Here's the scenario:

Feeding generic 1/4" sized floating catfish food from Tractor Supply on a public lake. Carp and GSH are hammering the food. The carp will dissapear after I catch one, and the GSH will stick around hammering the food. The water depth is anywhere from 18" to just shy of 4', with chara starting to grow.

Providing I can learn to throw a cast net, will one work in that water depth? What size mesh should I look for? The GHS are 6"-8" long. They will NOT eat Stubby Steve's, but I was able to catch some on a moistened pellet threaded on a #10 Mosquito Owner hook on 2# test. A cast net is legal in Indiana providing I do not use it to harvest game fish (I haven't seen any BG hitting the food yet).

My other option is tying pellet flies.

The carp are running between 10# and 20# and are a blast on a #7 wt. flyrod!

Any standard cast net will work for adult GSH. 18"-4' of water is a great depth for cast-netting.

I catch GSH with a cast net out of our crappie pond with ease...good luck!

Even if you do catch BG or other game fish, as long as you immediately release them there is nothing illegal about it. When I cast net for bait, its amazing the fish I catch! I once caught a 6 lb LMB...

My concern is getting a 15#-20# carp wrapped up in the net along with the GSH.

Next question is what diameterand mesh size net? I've seen sizes from 4' up to 12', mesh from 3/8" to 1". I was leaning towards 3/8" or 1/2". The GSH are anywhere from 10' to 50' away from the pier and they really move quick when they're grabbing the feed. They'll make splashes like 8" BG hitting the food.

The net I have has a 10 foot diameter.

Get a net that has a radius shorter than you. It will be easier to throw.

For a beginner cast net thrower, go with the 6' net. It is quite easy to learn to throw that. Less steps to prepare the net to throw and will work for what you are trying to do. 3/8 inch netting will work fine.

I'm bidding on one that's on fleabay. I'll know in a few days!

The next trick will be learning to throw it.

From what I read there, the net size is what they call the radius, i.e. looking at a 5' net gives a 10' open size.

IMHO if you have never thrown one then get as small as you can until you learn to throw it, then move to a bigger one. Also it should have at least 1 pound of lead weight per foot. For example I can throw a 5ft net PERFECT everytime and I got a 7 footer, and can only throw it perfect sometimes, it is much bigger than I anticipated but im working with it.

I've got a bid in on a 5'er, I've seen them as small as a 3'er. Thanks for the tips!

5' should work well for a beginner... Yes, they refer to radius. It really isn't too hard to learn on the smaller nets. Just remember, its all finesse not muscle when you throw a cast net!

Get ready for what some of us refer to as the wet taco.

I've been able to catch about a dozen GSH that were about 6"-8" long the past few days, but there are quite a few more there. They are really picky, if it's not a floating pellet in the correct color then they won't take it. Only about 6 or 8 pellets were eaten last night, but the wind drove the pellets to the bank prety quickly, and the boats were kicking up some good waves to boot. The live basket is right there on the pier, so getting the fish out of the net and into the basket shold be easy. (4' square basket)

I can't believe how agressive the GSH are when eating the pellets. Just like the video's of CNBG chowing down on pellets. Friday night a passing fisherman on a pontoon just about fell out of the boat getting a rod to cast to the fish hitting the pellets. He fished with different lures and plastic worms thinking they were pretty good sized fish. I didn't have the heart to tell him that they were only GSH. I was watching from the house..... He went by not too long after the feeder went off.

I wonder how many adult GSH should I try and transfer to the pond? 1 1/2 or so ac, the largest LMB is about 17", but the largest CC is 28" or so and 12#+. The GSH are a nice gold color. I'll take the camera on the next transport trip.

I've had luck with about 50 per acre in the 7" to 8" range. That was into ponds with bass a hair over 20" and CC over 24". I try to catch them in early to mid spring spring so they are ripe and ready to spawn when I put them in the pond.

The cast net should be here this coming week. It'll be interesting to see how I do throwing it and what it brings in!

Thanks for all the help and I'll post results.

5' net, 3/8" mesh for $32.00 delivered.

I catch shiners on the edge, but in a boat in open water, I can fill a five gallon bucket up in a few casts. I have a pond thats loaded with them.

Let us know how you make out... Don't get frustrated! Practice on manicured grass at first. Or very shallow water over sand.

IIRC, your teeth are a very important part of the procedure........

And so is learning to like the taste of the water. LOL

If you use a small size cast net, the teeth can be left out.

Teeth won't be a problem. I still have all of mine, and if I lose some Dad can replace them!

I've been there...And still go there sometimes!