish onto the bank. With you keeping the head pointed towards shore and your partner holding onto the tail, it will literally swim right up the bank. A fish that is thrashing just a little will actually help you pull it on shore as it keeps only a small amount of itself in contact with the ground. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to pull a 20lb salmon out of the water this way. The trick is to keep the rod tip up and not get too close to the fish, you don't want too steep of an angle on your line. With the rod tip up, it will absorb the slack and pulls of a fish that is thrashing about and maintain a nice even pressure as you walk backwards, away from the water.

BentRod wrote:Here is another link to the same source, but with a little more detail.
Here is a link with a couple short video clips on netting steel head. video link.

I will say that netting from a boat is different than netting on shore though.....and like everything, it takes some practice. :bball:

After watching that, I am pretty confident I am close to how to properly net a fish. Kinghunter on the other hand, when he nets, was like I said previously was doing it like he was trying to trap or catch a butterfly.
Personally, if I had room, I'd have beached the fish, but with the area we have been fishing, you can't do that. Thanks for the info fellas. :compress:

&quot wrote:...

I feel your pain! I have a friend who does the same thing, gets all spastic...splash, splash, splash..."Crap, man...what are you swatting at...just net the damn thing, will ya!". Then he'll try to trap it between the net and bank...

If he wasn't such a good friend, he'd get pushed in...

And here I thought you were suppose to club the fish a few times with the net, get the net caught in the hooks, jump in and wrestle the fish onto the bank or into the boat while drowning.

leahcim_dahc wrote:

&quot wrote:...

I feel your pain! I have a friend who does the same thing, gets all spastic...splash, splash, splash..."Crap, man...what are you swatting at...just net the damn thing, will ya!". Then he'll try to trap it between the net and bank...

If he wasn't such a good friend, he'd get pushed in...

LOL- at one point, I really thought he was purposely trying free the fish- the guys across the river must have thought were a bunch of tools trying to get my fish in..I can laugh about it now, but still, "spastic" is a perfect word watching him trying to net..

jens wrote: LOL- at one point, I really thought he was purposely trying free the fish-

LOL