Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations what size

Hey guys I was wanting to start using a net to check out what has spawned this year. The one I have is small and it seems most fish are evading me. What would be a good size to purchase for two people to handle and be effective at catching as much as possible. It seems like I only get one chance at it then everything heads for cover.

I believe you are talking about a seine, correct? It could be any length, but it should be a couple feet taller (or more) than the water is deep. Length is less critical. I believe Cecil and I used one that was 200' long (or longer) and had no problem, but that's a pretty big one.

Small mesh size, 3/16" or 1/4". I'm no means an expert with a seine. What I've found that seems to work the best is to make sure that you pull it slow enough so the bottom of the net keeps in conctact with the bottom, and a belly forms in the net between the top and the bottom. When you get close to the end, pull the bottom up onto the shore. By doing that you make a bag of the net, and the fish are trapped.

I'm sure others have used a seine far more than I have. Tips guys??

50' is a a good size and fairly easy to find. Hauling it in is all about being smooh and steady but not too fast or as esshup said, the "bellie" created will deform and the net will come off the bottom. 4' tall should work unless you are in deeper waters. Try to find a flat area with minimal snags to seine in. Snags are the biggest enemy of a seine.

thanks guys...I have used them before but usually in a small creek where there is no room or deep water to run. I intentionally left small areas spread out across the pond with no rocks or structure to seine in. So I guess a 50 foot with 3/16th mesh and 4 ft high would be the ticket. I'll start lookin

A 1/4" mesh seine will be the easiest to locate. Some places have standard seines and some will custom make you a seine at 50 to 100 ft. Consider adding extra weights to help hold the seine to the bottom and maybe extra floats. Try Douglas Net Company.
http://www.douglasnets.com/home.php OR
Memphis Net and Twine
http://www.memphisnet.net/category/nets_seine

Thanks Bill, Memphisnet has 50 foot x 4 foot x 1/8 inch mesh for 55 plus shipping.