Cast net public service announcement

I decided to get a castnet to take advantage of the abundance of threadfin shad that we have on Lake Guntersville. I can obviously use them crappie fishing. I can also catch larger bait to use for catfish. I got it a week or so ago and had been practicing in the yard. I got good enough with it that I knew I could catch bait. When I went fishing yesterday afternoon I ran to two bridges because normally at this time of year, threadfins are schooling around the bridges by the gazillions. I didn't see a single bait ball, close to the surface at either bridge. We went and shot docks at a marina for a little bit. When we got up closer to the shallow end I saw a ripple on the surface and a couple baits flip out of the water.

I jumped up, grabbed the net, loaded it, turned the live scope towards the last place I saw them. There was a big blob close to the surface. I rare back and let her rip. I hit right where I was aiming. I start pulling the net up but it's really heavy. Really, really heavy. I'm thinking I have the mother lode on my first throw. I finally got it up off the bottom and when I can finally see, there's a whole lot of green in the net. There's also silt running out around the sides. I tried to grab the horn and dump my load of millfoil back in the lake but no dice. It's got the braille lines so clogged up that they won't release. I had thrown a "syrup tub" in the boat for a makeshift bait well and I'm glad I did. A syrup tub is what we call a mineral lick for the cows. The come in a plastic tub probably around 30 gallons in size. I picked the whole mess up, with the help of my fishing partner and dumped it in the tub. We start pulling out the lead line a little at the time and dumping millfoil back in the water. We finally got the worst of it and sifted out 4 threadin shad from the mess and kept them. LOL I spent 30 minutes this afternoon picking that mess out of the net just to get it back usable. I may never get all of it out of the net.

SO, if you've got vegetation in your lake, don't throw your brand new cast net up amongst it.

I have bought a new cast net went to the spill way and first cast hang a rock and rip it to shreddes! Also filled one with baby catfish and that’s a nightmare!


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While fishing the Gulf of Mexico I cast netted a bunch of small jelly fish. That was a mess

took a buddie fishing and was throwing a cast net and he saw me doing it and he thought he could do it. well if you have never done it and see someone who has thrown it for years it can be misleading. the smartest thing i did in that whole situation was tie the rope to the boat as i knew he was going to go take a dip in the water. i didn't stop him either. after i dried my eyes from crying laughing so hard i helped him back in the boat. seriously if cell phones would have been invented back then i would have won funniest home videos for sure.

Had a buddy that decided to get a castnet, to net Shad at the lake on which he lives. I don't know if he practiced with it, but seriously doubt it. He takes it out and casts it at a large school of Shad ... then watches as it sinks to the bottom :Doh: You see, he forgot to loop the pull rope around his wrist :bash :banghead :Rofl

Lesson learned for sure ! Run out to the deeper water turn on the Si ride around until you find them suspended in deeper water ! Once the net reaches just below where they were draw her up you be good to go!

This I one thing that I haven’t learned yet. All I throw is bananas. Have another in the plans, and a little more determination.

Back years ago, I had one, when stationed at Ft. Hood in Tx. Got where I could throw it pretty good too. Went to get one the other day and was in sticker shock for what they want for them now. If the dollar is so strong, and the economy is great, why is everything so expensive? Think I'll take up net makin', it might be cheaper to get one that way...:twocents

They are pricey

Yep, that's for sure...

I did the catfish thing myself. Pulled the net in and thought there is a lot of silver there. I got enough bait on one cast for the whole day until I realized that they were baby blue cats. Must have been 200 in the net and everyone had three fins stuck in the net. Last throw of the day. Took over an hour to get them all out and then there were still tiny sharp fins still in the net. I don't know if my friend ever used that net again.

They can bring misery to your day. I keep one in my boat at all times. The biggest problem most people make is getting one to large.

Was loading the boat at the ramp and a friend stopped in to castnet some catfish bait. First cast maybe had 50 large shad and 3 very large crappie. The look on his face. He said I ain't caught that many crappie this week.

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Great thread. rotfl

Oyster shells will cut and rip one up.

When I lived in Ingleside Tx., near Corpus Christy we used a cast net all the time, finger mullet are great bait for the larger speckled trout and red fish, but also can be a lot of work. Also once before that when I lived in Orange, my old home town we went over to Port Arther to a marina when they have a concert wall leaving a smaller area for boats to go in. This left a wide opening of water and at times that place would fill up with shrimp. So one afternoon/evening we filled up a large ice chest and took the home to clean and put in the freezer.

As a side note a fun and easy way to fish with finger mullet is to find a good place they come into when he tide changes to coming in and sit back with a spinning rod and just a hook and the finger mullet, cast him out and leave the bail open and hold the line with your finger. This way when one hits you can let them have it for a short time before laying the wood them them with a good hook set! Maybe have a cold one handy while waiting, lol!

Have seen a lot of guys trying to lear how to throw a cast net and it sure can be pretty funny to watch!

Skip

Large flounder like finger mullet as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by trypman1

They can bring misery to your day. I keep one in my boat at all times. The biggest problem most people make is getting one to large.

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I sure did. I have a 6’ and decided I needed a better, bigger net. I ordered a Black Pearl 8’ net with 1.6 lbs of weight per foot. It’s kicked my tail. My shoulders are so worn out I can’t handle the extra weight and the extra length is killing me too. I’ve thrown it about 10 times and cleaned all the mill foil out of it. They are $239.99 plus shipping. I’d sell this one for $175 delivered