Message boards...

[Cancatchbass]

The Magnus net thread is an ideal example of the primary problem with internet message boards.

Some readers either do not take the time to read the threads properly or are simply misunderstand what they read :

JH: " First of all, whether you choose to use a net or not, that is your business. But please do not preach that not using a net has less of a chance of hurting fish stock, or minimizing damage."

This comes right out of nowhere, doesn’t it? Show me where there is even a single mention of using a net vs not using a net.

Here’s a comment I did make: Loki also sells the mesh, I believe, so maybe the guy in Picton could modify his design slightly. This might mean adding $1-$2.00 to his manufacturing cost, but it could also help widen his market.

The fact that this comment was ignored shows me something. It is apparently too much bother to investigate whether the Magnus net could be produced with knotless mesh. Or it may be a time thing- gotta have the nets right now. Only four months ‘til the spring walleye opener...

Jale -" CCB, unless mistaken the title of this thread was"Who wants a Magnus net"

It's title was not..Who makes the best car?...Who is the greatest hockey player ever?...What is the best fishing net to use?....or Who can take a quick flight to the moon while no-one cares???(although I can think of a couple)

If you aren't interested in buying a net then why bother putting in you 2 cents where it was not asked for and/or required??? "

Well, Jale, my two cents were added to show that there might possibly be a way to lessen the negative effects of netting fish by using knotless mesh. I’m sure many readers were not aware of the differences in delayed mortality rates. Some readers don’t release any fish. That’s their business. Some choose to ignore scientific studies because they know better. Some release most of their fish and want to ensure the fish are handled in the best possible manner. It’s those anglers that might appreciate my two cents.


RJ- "Big Jim couldn't say enough about these nets at Quinte....right in front of 50 Hawk Talkers...of which about 8 of them have bought them thru this deal that Jale has made with the manufacturer....he has offered to drive to Picton to pick them up for everyone...and all he gets is criticism...oh and those who are buying them are destroying fish populations...

I'll say what about 99% of the people that have read this thread are thinking....you really can be a piece of work....get over yourself.... "

I don’t see where I criticized Jale. His offer is purely selfless and should be rightfully appreciated by those who benefit. As for “destroying fish populations”, there is a difference between destroying fish populations and taking small steps to reduce unintentional fish mortality. It’s up to each individual angler to decide whether these small steps are worth the extra bother and expense.

Then there are the comments that are just so whacko they don't deserve a reply (but I couldn't resist ):

JH:" In the States, a sue-happy company would probably get the lawyers involved over a libel and heresay such as yours. "

Almost too funny, Justin. Not sure if you meant hearsay or heresy. And making a recommendation on how a manufacturer can improve its products is libel? HA!

Last but not least are the inevitable comments made by posters that rarely post anything original, but parrot other comments. Those "contributions" surely are invaluable.

The temptation after getting ridiculed in a post is to say- "scr*w this. I don't need the aggravation". But I'll be sticking around, like it or not, because I do care about our fisheries.

CCB

[BBRich]

I missed that debate, thanks for the recap.

[Mike Lennox]

hey CCB,

I have a question...I got a large rubber net for christmas, and I asked for one because I was told it doesnt hurt/damage the fish"doesnt remove slime and gill plate doesnt get tangled in mesh" ......is this theory true...or is my large rubber net as hurtful to fish as the normal nets?

thanks,


mike

[jazman]

polly want a cracker.

[Cancatchbass]

Mike- the rubber net is definitely the best option if you will be releasing fish.

jaz-

CCB

[JustinHoffman]

CCB,

Since you put some thought into your post, here is my rebuttal.

CCB said:
This comes right out of nowhere, doesn’t it? Show me where there is even a single mention of using a net vs not using a net.

Well, CCB...here is what you said in your first post on the Magnus thread:

If you plan on releasing fish, there are better alternatives available that will not damage the fish.

CCB- doesn't even own a net Very Happy

This was the reason I brought into play using a net versus not. You brought it up. Your comment seems to have an air of superiority about it, in the fact of, "I don't use a net, so I am the most conservationally-minded angler out there." When you put a comment like that in a thread on buying nets, you're insinuating that not using a net is above using one. Hence the reason I put my two-cents in about that practice.

