Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Show off your catch Cast net demo - first attempt

I think Gilligan and the Skipper would be all over that rig!

Catching big catfish for me is not about catching the catfish for but catching the baits with a cast net that catch the catfish.

Back when I was stupid and bullet-proof, I once took it out to the Galveston Island jetties in 4'+ swells. Mild concern arose at the bottom of the toughs when eyeball-height water blocked both the fore and aft views, especially with tanker-traffic crusing the channel. I was finally convinced to turn around when two consecutive rogue waves washed across the bow and exited over the stern. For those brief moments, I was a U-boat captain.
Fortunately for me, that scooter was very stable and unsinkable - sorta like a fiberglass Titanic.
Sorry for the hi-jack.

Kelly, when I saw the pic of the boat, immediately I thought of Greg and his little trip.

Did you have things nailed down to the deck so they didn't wash off?

Tackle box was stowed behind/beneath the center console and my rods were in rod-holders. It was many years ago, so I really don't remember losing any gear. If anything did wash overboard, it was of far less immediate concern than the desire to seek calmer waters.

If you rotate your phone sideways it will improve viewing .
The video will then fill the widescreen.
I'm assuming you used your phone to record.

I went out last night to start gathering adult wild shiners for supplemental stocking prior to the spring spawn. I was short on time so I went to a local park and made two tosses of the net. I have learned the culverts that connect two pond with a little moving water are the best place.

1st cast'
I got two dozen shiners 6-9 inches long. Several looked fat in the belly so I am thinking they are developing eggs.

Ill hit it up each night and then head out to the pond Saturday.

One of these days I'll figure out how to use a cast net. Nobody uses them around here, and I use it infrequently enough that I keep forgetting the technique. I have a 5' one from Wally World.

Cool. I gota get one.

There are certain aspects of appeal to a cast net as opposed to wading out into the water with a sein about 9 months out of the year.

I can run the lever on a hydraulic wood splitter, does that count?

5' is pretty small and limits your catch rate. 7' or larger greatly increases your catch radius. I however am limited to 7’ footer with my skills. I have seen a guy toss a 12' net in a pond and it covered a giant area.

I'm about 95% with the 5' diameter on full deployment. I'm guessing with every increase in diameter it becomes more challenging.

Wow! I didn't know they made 12' cast nets. I can just picture me drowning myself with one of those.

I once tried cast netting hook-shy Bluegills in a clear pond using floating fish food for bait. About one out of every four tosses was sufficient; however, the Bluegill quickly became cast net-shy as well, and would scatter when they saw the net coming.

BTW, nice video TJ. Certainly sounds like your cast hit the sweet spot.

Might have been a 10 foot ...its possible... But was gaint..and very detailed prep to get it set to toss...

I spent some time on a small island in micronesia and frequently saw a guy making his living catching mullet with a huge cast net from an elevated platform on a 3' wide dugout canoe. I couldn't have stood on the platform without tipping the canoe much less throwing a huge net from up there. I was ashamed to ever let him see me flailing the water with my small net.

I remember the first time I ever saw a cast net in action years ago. We were fishing a pier on the Chesapeake Bay and some Asian guy was throwing out one and getting about 50 bunkers each try. I got me one after that and started practicing in the yard.

That depends. Is the valve on the woodsplitter equipped with a detent and automatic kickout on the reverse stroke, or do you need to hold the lever manually?

You mean to be video material I have to be talented enough to hold the lever in BOTH directions? Man you are asking a lot. Guess I'm not ready for prime time cause it has the up detent.

It also has a piece of iron that sticks out that if I'm not careful while sitting on a stump splitting wood I will bend over, hit my forehead on it, and make my forehead bleed. That seems to be entertaining to my oldest grandson. I think it has maybe helped my thinking a little though.

Yes, both directions. This is PondBoss after all, and we set ourselves a high standard where videos are concerned.

I am in agreement with your grandson on one point. A vid showing you hitting your head on the piece of iron might be entertaining, if only because it sounds just like something I might do. Please refrain from using language that might stunt my growth however, as I believe I have a good many formative years left in me.

Thanks GW, and I am with you fish getting net-shy after a few throws. If one fails to get a full deployment on those throws, they are STILL net-shy and you have nothing to show for your efforts except maybe a dock full of FA! Been there...

My first grow out pond for HSB was stuffed full of 8-10 inchers, perfect size to transfer to main pond. They were so fat and happy full of CNBG and FHM they would not bite a hook.

Ok, perfect solution – time for cast net – easy right?
Wrong – I bought a cast net – practiced on the grass – got really good at throwing what is commonly known as “tacos” around here – gave up and asked a Texoma guide buddy to catch my HSB for me.

He made his living catching live bait – he was an expert.
Chummed up a school of HSB – tossed net first throw and caught 7 fat ~10 inch HSB – second toss 3 fish – 3rd cast NADA – never caught another one – smart fish!

Don’t waste time on cast nets unless you want to catch BG or minnows - hook and line or fish traps much less labor intensive.

MY experience only – it may work for you.
George

They do get smart, This is why I usually go at night, they do not see it comming. Unless I am after stuff in shallow water, then I they have no place to go. But if you are wanting the net to sink down over the fish night time works well.

George, We call them bananas around here.

It is important to get the first cast in a given area right. If you dont you just blow up the spot and spook every thing.

My GSH spot is a one cast spot, I can get about 2 dozen if done right. Last night I had a partial taco/banana and only got 6. second and third cast yielded nothing.

I used to be able to use a cast net and still have 3 or 4 of them. I now call them taco tossers.

TJ, are you still using your cast net? Still like it? Have you tried it on that YP, BG trophy pond? Where did you get yours?

I'm thinking about getting one. Anybody else have opinions on things to look for or avoid in purchasing a cast net?

Don't start with a big one. Until you learn the technique you'll throw tacos.