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Since we have no bait shops that sell aquatic life ( minnows ) I'm venturing into net casting vs trapping for my minnows.Our traps are limited to 1" inlet hole,thus eliminates catching shad,or bluegill for cats. ( not sure shad would even enter a trap.)
Any thoughts ,pro/ con on net casting for bait fish,including minnows for crappie would be appreciated.
If you want Green Sunfish for bait .... the easiest/fastest way is to cast a Road Runner along a rocky bank, keeping the bait either landing or running within 1ft of the shoreline. (I catch them all the time when casting for Crappie & the Road Runner lands too close to the shoreline :Doh: )
Casting a net for near surface running Shad is not too difficult .... getting the net down to deep running Shad is much harder. And I wouldn't recommend a 6' diameter net for deep running Shad ... you'd be better served with at least a 10' diameter or larger net & something in the range of 3/4" mesh (for the larger Shad). I say that because my 3/8" mesh net would catch 3-4" long Shad, but most of them were hung up in the mesh (& many escaped before getting the net in the boat). The bigger nets will have a lot more pounds of weight on them, too, which helps the net to sink faster. And you have to understand that even though the diameter of the spread out net is 6' or 10' or whatever .... once it starts sinking that diameter shrinks somewhat, as it turns into an upside down bowl shape as it sinks.
I originally bought my 3/8" mesh net to catch Shad to fish for Hybrid Stripers ... bought a smaller 1/4" mesh net to catch smaller Shad for Crappie fishing. I think I got the 3/8" mesh net at Wal-mart, but I got the 1/4" mesh net from Nylon Net Co in Tenn. (because local stores didn't carry the smaller mesh nets). But, I think the company is now called Memphis Net & Twine :dono (I couldn't get on the Nylon Net Co website)
( https://www.memphisnet.net/category/cast-nets )
Also note : they advertise the nets as being X number of feet in RADIUS & not by diameter ... so a 6ft radius net would spread out to a diameter of 12ft. (My nets are 3ft radius - 6ft diameter nets)
My dad used this type of trap for many years. He used a slice or two of bread for bait.
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/fish/devices/a...minnowtrap.jpg
However ... once he learned how to use jigs, he never again used minnows.
Never.
Hey now most folks over this way use both!!!!!
Most of our water is still covered in rotten ice,but I've been practicing the art of net casting.I purchased a 3-1/2 ' radius net,opting for the smaller since I will be tossing from a kayak.I will graduate to a size larger,but our state regs really limit the radius and hole size,gotta keep it legal.
I've used a cast net for shad for catfishing for about 6 years and the biggest con is that as soon as the bet touches them they are pretty much dead. Shad are not very hardy in a bucket. Which is fine for channels and some blue cats but I'm not sure what crappie think about dead shad. The other thing is the net openings limit the minimum size of bait caught.
Since I'm not a stink bait user for catfish,I use gills mostly,but shad is something I've always wanted to try for channels.Our state law states net holes must be 3/8 or under,so keeping it small is required,which is what I would use anyway.
When I was using my nets, the boat I owned had two livewells ... so I put the Shad in the front livewell. It worked OK and the Shad stayed alive for a few hours ... as long as the internal pump/spraybar kept running. Biggest problem was the foam it created & the scales & slime that came off the Shad would clog the filter foam that surrounded the lower portion of the intake pump. The square design of the livewell didn't help much, either, since it allowed the Shad to gang up in a corner & beat themselves silly. The best solution for keeping Shad alive for any length of time is a circular shaped tank with aeration, filter, and some form of cooling system ... but, then you're talking some big bucks, not to mention their relatively large size (taking up floor space).Quote:
Originally Posted by dirtrider389
If you can catch Crappie on a dead minnow ... and I know many that have ... you can catch them on a dead Shad. Remember, Shad die-offs are one of the times when Crappie gorge themselves with the dead & dying Shad.
I'm also reminded of a time, back when I was a kid, my Grandfather made a long handled Shad net and we'd catch Shad and fish with them. But, that's not the point of me bringing this up ... you see, my Grandparent's best friends were sometimes along with us, fishing from another boat, and they didn't have a net. We'd share with them & they'd go tie up to some trees & fish with the Shad. Now, here's the point .... they would cut the Shad in half :yikes and use them that way, lifting the poles up a few inches every now & then to keep the bait moving (drawing attention with the pressure wave of the moving bait, plus causing the "scent" of the injured Shad to spread thru the water). Now, I can't honestly say I remember seeing them actually "catch" a Crappie while doing this ... but, they were just as much Crappie fanatics as my Grandparents, so I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have wasted their time if it didn't work.
As for the net openings (mesh size) ... you would want the 1/4" mesh to catch Shad small enough to use for Crappie fishing. Like I said in my other reply post ... 3/8" mesh will allow Shad under ~3" to slip right thru the net. The 1/4" mesh size is the smallest mesh available ... and isn't always available "off the shelf".
I just use jigs for all the reasons stated above. Once you get used to them and learn how to use jigs, you will not worry about bait. Tiny jigs with a nibble will catch all the brim you want.
