[Opry99er]

I know cast netting is illegal in many parts of Colorado, but its basically open season out here. I'm going to be buying a cast net soon to get into some good, free catfish and striper bait.

Does anyone have experience throwing one? I've been watching some instructional videos and have seen some insane methods, including some that involve holding the lead line in your teeth while throwing. Yikes...

I'm thinking about starting with a 6' radius cast net... 12' diameter. Will be going after chubs, shad, and sunfish.

Is this going to be a sufficient size? Any particular method you would recommend to a beginner for getting the perfect circle without putting the damn net in my mouth?

 

[fishrangler]

A 6 ft net is going to be hard to throw for a first timer, I would start with a 4 ft that opens to 8 then you don't have to learn the teeth and doubling up of line and such. Real easy to throw from shore also. I have all three and the 4 footer is the go to net I use, but Your not going to catch as much bait. You just have to throw it a few more times and your good.

At these cat tourneys The guys using the larger nets have a lot of experience and chase shad down. Someone drives the bait using the boat into the coves and the other guy is at the bow throwing the net when one surfaces. This time of year they are a bit scattered so not that easy to catch. What I did was put the ipilot on auto and just drove the boat and one would surface enough so that I could cast to it. From shore I would use the 4 footer, you wouldn't need the height. A 3 footer would catch the bait no problem you describe from shore and is the easiest to throw.


How you been doing Owen you land any large cats yet? Seen something about you going to Watts bar, That is supposed to be a great lake for blues from what I hear. Its on the bucket list some day for me. We have been landing a lot of monsters here in CO so if you ever move back or visit, we will line you up with some fun Channels, bigger than most blues people catch LOL so Keep in touch.

 

[ghostman]

As far as size of net, how big a man are you... strong... will you be wading for most/part of the time?
As an example, I am 5'10 and was about 190 playing football in excellent shape, throwing an 11' (radius) while wading in water up to above my navel... and popping a perfect circle every time... after 10+ years of experience.
As for holding the net in your teeth... I don't recommend doing so if you wear dentures/front partials... if so you can tuck the lead line under your chin against your shoulder to achieve the same affect... if not you just have to remember to open your mouth at the proper time, lol.
I have seen some guys that can even hold the lead in their lead hand and achieve good results.
It is a very effective way to catch fish.

 

[ghostman]

Also, there may be restrictions on the size of net allowed in fresh water.

 

[Opry99er]

Thanks guys. And yea, Daris... Posted the report and pix on that same thread on BOC. Check it out there. No blues yet.

I'll look for a 4' net then... There are some REALLY easy ways to cast a small net.

 

[Opry99er]

Here's one. No teeth, no wrapping net around your leg, elbow and shoulders...

 

[lvrider]

That loop one end of the rope is really nice to put your hand through so you don't toss the net in. Like I did learning back on lake mead. I jumped in after the net and the water was warmer than the air.

 

[bobys]

Cast nets are easy when you get the hang of it, my biggest problem when I started was I was holding the weights to far away from eachother, you only want to hold like 4-6 weights a part from eachother. If that makes any sense I can't think of another way to explain it, after than its a simple throw...Its something you definitely have to get the feel for. A couple years ago I couldn't throw mine for crap, now I am pretty good at getting a perfect circle every time, and can even get it to land right where I wanted it to. I put my arm through the loop like lvrider said, for the exact same reason. Then I loop the rope around my hand evenly, small loops work better to big and the rope will get under the net when you throw it.

 

[Dave M]

Cast nets are easy.. Just practice.

 

[Opry99er]

Buddy of mine is giving me his. Says he never uses it and when he does, he doesn't do well. Guess he got frustrated with it.

I think it is a 6' radius, but he might be wrong. He doesn't know exactly, just guessed at it.

 

[bobys]

It will be fine you'll just have to practice, I would definitely practice before you get to the water. It will save you a lot of time. I think my net is a 6' radius I do well with it. I need to get a new one though I caught a couple 10lb catfish and some big carp in it this season and they tore it up, also have got it caught on a couple trees

 

[hobiecat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvbdtR3qLq4

http://reviews.cabelas.com/8815/018355/perfect-circle-net-thrower-reviews/reviews.htm

 

[Opry99er]

Interesting, hobie... Thanks for the link.

I will practice standard throwing and see how that goes... Might look into this if I cannot master it.

 

[bobys]

That thing is so unnecessary, it just takes practice

 

[Opry99er]

The one he gave me is a super cheapo 3' radius 1/2 inch mesh net. It's very stiff and needs some breaking in, but I think I can catch some fish with it.

I'll get to throwing tomorrow in the front yard and see what I can do.

 

[dogwood]

bananas and pancakes ... that's what they call good and bad throws (you can probably guess which is which). we use them in Fla to catch mullet for bait/smoking. I agree, smaller net is easier to throw. I use the tooth method (small stretch of net between the teeth). I can tell you that the tooth method isn't bad as long as you clean the net off well between casts (get that lake bottom gunk off), and don't put lead weights behind your teeth (unless you're looking for some new dentures).

 

[bobys]

Don't you have a pond behind your house? Go practice there >

 

[Opry99er]

I would... But am afraid of damaging the fish. I'll practice in my yard then head down to the local lake... Its only 10 minutes away.

 

[whompuscat658]

My aunt and uncle in florida live on a saltwater canal. I used to cast net for mullet. good times.i remember throwing the net under their dock and getting a pompano one time.

 

[Opry99er]

That's cool... I miss the Florida canals... Some monsters lurk in some of them.

I've been messing with this net today. It is very very stiff and has a memory shape to it. Probably from the case it was packed in. It bulbs out in the middle making it extremely difficult to cast. I'm thinking I should treat it using the fabric softener/water method I read about and hang it up vertically to let the lead lines stretch the braille and mesh as straight as possible. As it is, it has a terrible bulb right in the middle and you can not cast it.