These are some pictures of a modified fyke net. The first 2 hoops are rectangular to prevent the net from rolling on the pond bottom, and this also helps keep the lead straight up and down. The rectangular part is just shy of 3' high by 5' wide. The hoops are just shy of 3' in diameter. From the first rectangular hoop to the end of the basket is 16'. The lead is 50' long by 6' high. The netting is 1/2" ace netting, and is dipped to help prevent rot. There are 2 throats that are each 6" dia.






This is the lead line on the bottom of the lead (pronounced leed), showing how it's tied to the first hoop.


Here's one of the floats on the top of the lead.

Scott, how long is the lead? It looks seriously long.

Basket area is 16', lead is 50' total length 65'.

So in using a fyke net, does the lead have to go from the water's surface to pond's floor the whole way to the basket?

If so, does that means the pond you are using this net is 6' deep even when you get out 50' from shore?

How do you know how long of a lead you should buy? Is it a ratio to how far out into the pond it needs to go, or is it based on setting it at certain depths?

No, in the ponds that I deal with, that rarely happens.



Most ponds in this area are anywhere from 8' to 12' deep that far out.



Since this is used in a multitude of ponds, I used the recommendations of the late Dr. Dave Willis. You want to make sure the basket portion of the net is above the thermocline in a pond. The whole lead doesn't have to be used all the time, some of it can be piled up on shore to shorten it for ponds that have steep banks. I don't worry if the lead is submerged as it nears the basket, although I do seem to collect more fish if they cannot swim over the lead. I've had over 100# of fish in the basket in one 24 hr period. I have yet to catch a LMB in the net, and I've only caught one SMB in the net.

Thanks Essup, very interesting. Have you tried using a lead for a minnow trap? Do you think that would funnel them in more? I have some large scale minnow traps that I may try putting a lead on and see if it helps. collect more fish. I often catch alot of BG now.

Nope, never tried that.

A lead on a minnow trap will help it catch more small fish. That would be a good science fair project for a school student. Test and report the results.

Thanks Scott. Have you been able to catch tilapia in a fyke net?

Yes, about the same frequency as BG.

Do CC go into a fyke net, and if so, have you tried it in your pond that has the evasive ones?

Scott is the man with Fyke Nets and got me started using one. I have posted this before but if you haven't seen it maybe this will help. The video is a little long but shows how we use one

I haven't caught any cc in it yet but I have caught BH, YP,BG,BCP,GSF, PS and LMB. It has been a great addition to our ponds. Soak Friday... fish fry Sat.

[url=http://][/url] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40iIIxdT-io

mnfish,

Have you used your net lately or posted any new pics of what you are catching with it.

I have been away for a while so just thought I would check in to see.

Thanks

Hope all is well with you sir. I use the net a lot. No new pictures posted because nothing very cool to show. How has your pond(s) fared?

Has anybody ever floated a fyke net? The area I'm putting mine slopes off quickly to 10', and I was wondering if floating the net a few feet under the surface would work.

Ideally you want the lead to block the fish off from going around it, forcing them to either get up on shore to go around or swim into the basket.

I don't know if fish are more inclined to swim down or up to get around something.

Any way you can do a test in the same area? One day floating, one day on the bottom? Jsst curious, that's all.

FWIW- I have stretched mine over deep water. Pulled the lead tight at the shore, attached a line to the back of the net, threw the line to the other side of the pond. Pulled tight and had the net on the top 2' of the water.

I did this in an attempt to catch BH that were swimming in pods on the surface. I did catch a few but the results were not worth the effort. My guess, no way of proving it, is they swam underneath the lead instead of following it into the hoops.

I only tried this only one weekend and at only one location.

Guys, thanks for the info.

Scott, yes I can try both ways. We've got a "test" 12 hour soak going with the net resting on the bottom, and a rope in the back to the other side of the pond as mnfish mentioned.

My thought was maybe having the leader(10') and first hoop on the bottom, then floating the remainder of the hoops to keep them from going almost straight down to the bottom of the pond.

I was looking at floats like these. FLOATS

Setting the net out for the first time was easier than I thought. I bet it's empty tonight, but I'll learn either way.

Al, good idea on floating the basket end up into oxygenated water vs. anoxic water.

For a short term test float, I'm cheap. I'd use milk jugs, bleach bottles, etc. How many Cutrine Plus 2 1/2 jugs do you want? I probably have 30 of them here (empty).

Those "noodles" might be a cheap way too float it as well. Attach with my favorite...zip ties!

Along the same lines of this thread. For me and my limited experience, the location, even in a small 1 acre pond or the time of day can make a huge difference! You guys see the same? My point is, floating over deep water may or may not work but there is no way of knowing until many variables are challenged. Heck, for me, this Fyke net has been a huge learning experience. Then again..."I'm not a smart man Jinne"