I agree with you,but I have this weird passion to learn as many techniques as I can,cast nets have fascinated me for many years,I needs to learn it.Quote:
Originally Posted by trypman1
Well the first thing to learn is that not all cast nets are created equal, and by that I'm not referring to simply the size of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yaker
Go to Wall Mart and buy a cheap net and you will have just that, a cheap net which wont perform well and will frustrate you as you throw it. Ultimatly, it will probably gather dust somewhere.
Also, throwing a large net isn't as easy as it might appear, as they tend to get heavier as they get bigger if they are a decent net.
Buying an off the shelf net, even of good quality, might not perform well for all type uses. Catching Pilchards in 2' of water isn't the same as catching something in 10' even if the same mesh size is required. Sink rate which is due to the amount and size of the lead used around the perimeter is a major factor. For zeroing in on the bait schools of shiners seen on a fish finder, id be doubtfull you will
find a cheap net even worth having. Before you just go buy a net, do some research and be specific as to what your use for it will be.
We happen to be fortunate here in Florida in that there is lots of live bait used, especially by the salt water guides and fisherman.
Guides in the Keys either have it when they leave or they stop and net it after leaving the dock, and you wont be seeing any cheap nets.
Tim Wade from Melbourne FL. is about as good as it gets for custom made nets, and they are widely used by the guides.
And, they aren't as costly as you might think, and should you damage it later, he will also repair it.
A 6' custom net from him would be in the ball park range of about $125. I would call him and ask questions, especially of the need for large size nets. Don't forget, a 6' net is about 12' in diameter. 321 508 2836.
This is the best way I have learned to throw a cast net. One handed method everything is one hand this way you don't have to get wet throwing the net over your shoulder or having to put a nasty net cord in your mouth. Learn this way first by throwing the net in your yard. Try to get that perfect loop. Then when you get out on the water it will work great. You tube is a great way to learn how what ever way you decide to throw a cast net.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l0H...10D8A2BF98784B
Thanks Scrat,that's exactly how I've decided to toss a net.After watching countless videos,I figure why toss the hard way when the easy way works so good.
Well size does in fact matter when throwing a net. lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Yaker
Big nets require a different approach to throwing them, and it's best to figure on getting wet.
Try to find Scott Walker, (Tail Walker) on you tube and watch him throw a large net.
Yeah,our wonderful state law requires nets to be no more than 6' diameter,so tossing one handed hasn't been a problem in the yard.Now I just have to wait for the ice to clear off the lakes to get the net wet.Quote:
Originally Posted by yobuck
You might want to consider the bottom of the creek or lake you will be using this net in I would think it would not matter what size of net you would throw if you were in a body of water that only had mud or sand,But if that body of water had rocks you might just get it hung up,and rip a great big hole in your brand new throw net,or worse cant get it loose and have to dive to retreave it,might be the temptature of the water is really cold. Ask me how I know, bought a 4ft.throw net about 6-7 years a go practised in my yard and thought I was good enough to go get some bait.found a creek,slung a good circle and guess what got it hung on the bottom,caught on a big rock and could not get it off. I pulled off my shoes and shirt, hid my bilfold and pocket stuff and in I went.Boy was that water cold,aint been right sense.Saved my new throw net and I still use it get all the shad I want bet I dont let it go all the way to the bottom.
A 4ft throw net is big enough for me.besides its not as hard to sling,as a bigger one is.my age says im not tough enough for any thing bigger that that....
For catching my own bait, I primarily hit up the creeks and use the standard Wal-Mart nets (5' radius, 3/8" mesh) for creek chubs. I'd use chubs and small bluegill for catfish. If I'm looking for smaller, crappie minnows, I use a minnow seine or a dip net and try to corral the minnows into a corner and scoop them up. I've seen a guy use bread for minnows and shiners in a similar fashion. He would float some bread on top of the water, and while they were busy eating it, he'd slip the seine underneath them and scoop them up. I've used umbrella nets too for smaller baits if I see them schooling close to shore. I've baited the net with bread, and wait to see them busting the surface before quickly scooping them up. Lot's of options for catching your own bait.
As for catching shad in a lake or river, I've had luck with the same Wal-Mart net on shad within 2 to 3 feet of water. I've had no luck on deeper schools of shad with these nets. I think you need 3/4" to 1" mesh with a 1.5 lb per foot lead line and a radius of 6' or larger.
I throw 4' radius nets, one is 3/8 inch holes and is mono, the other 1/4 holes and is nylon. I only use my nylon net in shallow creeks for shiners and chubs. The nylon doesn't seem to beat them up as bad and they live a lot long. I use my mono net for shad and suckers. I expect the shad to die so I dont care if they get beat up.
2 pieces of advice I will give. #1.) Don't throw your net if you don't know whats in front of you. I have been throwing a cast net for 20+ years and have lost a few nets to "blind" throwing while searching for shad on the river. #2.) Always check your catch! Don't assume they are all shad or all shiners. Once I had a net full of shad and dumped it in my bucket. There was a 3" smallmouth mixed in that I didn't see and a game warden checked my bucket. Lucky for me it was still alive and the warden knew it was an honest mistake.