Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fyke Net Usage Tips

I concur with CJ. If the pond has a feeder, I've placed it in front of the feeder if the target species were the ones eating the pellets.

I stake the lead at the shore side, anchor the basket end, using a decoy on the anchor line. I may lose some fish, but I pick it up from the basket end. That way I don't have to pick up the whole lead and put it in the boat.

I don't want my feeder BG/CNBG , HSB and LMB going in the net.

That is a lot of BHs. Nicely done !

That is an interesting net. May need to get one. Post results and pics as you get more.

ewest, in that particular pond, there were a lot of goldfish eating pellets, and the goldfish were targeted for removal. I have yet to catch a LMB in the net.

MNF how long is the lead? 20'? If so, a boat is probably necessary to get the entire net set up?

Did you go perpendicular to shore?

Was handling it solo much of an issue?

ewest- will do on the updates. I will be waiting a couple of weeks for the next placement. Cooler water conditions to minimizing stress on fish I want released.

TJ- 20' lead on my net. It's not bad with one guy in waders. Don't know about it with a boat. I can't imagine it would be that hard. Having everything ready at the shore BEFORE pulling the net is key. Next time I pull by myself I'm going to have a 50 gallon tub of pond water waiting. I think it will be less stressful to the fish and easier to sort them in the tub instead of inside the net.

Inteserting note to me...the last throat is about 3" in diameter (didn't measure just approximating). I was thinking the trap would limit the size of fish caught. WRONG! All fish and non-fish swam thru that little hole.

TJ - I ran it perpendicular to the shore for all sets

20' in my pond puts me in 12' water perpendicular to shore. So, I'll need to swim it out or use my kayak, float tube, canoe, or john boat. Guess john boat is probably the best idea.

TJ, if the basket portion of the net will be below the thermocline, then you might want to leave some of the lead on shore.

The entire basket would be below the thermocline - with very low DO levels. I was wondering about that issue - would lead to a basket of dead fish, potentially. Ugh...major blunder! I wonder if running it parallel to the shore would work - maybe at a slight angle so basket is in around 6' depth instead of 12'? Would be easier to implement, too, saving the need for boat, etc.

[quote=teehjaeh5 I wonder if running it parallel to the shore would work - maybe at a slight angle so basket is in around 6' depth instead of 12'? Would be easier to implement, too, saving the need for boat, etc.
[/quote]
But wouldn't you just get the fish traveling in one direction then?

Here is my non experienced non paradigm thoughts about the trap. The net was designed for bigger bodies of water and more gradual sloped bottoms. I would like to customize the lead for steep banks. The lead would be a trapizoid. 10' long 1' high on the far end (shore staked) and 4' high at the trap. The front hoop would have to follow. Thoughts?

With the floats at the top, and the weighted line at the bottom, the lead will conform to shallow water by itself. The lead on the net that I use is a foot taller than the front of the basket the whole length.

I'd just pile up the lead in very shallow water and make sure that the basket is above the thermocline.

Another thought:

I don't know how well it'd work if it was suspended under floats - the basket was suspended at the 5'-6' level, paralles with the pond surface, with the top of the lead at or near the surface of the pond.

I have to get one of these now.

Place the fyke net in spring and fall when there is no thermocline.

Can a fyke net be used off of a dock or pier?

A fyke net needs to be tied at the lead end, and pulled tight at the basket end, being either tied to a stake or anchored. It cannot be used if you don't have a boat or waders.

What is the net made out of?

Was yours a custom made net or do they have it in stock, I think it would be all we would need for the small ponds we fish?

How long did it take you to get it once ordered?

Mrhello-

1. custom made
2. A week and a half for delivery
3. Not sure of the material but its dipped in some rot prevention coating

Esox species are very susceptible to fyke nets. Will be interesting to see how many you catch in yours...

CJ- That is good to read about being able to use the net for pike. I will be setting the net and baseline the 1/4 acre pond with species #'s and sizes in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, I will be able to trap the NP as well. I want exact lengths and weights and want to get them tagged.

Thanks again for all your help!

Although on a much larger scale than the fyke net you are using, the trap nets used in this link do the same thing. It is fun pulling the really big ones up. When I had an internship with the PFBC I got to assist in setting and pulling them.

http://www.fishandboat.com/images/fisheries/afm/2005/7x05_26shawnee.htm

After hauling heavy nets full of fish Travis probably decided it was easier choosing a career chasing criminals.

Well Travis....which is harder? Chasing criminals or pulling nets

Sadly, you make more money chasing criminals but that isn't saying much.

Can anyone tell me if these fyke nets are legal to use in Oklahoma?