walleye express
06-16-2004, 11:39 AM
I thought it would be fun to discuss landing net strategies, techniques, and functions of what (I'm thinking) so many people might consider mundane or not important when it comes to the final step of putting into possession that trophy walleye or other fish specie you just hooked and fought to the boat or shore. I truly believe that being a good landing net man involves as many technical facets and qualities as being a good instinctive shooter.
Being a Big Water Charter Captain and River Guide for many years, I've seen it all and have had a chance to examine the many mistakes while in the process of netting and the proper techniques to executing "the perfect net job". Lets examine some of the more common mistakes and if you can think of any others, fell free to add to the list. I'll list mine webster dictionary style, in the Latin first.
1. Premature E-netulation, or "he's still to green" syndrome. Trying to net the fish long before he has worked off any of his fighting edge. I guess the best teacher of this mistake is knowing the true stamina of the fish specie your catching. That is, catching enough of this particular specie to know what their tricks and signs are that they are ready to be netted. This remedy of course has to come with simple time put in, to learn each species habits.
2. Nettus improperous, or "coming in from the back door". Netting a fish from the back or tail first is wrong. And I know that many of you (maybe as kids) were taught that way. Heres the only point that I'll make on this technique argument. Fish cannot swim backwards very well, but they sure can swim forward awful fast, quick and hard.
3. Properous Timeingus, or "going down when I'm coming up". Good consistent netting is nothing more than good timing. The net should be going south when the fish is coming or being pulled north. This makes for a clean tangle free net job. Many things should be taken into consideration involving this process. River current or boat surge while trolling creates a current of sorts. Leaving the net or bag of the net in the water while waiting for the fish to tire and be brought in to it, is a no-no. The bag webbing of the net will puff out in this current and be the first thing reaching the fish with a mouth full of hooks. That then puts him on the outside of the net. Remember, outside Bad....inside Good. A proper Thrust, Sweep and Lift technique should be used and practiced always. On my charters I simply tell the clients to keep reeling until the fish is in the net. I work out the timeing equation depending on how fast things are transpiring.
4. Jabitous/Reacherous, or "the two worse no-no's". Never Jab at a fish with the net. I know it tempting to do when it's just laying suspended there, but he will both see and hear it coming and have many flee options. And very few will end up with you as the winner. Never reach the nets length for a fish. Know your nets capture zone length and give yourself a comfortable leeway. Often times reaching accomplishes the same thing as the (Bag First) mistake. You want the fish on the inside of the net.
5. And lastly, Waverous/Signalous, or the "Hey, attention everybody, we have a fish on over here". This technically has nothing to do with possessing the fish, but I feel must be mentioned. If you'd like to actually get to fish the same area you just caught this nice walleye in for a couple more passes, keep the net down in the boat until ready to actually use it. Nothing like waving a 14' long black flag off the back end of your boat to attract unwanted attention.
Being a Big Water Charter Captain and River Guide for many years, I've seen it all and have had a chance to examine the many mistakes while in the process of netting and the proper techniques to executing "the perfect net job". Lets examine some of the more common mistakes and if you can think of any others, fell free to add to the list. I'll list mine webster dictionary style, in the Latin first.
1. Premature E-netulation, or "he's still to green" syndrome. Trying to net the fish long before he has worked off any of his fighting edge. I guess the best teacher of this mistake is knowing the true stamina of the fish specie your catching. That is, catching enough of this particular specie to know what their tricks and signs are that they are ready to be netted. This remedy of course has to come with simple time put in, to learn each species habits.
2. Nettus improperous, or "coming in from the back door". Netting a fish from the back or tail first is wrong. And I know that many of you (maybe as kids) were taught that way. Heres the only point that I'll make on this technique argument. Fish cannot swim backwards very well, but they sure can swim forward awful fast, quick and hard.
3. Properous Timeingus, or "going down when I'm coming up". Good consistent netting is nothing more than good timing. The net should be going south when the fish is coming or being pulled north. This makes for a clean tangle free net job. Many things should be taken into consideration involving this process. River current or boat surge while trolling creates a current of sorts. Leaving the net or bag of the net in the water while waiting for the fish to tire and be brought in to it, is a no-no. The bag webbing of the net will puff out in this current and be the first thing reaching the fish with a mouth full of hooks. That then puts him on the outside of the net. Remember, outside Bad....inside Good. A proper Thrust, Sweep and Lift technique should be used and practiced always. On my charters I simply tell the clients to keep reeling until the fish is in the net. I work out the timeing equation depending on how fast things are transpiring.
4. Jabitous/Reacherous, or "the two worse no-no's". Never Jab at a fish with the net. I know it tempting to do when it's just laying suspended there, but he will both see and hear it coming and have many flee options. And very few will end up with you as the winner. Never reach the nets length for a fish. Know your nets capture zone length and give yourself a comfortable leeway. Often times reaching accomplishes the same thing as the (Bag First) mistake. You want the fish on the inside of the net.
5. And lastly, Waverous/Signalous, or the "Hey, attention everybody, we have a fish on over here". This technically has nothing to do with possessing the fish, but I feel must be mentioned. If you'd like to actually get to fish the same area you just caught this nice walleye in for a couple more passes, keep the net down in the boat until ready to actually use it. Nothing like waving a 14' long black flag off the back end of your boat to attract unwanted attention.