Here is my problem with what you did. Start a new thread on the merits of using and not using a net. It's that simple. Don't hijack a thread of someones that has went to the trouble of setting up this deal, only to make the purchasers feel like crap about what they are doing, especially when you have never even seen, held or studied a net manufactured by Magnus. Look at it this way. I seem to recall you placing some ads in the classified selling worm hooks in the past. Nothing wrong with that. How about if I had posted a few times in your thread how these hooks were manufactured poorly, increased the chances of lost fish and that there were better alternatives out there. Should I be allowed to do that? No different from what you just did to Jales thread, is it? But you know what, I have a feeling you might of got pretty fumed about me doing that. Mainly because it is my own opinion. If you don't agree with this scenario, well my friend, this is a lost cause.

I'm not saying that you are wrong in your beliefs. But come on, quoting a study done on bluegills??? Look at the size of these nets - do you honestly think they are going to be used for that? Do walleye have a tougher slime content or resist rougher handling better than bluegill? Who knows...

Thanks for pointing out my 'whacko' comments. Hey, that's your opinion and I respect that. As for message boards, there is a thing that comes into play called 'tact' and 'courtesy.' Sadly, I'm not so sure you had a lot of it in your initial postings, as many others have pointed out. And here is what heresay means:
'rumour, given at second-hand' (That's purely for your interest..)

I look forward to reading your posts - just don't let them interfere with what others are trying to do.

Good Fishing,
Justin

[Shad]

You guy's have wayyyy to much time on your hands and cabin fever is taking over!!!!!

Ahhhhh....stab and keep all the fish, down with the nets I say **kidding of course **

[SCUBA_STEVE]

well i think even a rubber net they say it is good till they do more studdies next thing you know the chemicals made fro the rubber is bad for the fish....i love fishing but hey just like cancer or a sickness ((will we ever know what is good or bad))not all researchers are right or wrong one will never know so i have been fishing for along time and i believe in what i do and will keep fishing my way doesnt matter what studdies or researches will say....it is all fun for me and a nice day out!so is anyone right or wrong....i dont think so


zort

[BBRich]

I prefer a good carbon gaff

[Jale]

BBR,

Are you sure carbon is the best metal to use in those gaffs??? I'm sure there is a study somewhere on this planet that states that stainless steel would ensure a better survival rate.

Tom, So you are saying you don't want a Magnus net???

Joe

[scuro]

I love message boards. You collect a group of people you would never have a chance to talk to in a million years and you learn A LOT. Better yet, new opportunities arise that never would have been open to you before. Sure the medium isn't perfect but a lot of us are new to this and with time we will pick up message board manners just like everyone has telephone manners.

As your mama used to say, be polite because, if you think about it, you are really mostly talking to strangers. They don't know who you are, and you don't know who they are. In normal face to face conversation there is a lot of communicating that is done beyond the actual words used. That is all lost on a board. People take offense quickly and the next thing you know, we have a tiff worthy of grade school. This can certainly be entertaining for a while but I'd rather talk about fishing. Wait a few minutes before you send that zapper of an e-mail, sometimes on second or third read the original e-mail isn't so offensive or you realize that they just don't know better. As mama used to say, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

[Fishhawk]

Message boards are great ways to communicate. Unfortunately the features of anonymity, distance, and a large audience, as opposed to sitting in a room with a bunch of other anglers and talking face to face, make it a different kind of beast altogether. It's a many-headed serpent that needs to be treated with caution and tolerance and prudence.

And I don't only mean that we should exercise those things when we post a message. I mean we should also exercise those things when we try to understand someone else's message.

Sometimes it is OK to post certain messages. Sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it depends on the person delivering the message. Sometimes it depends on the topic. Sometimes it depends on who is being responded to. Sometimes it depends on who started the thread.

Sometimes it depends on who read what on some day in particular 8 months ago because someone made some comment that was thought to be harmless but was taken very poorly because there was no bread in the pantry and the bagels were stale plus the wind was out of the east and the bait shop ran out of pumpkinseed senkos which precipitated a response from the newest participant that was way out to left field because he didn't read the post from the week before only because he missed his train.

If you expect to have the kind of communication that results from a one-on-one face-to-face chit-chat, message boards are not for you. I see lots of examples where people would normally get along with each other just fine except for the fact that they find themselves communicating with each other on a message board.

