Thread: How many folks use a dip net and when ?

Always have a net by my side...Small fish I swing, big fish I net. Every now and then I hook up with a big fish of another species so its nice to have a n'et nearby to land them. My crappie net has landed fish up to 30-40 lbs. I use a rubber frabill basket net on a extendable long arm paint pole. Think its 17 inches in diameter and don't hurt the fish at all and never snags up my hooks.

don't own a net and have little trouble lifting them in one motion into boat or onto dock. can't think of the last time i lost a nice keeper that I wanted. release a lot of 9 inch + fish but IMO you swing them right in, jiggle a little and they drop right back into water without you touching them and you don't take any slime off. JMHO

Originally Posted by NIMROD

I would think the net would rub off slime coat ?

I don't think it is any worse than handling a fish. Maybe Matt (D10) could weigh in here and give us some handling tips for fish to be released.


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Originally Posted by NIMROD

I would think the net would rub off slime coat ?

A rubber coated net with minimize any damage to the slime and preserve the integrity of the slime coat. Rough twine nets on the other hand not so much.

I don't think nets hurt the fish at all. I've released thousands of them over the years and never seen a floater unless it had other injuries from being caught.

Net or Not is a personal issue.

My best advise is to do what YOU are the most comfortable with.

Originally Posted by arkcrappie

I don't think it is any worse than handling a fish. Maybe Matt (D10) could weigh in here and give us some handling tips for fish to be released.


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I grab my fish by the lip try not to ever grab sides where the loss of slime can seriously hurt a fish . Those twine nets and hands on sides cause damage that may not show for a long time . Fungus and such attack fish when slime coat damaged .

Originally Posted by NIMROD

I grab my fish by the lip try not to ever grab sides where the loss of slime can seriously hurt a fish . Those twine nets and hands on sides cause damage that may not show for a long time . Fungus and such attack fish when slime coat damaged .

Every fish you catch is in a cooler or on a cleaning table Gewber. How much damage does that do?

Originally Posted by BigRiverMarine

Every fish you catch is in a cooler or on a cleaning table Gewber. How much damage does that do?

We always release a bunch too . Trying to keep Arkansas Thread busy thought it was about dried up like a dead fish on the bank lately .