Fooling fish gets a lot of press. In the grand scheme of angling, it is definitely the most complex variable in the entire system. Still, once you manage to trick a fish and fight it in you better know how to seal the deal.
While many situations and species don’t call for the use of a net, this piece of gear is still ubiquotous. Trout anglers in particular rely on a little help landing fiesty fish on light tippets. Nets save flies, help release fish quicker, and complete the entire pursuit of your quarry.
Just like everything else in fishing and in life, it isn’t safe to assume that everyone knows how to perfectly employ a net. Here are five things worth doing, not doing, and knowing when reaching for a fishing net:
Don’t Jump the Gun
If you need your net to land a fish, you need both hands to fight said fish. Don’t take your line/reel hand off the table by grabbing and holding the net prematurely. Wherever you have your net stored is as close as you need it until you are ready to actually land that fish.
Do Keep it Handy
Virtually every vest, sling pack, and pair of waders has at least one option for net storage. These days, many have simply opted to tuck longer handles into their wading belts. Still, you’ll see people (and maybe be guilty of yourself) flailing arms around their back with a fish flopping around them in the water. Ensure that your net and its release mechanism are handy and your access to them is second nature.
Don’t Stab or Swipe
Fish are much more hydrodynamic than your net and arm. That means they’ll be able to avoid your slashing scoops if they have any life left in them. Which, of course, they should if you’re playing them properly. Fish aren’t brilliant, but they do not react well to foreign objects when thrust at them.
Do Use Your Rod
When the time comes, have your net in the water waiting for the fish. As long as you have the right amount of line out, you should just be able to guide the fish into your waiting net. Once the fish’s head and most of it’s body breaks the plane of the loop, quickly raise the loop of the net up and out of the water. You can do all of that while keeping the fish wet, too.
A quick word on net materials:
- Wood has that classic look and feel. Aluminum is less expensive and more durable. It really comes down to budget and personal preference.
- Much more important is netting material. Rubber bags are objectively superior. They won’t harm the fish and they won’t snag your hook. Mesh or knotted nylon bags can be abrasive, but they are notorious for fouling flies as you release a fish.
The header image in this article is “Net Worthy” by Sue Key. Sue reached out to me a while back and asked to use one of my photographs as the inspiration for a piece. She chose this one because of the net. Check out Sue’s work over on her website.