commercial net season

[NIMROD]

For those that fish Nimrod , keep a watch for nets starting Oct.1. The net season opens on the 1st of Oct.and runs till March 1st. There will be several guys that make a living catching Buffalo on the lake with gill nets. They should be deep enough to avoid boats but may cause problems with your hooks. They are helping the lake by removing rough fish which could crowd out the game fish if left in there. There is one that fishes several thousand yards of nets alone . Please remember those guys are working and respect their right to make a living. They have thousands of dollars invested in nets alone so if you hang in them please understand and not damage them.

Thanks

[Mac Daddy]

Thanks for the heads up Nimrod.

[RBM]

Hey Nimrod, will they mark their location in any way or will we just run into them all over the place?

[NIMROD]

Most in the past most nets were not marked. All they worry about is setting deep enough to hopefully avoid the boat props. Some years I net some but , If I do they will be in 25 to 30' holes with 6' tall nets on bottom for Flathead Catfish. Those guys are catching mostly Buffalo and set everywhere.
I have had folks blame me for the nets getting in boat props and all I can say is they must be in a submarine. When I set 1 to 3 most times while they may set 40! Most gill nets are 100 yards each.

[arkansasbowhunter]

They don't need floats.

[NIMROD]

They don't need floats.

Tied down gill nets are made to set on bottom but top has floats but depends on net heigth and water depth how far they are below surface. I have tangled some in my outboard motor in the past in shallow areas when some set tall nets. I was not happy but they probably were not either. It causes lots of damage to the net but will damage lower unit seals if not all removed.