It's why I say "Caution and tolerance and prudence".

With so many people reading whatever you post - it is unavoidable that someone has to take exception or interject with something.

These are message board realities. Sometimes, that is the spice that makes a message board interesting.

It gets nasty when sarcasm is thrown into the mix. It gets nasty when it gets personal. And once it starts it will build like a snowball going downhill as responses in kind will follow for sure.

The bottom line for me - this is just an Internet Message Board. Chill out and have some fun. Of all the people who have posted something on this board, there are very very few that I met in person and disliked. There are very few that intend genuine ill-will towards the other participants.

The nature of a message board just makes that difficult to see sometimes.

That's just some observations I have made.

[McQ]

CCB, you know this one I'm sure "shoot the messenger"

I took your comments for what they were intended, questioning the construction of a product and making recommendations to clarify a situation is a positive route to follow.

The whole deal about these nets is the built in feature " scale "

I am not a firm believer in netting fish, seldom have a net in the boat and when I do it's a rubber basket type. My reasons are similar to yours "concern for the fishery" and that I find it easier to release a fish in the water by simply removing the hook. If the fish is deep hooked then it's going on the supper table and will end up in the livewell or on a chain.

I rarely take a photo, have enough memories and don't need to puff up my ego.

Most manufacturers make their net baskets available as a separate item. It's easy to change baskets on any net. For those guys chasing big Northerns & Muskies - why not a cradle?

[Cancatchbass]

Justin:

The reason I posted that I don't own a net was to show that I have no bias towards any one manufacturer's products. I readily admit knowing nothing about the Magnus product other than what the web site shows. To say that my comment that I don't own a net is saying that I'm the ultimate conservationist is a stretch. I simply don't like netting fish. If a fish comes unstuck boatside, that's fine with me- I would be releasing it anyway.

"Start a new thread on the merits of using and not using a net." Why? The intent was not to dissuade anglers from using nets. As you said yourself- many anglers will do more harm to the fish (and possibly themselves), by trying to hand land their catch. I totally agree. The intent was to show that there may be better alternative net materials. I was sincere in my suggestion that Magnus might increase their market share by using a more fish-friendly mesh and there could be no harm in bringing this up. Companies usually appreciate this type of feedback.

"I'm not saying that you are wrong in your beliefs. But come on, quoting a study done on bluegills???" Unless I'm mistaken, Justin, you are very well read when it comes to these subjects, and might have run across studies that show that knotless mesh is preferable to knotted mesh. The In-Fisherman quoted study was the first that showed up in a google search, that's all. If bluegills suffer damage in a net, isn't it logical that a large thrashing muskie would too? Or other large fish, even lowly drum and catfish?

Maybe the choice of the word whacko was inappropriate, but I'm sure you can't honestly believe that suggesting a possible improvement to a product would be grounds for a libel suit- even in sue-happy America.

Joe: Let me think on that a while. When the dust settles, hopefully there'll be no hard feelings.

Mike: Well said. Points taken.

McQ: I'm only wounded. Just a flesh wound, actually.

CCB

[joco]

HI ALL


WE should all respect other opinion,,,,,,




FOR ME........i do use a net for walleye fishing,,,,,,sturgeons,,catfish ,,,pike etc etc,,,,for musky i have a huge(beckman net) so that way he stay in the water for all the process off onhook it,)and the loop is very large so the musky can stay strait in the net........

like other people did say before,,,,,,if i plan to not keep that fish,,,,its stay in the net in the water and i onhook it in the water and he will never live the water,,,,,,so a lot more chance off survival then take your time to bring a fish to the boat and get him dead tired,,,,,

I never use a net for bass fishing,,,because ,,,,i like not to use a net whille bass fishing......

but like other said again ruber net is the best i think for a lot off species,,,


but hey guys nothing is perfect,,,,,,,,,

if people care so mutch to not hurt a fish.............why do they go fishing,,, ,,,,mabe just take scuba tank,and go take a picture off it,thats it.i will be sher it wont be affected........

anyway we fish,there always a chance that the fish will finish dead one way or the other,,,,,,,


lets only use common sence and guys,,,,,,,,,,,

can we come back to ice fishing,,,,,,,,,,,

joco