Cast nets 6-3-2007

[Tileman]

I got a cheap cast from wmart last year, 6' 3/8"opening. I have been trying to throw for a year now with no luck.. I don't know if its me " not very cornated" or the net. if its me I am out of luck. if its the net i can get new one. So whats a good one to buy brand and size? I need to get in on this live bait fishing.I am getting the Tileman work caught up , hope to get out to water soon. Tileman

 

[KOZ]

You might ask ericm, I hear he's real good at casting/swimming.emoPoke LOL.

 

[EricM]

Hey! I wasn't even online and I heard that! LOL
Tileman, there are several methods to cast a net, and a 6' would normally fall into the methods for the larger nets. There is a great video online that I learned from, I'll find it and then post again.

 

[EricM]

OK, here's the video. http://www.calusa.com/howtothrow.cfm
I practiced this in the back yard to the amusement of my neighbors until I felt good with it. It's tiring at first, but after a couple of days you build the muscles up some and it gets easier. As you watch the video, notice how he uses very little effort, just momentum and timing. It looks complicated, but is actually very simple after a little while. This method has really reduced the figure 8's, five-pointed stars, parallel lines, crescent moons, and just plain wads that I used to throw. And because I now throw what (vaguely) resemble circles, I have to throw it a lot fewer times to collect shad. I hope this helps you and a lot of the other CFF members! By the way, I use 8' and 10' radius Fitec brand superspreader nets. Smaller nets just don't catch nearly as many shad because they squirt out underneath them in deep water. Your 6' is a good place to start, and when you get good you can move up if you like. Good luck!

 

[rsimms]

I've watched ten people throw cast nets and none of them do exactly the same. Everybody figures out what works for them and I'm sure EricM is a pro. But that method is way too complicated for my feeble brain, and I'd probably rip my teeth out. I actually learned my method at this website link: http://www.ausfish.com.au/castnet/ Two methods shown... I use the first one demonstrated by Steve Brown. I don't necessarily throw perfect circles every time, but I catch bait.

 

[EricM]

Rather than put the net in my tooth, oops, I still have teeth (plural), I throw the net over my shoulder. Works great! And Richard, feeble as he may be, could even do it. emoLaugh Just pick a method and PRACTICE!!!!! Once you learn, using any method, it'll stay with you - like that bicycle thing. OH, BY THE WAY, I like to throw out the right side of the boat and fall out the left!emoRedface emoRedface emoRedface

 

[The Fluke]

rsimms - 6/3/2007 7:43 PM

I've watched ten people throw cast nets and none of them do exactly the same. Everybody figures out what works for them and I'm sure EricM is a pro. But that method is way too complicated for my feeble brain, and I'd probably rip my teeth out. I actually learned my method at this website link: http://www.ausfish.com.au/castnet/ Two methods shown... I use the first one demonstrated by Steve Brown. I don't necessarily throw perfect circles every time, but I catch bait.

Right on rsimms emoThumbsup The ausfish. link is great. That is the site I used to learn. However, I'm not that good but can manage to catch them with multible throwsemoRolleyes

 

[Liveliner]

There are several different ways to throw nets of various sizes. Tileman, your 6' with 3/8" mesh net should be easy to master with a little guidance. One of the biggest flaws in throwing a cast net is actually "Throwing" it. The action of "Sling and Push" is the motion that makes for a good throw.

I am with Eric on the over the opposite shoulder form. After Jellyfish tenicals on the lipsemoMad one too many times I had to find a better way.

All who wants to learn, bring your castnet to the Get together this month. Bring it and don't be shy. emoRedface You are by far not alone. You need to learn sometime and this just may be the time.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Both to both Eric and Richard for those links on throwing the net. I have a 10 ft but I usually use my 6 ft. Now I should be able to put that 10 footer to use.

 

[digitalcb]

Here's a $30.00 accessory that almost has me tempted to try it.

http://www.perfectcirclenetthrower.com/HTML/products.htm

 

[Guest]

Man that thing is nice, it would be handy no doubt</p>

 

[drc]

Hey guy's.... whats up? Thought I'd throw out another question while were on the subject of castnets. Will a net with 1/2in mesh gill the 4-5in threadfins? I went up to SW the other day to buy an 8ft 3/8mesh Betts net, all they had were the 1/2in mesh so I left it there. After I got home I looked up the same net online at BPS and found out there's is about $35 cheaper. SportsmansWarehouse net is 99.99, BPS 65.99... go figureemoScratch
The 8ft 3/8mesh betts at Bps is like 120.00 ... if they had one at SW it would probably cost 150.00 emoEek
Anyone know where to get a 8ft 3/8 net local at a reasonable price?

 

[EricM]

DRC, I've wondered about the 1/2" myself. It would sink a lot faster, and I use 1-1/2 lb/foot on my other nets for that reason. I'm just afraid to get one and find that it gills those big threadfin. I KNOW the 3/8 gills the smaller threadfin and spent an extra $100 to get a 1/4 for those times in the year that I have to go shallow for the small ones. If anyone has experience with the 1/2 " nets (or that throw ring!) we'd sure like to hear about it. Thanks!

 

[Liveliner]

Throw ring.... If you watch the videos there is a set up video and then there is a how to toss video. You must go through all the steps to set that thing up prior to the actual toss prep. Way to time consuming and to many steps for me. The bait will be long gone before you can get that thing launched. JMHO!

 

[Guest]

I bet Polo-dog can answer about the mesh size and the throw ring. There are lots of discussions about this in the archives. I did a couple searches and found some but don't have the patience to read them all.

Cheez

 

[Hagen]

I think once you throw your net a few times the ring just gets in the way. I learned on 12ft and 10ft nets and throw a 6ft completly different. I do think a heavier weighted net would be the ticket my six footer sinks kinda slow. When bait is deeper they can get out from under it and you end up making a hundrend casts.

 

[Fisher-o-Men]

Wow, there are a LOT of ways to chunk that net!! I use a 6 ft net (that I dragged up from the bottom at Nickajack!

) with a technique that enables me to do OK.  I usually catch all the bait I need pretty quickly, but when I tried my technique with a friend's 8 footer, it was a disaster of crescent moons and other embarassments!

</p>

I can't wait to try both the Calusa method as well as the Austrailian techiques.  I loaned the 8 footer to a friend the other evening to try, and he opened that thing up to about a 12-13 foot circle! I was green with envy!!

</p>

 

[Davo]

I have both a 3/8 and 1/4 nets. The 1/4 has the throw ring that is supposed to let you toss it one handed. Like LL said, there are a few extra steps and I haven't even taken it on the water yet. If going in the Chick, I would recommend one with 1/4 inch openings otherwise you will gill 90% of the shad.

 

[foodsaver]

I have the easy throw ring on my net and as long as I make a few practice throws early in the year before trying to get bait I do ok.

 

[Liveliner]

The basic thing to know about any sized net is that you must toss the net as you would a Frisbie. The entire lead line must spin. What that does is to cause centrifical force to spread the net. A 6' net will have about 19' of lead line where a 10' net will have about 31'. That is why a 10' cast net takes a little different method to get the majority of the lead line to spinning. Can you imagine throwing a 16' net.

A typical cast net is weighted at about one pound per foot of the radius. A 6' net will have 6lbs of lead. I think Eric's net is 1.5 lbs per foot. My nets are 1.5 lbs per foot as well. They sink faster and trap more bait. The drawback is that they are heavier and a big and heavy net can wear you out in a hurry.