Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Need a Seining Net

I believe I may be in the market for a seining net maybe 20' wide by 4-6' deep. This would be for larger/adult fish.

I've found a few places via internet search, but wondered if any of you had recommendations.

Some of my new SMB have made it out into the creek that feeds my pond, and I need to corral them back into my pond.

Thanks.

Sunil, this is a question more than a reply. We read about problems with smb recruitment vs lmb. Could your creek enviroment be a benefit to smb spawning?

Sunil
You can buy a seine that size from Walmart for around $20. They are cheap seines, but I get 2-3 years out of one using it to catch bait on a weekly basis.

I have one that I bought from Academy, a local sports store. I think that Wal-Mart has them and I know Cabelas.com carries them.

Thanks guys. Since I first posted my question earlier this morning, my brother went out and got a cast net (10' diameter). I told him that it required practice and to practice today, as we're going out tomorrow afternoon to try to net the 10-12 SMB that are in the creek.

I believe that they want back into the pond as they are just swimming in a school up and down the creek for about a 40' stretch from the damn to upstream, and back.

We're going to try to get 'em to eat some pellets while we throw the net on them. Hopefully, we can net a few here and there.

Gumboot: Yes, the SMB may have a better chance of spawning in the creek, however, the creek is not my property and would basically be fair game for any others to fish them out. While I would like these fish to spawn, each of these SMB are in the 3 - 4lb. plus range, so I really want these fish back in my pond.

It's also weird that some of the SMB that are still in my pond are basically doing laps around the pond in a tight school, almost as if they're looking for their lost brothers. They must be reunited!

Sunil, a cast net takes practice and technique. I bought one from wal Mart last year that is supposedly a new and improved model. It even had a video tape on how to throw them. BTW, it ain't as foolproof as the video claims.

Dave D., I hear you and believe you!

If, and I say IF, we net even one of these SMB, I'll consider ourselves lucky. Then we'll just have to fish out the remaining ones.

I feel for you Sunil - you have to go fishing.

I know I hate when that happens.

Sunil,
I’ve been practicing with a 4 ft. cast net (8ft dia.) and doing better – three out of four throws opening, with only one “taco”.

Haven’t tried the 7 foot model since first dismal failure.

Will get serious this weekend to transfer “grow-out” HSB for transfer to main pond.
George Glazener

Well, I pulled out the 5' radius cast net yesterday afternoon and took a few practice throws in my pond.

That's going to take a lot more practice!

Accordingly, I gave up the cast net idea for my search and rescue mission for the SMB.

When I went over to the creek, the water level had dropped by about 1.5' which seemingly made the pack of 10-12 smallies disperse.

I did catch one large female on a big shiner, and promptly relocated her to my pond.

I know this thread is old...but my husband bought a 10 ft cast net at Wal-Mart last weekend for $30. He practiced out in the yard, then moved to the pond. We have GOT to get some of the CC out of there! We have tried, liver, hotdogs, chedder cheese, strawberry dough balls, everything! They will not bite. We even skipped feeding them for 4 days and still they will not bite. I think we thought the cast net would scoop up at least 2 or 3 at a time. He has caught one, and that after many many throws (and a sore back)...even tho he is doing pretty good at it. The CC are now terrified when you do feed them. They flinch at everything! HOW are we going to cut down the population. I myself....would love to get out at least 100 (50%) before they quit feeding completely this winter. PLEASE tell me what I we should do!!!! I wish we had never put CC in the pond!

Pond girl, it seems that you have the same problem as alot of people. Lots of catfish that you can't catch. I don't know how close your are to an Academy Sports and Outdoors store, but they sell seines up to 20 feet long. You may also want to call around to any local universities that have fisheries programs. Tell them that a class can spend a few hours getting some hand on experience seining ponds. I know Arkansas State is in Jonesboro, but I dont know if they have a Fisheries program.

Pond Girl,

I have had tremendous success with using baited hoop nets. I use rotten cheese stuffed in a small mesh bag (panty hose would work) that is placed in the rear of the hoopnet. Over the years, I have literally caught 1000's. Many places sell them, but here's a link: http://www.millernets.com/finesu.html

Good luck. Shawn

I do not live far from Jonesboro. Maybe I can check out A-State's website and see what I can find there.
Can you 'not' feed fish after getting them used to feeding time every day? Humanely...I mean. How long would you go before they would eat something besides floating pellets?
My husband is getting ready to go out there around midnight, just to see if it will be easier to catch them at night...being night feeders that they are...
This is our first year with fish, and we've learned a lot! Duckweed, water primrose, filamentous algae, aerations...hahah but oh--so much more we need to learn!
Got home from work at 5:30, three deer ran across the road in front of me. When out to the pier at 6:00 and one ran up behind me, went up the hill, stopped and looked at me for at least a minute and casually 'trot' away. Then 20 minutes late 2 more were headed to the pond and spotted me and took off... Water is a wonderful 'tease'...haha "Come and get me, Come and get me" haha

If you can get a seine Ewest had a diagram of how to catch fish. You place two seines that run perpendicular to shore. Then feed the fish in between the seines. When a good number of fish are feeding, place another seine to close off the opening.

Will see if I can find the 'hoop net' at Wal-Mart. Have a few days off starting tomorrow! Thanks Shawn
Been trying to find ewest's diagram for 'how to sein' but I always have a lot of trouble when I search. Can anyone help me with a link to it?

Send Ewest a PM about it. If he can't find it, no one can.

Pond Girl,

I doubt you'll find a hoop net at Wal-Mart. I am attaching another link that shows a picture of a hoop net. This type of net is known as a passive gear, which means you set it, and it does all of the fishing. I've found that a 2 day set works well for ponds. Compare this method to an active gear such as seining, which requires you to "actively" move to catch the fish. If you were closer, I'd let you borrow some of mine. It might not be worth the cost to buy your own. But they will catch fish.

Here's another company that sells them with a photo: http://www.nylonnet.com/nets.htm

If you choose this route, I recommend a net with 1" mesh since you probably have lots of small channels. Also, it would be wise to call a company before you order so that you know exactly what you are getting. I say this because nets are often sold as just the nets (web), just the hoops, or the full-blown set-up.

I did some checking on the Miller net site I posted earlier, and they have a hoop net called the Sporty net, which is probably what you will want. I was even unaware that they had this net, but it is fully configured and advertised as being a great net for the novice. I think it was around $65.00.

Pond Girl, I have some success with trot lines adorned with cut bait (chunks of bluegill). Bait at night and quit feeding them during the day.

PG:

Catmandoo is the King of eliminating big catfish. See Too Many Big Catfish for a big collection of removal methods.

Also, this Catfish thread has information on the culinary aspects of removing catfish.

Hey Pond Girl,

I have also been removing catfish from my pond, although I have a 100' seine. All I do is pull the seine out from the feeding area and then continue feeding for several days. Once they are back to normal feeding, I pull the seine to shore and I have a net full of fish. I think the secret is that I have two ropes on each side of the net. One on the upper part and one on the lower. If your seine has a leadline on the bottom it will just sit in the lake for days and when you are feeding just grab the ropes and pull. You don't even have to get wet. I get roughly 100+ catfish per pull, and often times they will be feeding again within hours after I seine. Let us know how it goes.

Sorry I missed this . Here is the pic.

Results of midnight fishing project: After 3 hours he caught two! Said he had a real good time tho, sat on the pier, drank a couple (yeah right..) of beers, watched the moon and the stars. Said skeeters didn't even bite. Had a real good time! Just like camping out.