Casting net

[Guest]

Anybody know if Walmart sells casting nets, would like to buy one so I can quit buying bait for striper fishing

 

[flip1up]

I have seen them there. Also at Hamiltons, Jacks, R&R Tackle, Sportsman Warehouse.

 

[JerDog]

Bass pro has a good one to that I bought. A 5 footer is a good one to start with.

 

[Davo]

I got a good one off ebay. It has 1/4 mesh instead of 3/8, with 3/8 most of the shad get gilled and you'll spend all day picking the stupid things out.

 

[polo-dog]

The 1/4 incher is a good way to go I think also. Later in the year when the shad are on top you will be able to catch all the shad that you want. The only problem with a 1/4 incher is that it sinks slowly and closes up quickly. If you are targeting big shad for stripers and the bait is not on the surface you will need a 3/8 or bigger and a net that is pretty big. If you have never thrown a net before a smaller net 4-6 foot radius is what you need but you may not be able to get the shad if they are deep. EricM was throwing an 8fter today and it seemed to do pretty well. Most of those nets are rated by the size of the mesh in inches and the radius of the net. So, an 8 footer opens to 16 feet when you throw it. That can be a lot of work but if you get good at it and don't just throw it without knowing you are on the bait it will save you a lot of energy and frustration.

 

[Liveliner]

Ditto what Polo said.

Most popular nets come weighted 1 oz per radius foot. If you can find a net weighted 1.5 oz per radius foot get that one. It sinks faster and i think it is easier to throw.I have a 4' net that I use in saltwater marsh creeks for bait where the area is very tight. I got to where i can hit a single miniw at twenty feet. I have a 6' radius 1/2"mesh net for open water but want an 8'.

 

[JerDog]

Where are you fishing for the stripers? Here locally?

 

[EricM]

I've bought and thrown a flock of different nets. My advice: go ahead and get an 8' radius, 1 1/2 lb per foot. It takes a while in the back yard to learn, there are videos to teach you and they are good. You will wind up casting a small net all day, a big net a couple of times. The net I use most is an 8' with 3/8 inch mesh. This is great for most shad and circumstances. There are times that you will find the very small threadfins and they will drive you wild because they get gilled in a 3/8 in net and it looks like a silver christmas tree and you have to pick them out by hand and kill a lot of them. For those times I use a 1/4 inch mesh, which is also ok in shallow water because it doesn't need to sink fast. Good luck and be sure to PRACTICE in the back yard, it's so much easier than learning in the boat or on the bank!