What to do with the net?

[High Noon]

Hi All,

It's question time again. I have a 14' tinny that I carry a reasonably big net in. Pike, Bass and the odd Walleye are my fish of choice so, the net has to be reasonably big. Here is my problem. The darn thing is always under foot and in the way. What do you guys do to get it off of the floor and out of the way when not in use? I don't want it to get in the way when casting either. I have considered getting a collapsible one but I am not sold on the idea yet.

Thanks

High Noon

[Joey Rat]

The obvious but maybe not easy answer to me is to find some way of standing it upright or pinned to the side of the boat. I carry mine in a rod holder most of the time. That works fairly well until I add my rods and start getting trebles tangled in the mesh.

Time for a rubberized net I think.

Maybe a bigger boat

[Badger Shark]

In my first boat I had a piece of pvc pipe screwed to the back and it worked great. Just make sure you can strap the net from the top with a bungee or something to the bottom of the pipe to keep it from falling out at top speed.

Mine was screwed in above the water line and sealed the screw holes with silicone. It is also cheap.

[beachburger]

I took the net right out of the tinny a few years ago simply because it is not really a big deal to land 99% of bass, walleye and pike by hand. I use my thumb to land most bass and a protective glove for walleye and pike due to teeth and treble hooks. I'll also use the glove for bass hooked on a crankbait/stickbait. The 1% of fish that can pose a problem are monster pike but with extra care and maybe letting the fish tire out a little bit more than usual (and get lots of TLC in reviving) it is usually not a problem to land the fish by hand by grabbing them under the "chin".

There are also "jaw grabbers" available (I have Rapala's model) to land big fish by hand. Some can make a biggish hole in the fish's mouth but a piece of foam attached to the end of the grabbers works well to prevent this.

[eye-tracker]

I always carry 3 nets in my boat in case one breaks or falls over board. I have 2 of the Stowmaster tournament series nets tucked away in storage compartments. They are as strong as any standard net you would ever use on the market.



-s

[Boosterman]

I have two nets in my boat. One is rubberized I use it for most of my fish. But once in awhile when a monster comes in I use my old fashioned mesh one. It's not the best net but the big ones don't get away from it. One of these days I'll buy the ruberized coated mesh ones. I think they seem to be really good. As far finding a place to put your net in the boat I like the pvc pipe thing it works well. Thats what I did before I bought my bigger boat.

[Erie-Eyes]

[quote="eye-tracker"]I always carry 3 nets in my boat in case one breaks or falls over board. I have 2 of the Stowmaster tournament series nets tucked away in storage compartments. They are as strong as any standard net you would ever use on the market.

Hi Eye-tracker - I have been looking for one of these nets myself - do you know if any local stores carry them.

[High Noon]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the help. I have checked out the Stowmaster on the web and they look pretty nice. Right now the Stowmaster option is leading the pack.

High Noon

[High Noon]

I wanted to update you all on my net solution. I decided to look at the StowMaster nets. I asked for one for my 45th birthday and it is the nicest net I have ever seen. It folds, it extends, it stores just like the ads say. Eye Tracker thanks for putting me onto such a quality product. I guess I should thank my wife and two kids for getting it for me. So, Beth, Kyle and Devin thanks for the awesome net and storage bag.

High Noon

[Fish'n'Time]

Forgive me being stupid, but I can't think of anything worse then when I've got a trophy fish on then having to reach in bag, unzip? unfold and net. If you mean a back-up net, then I understand. But your primary net? Put it where its handy, that's the point. If you're walking all over it then get a handle on your boat or something...Weird.

[Fish'n'Time]

I just reviewed this post... a 14ft tinny??? How much walking around can you do in there that net is in the way???

[High Noon]

Hi Fish'n'time,
It sounds like you need the whole story and nothing but the whole story. Quite often there are 4 of us in the boat. Thankfully, my kids love fishing. Add in the gear, cooler,etc. and floor space quickly becomes an issue. I agree it would be weird if someone was stupid enough to leave the net in the bag during there fishing time. This is why I don't. I do leave it folded and sitting on one of the back seats where it fits perfectly,is handy, and is not under foot. Lastly, It takes my eight year old all of 2 seconds to unfold it to net someone's fish. I hope this helps clear up the weirdness of the situation for you.

High Noon

[Fish'n'Time]

Even worse buddy.

In a 14ft tinny, everything is 'handy', especially if you've got 4 people in it. What, they won't hand you the net?

So, its a 14ft tinny and you're wondering where to put the net? Tard.

Does it matter? 2 steps and you're in the front of the boat. 4 people in the boat and anyone can pass it to you. And if you're packing lots of gear, nobody is going to be wandering around the immense and cavernous space of your 14ft tinny. So put it near yourself, or in an emergency one of the other people might have to reach like a foot to hand it to you.

Do people say you are "special"? So, you found it such a daunting dilemma that you had to consult others on the mind-boggling subject of where to put the net in a 14ft tinny?

I'm shocked at the stupidity of people that fish, or maybe its just this site.

[SCUBA_STEVE]

wow fish"n"time!

you must be a pro fisherman and know everything
you keep calling everyone a tard or stupid
oh ya i forgot your so smart !
it is people like you who wreck boards!
i read most of your posts and your just a real butt on here give people a break! what a tard!


scuba_steve

[Fish'n'Time]

I know a tard's post when I see it, scuba-tard. Especially your posts.