[wademaster]

This is so simple however I keep screwing up....hook the trout, tire it out a bit, net the fish. Lots of times everything goes great until I grab the net then the fish somehow comes unglued. I tend to get the fish in close proximity to myself creating slack in my line then losing contact with the fish while trying to get the net where I need it. I lost a nice rainbow this evening due to this. I've lost quite a few since starting my fly fishing endeavor this way. I know with smaller fish I'll usually wet my hand and just scoop it up....maybe I'm ignorant? Due to this conflict I only landed a redbreast and chub....

 

[OptiMystic]

I like to get the net in the water with the fish still out in front of me (rod leaning forward) but close enough that I can finish the fight by rod angle. Then pull the fish into the net and raise it. If you dip the net right in front of them they often do find some last reserve of strength. It probably looks like a predator coming at them.

 

[horsehead]

This short video shows the best way to go about netting a fish http://youtu.be/a1rtQMjgEXM

Sometimes with a bigger fish you can't get his head out of the water like that, but it's basically the same, you just push the net in the water under him in order to get the same effect. The trick is to be quick so he doesn't have time to bolt again.


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[wademaster]

I think it's where I'm accustomed to smallmouth fishing and getting the fish right beside me to lip it....I'll work on this. At times I've performed perfectly, other times far from it. Thanks fellas.


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[gambusia]

When I fish DH streams sometimes I don't even bother with a net.

I think it knocks/rubs a lot of the fish's slime coating off.

Now when I am catching some trout to take home and eat (hatchery supported) I do take my net.

Its a small mesh fly fishing net but I forget the manufacturer.

 

[wademaster]

The rubber nets are made to be far more gentle on the fish's body and it avoids hook snagging. As mentioned, small fish get scooped up with a wet hand but the bigger ones would be subjected to a more hostile treatment if handled without a net.


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[gambusia]

Unless I want a picture I try to unhook DH trout in the water.

Barbless is the way to go and a pair of forceps or needlenose pliers helps.

 

[wademaster]

I agree. Barbless is a ton easier to deal with. If I net a trout it usually stays in the water and I crouch down, unhook/take pic and release.


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[Kev2380]

I try to get ready and net them in one motion. I pull back on the rod and lift it high in the air then hold the net low with my other hand. From a distance it would look like you're making a big C with your arms. Kind of hard to explain and I'm sure it's harder to do from a yak. The main thing is to try to do everything in one motion. Lift the rod high and back and scoop the fish at the same time. If you try to bring the fish in close then leave slack in the line and try to scoop the fish it will usually come unbuttoned. I've found especially with trout anytime you get too much slack line they come off.

Bass are guilty of this as well because many times you don't have them hooked as good as you think you do. Especially big bass. I can't tell you how many times I landed a bass and the fly just fell out of their mouth.

 

[wademaster]

I try to get ready and net them in one motion. I pull back on the rod and lift it high in the air then hold the net low with my other hand. From a distance it would look like you're making a big C with your arms. Kind of hard to explain and I'm sure it's harder to do from a yak. The main thing is to try to do everything in one motion. Lift the rod high and back and scoop the fish at the same time. If you try to bring the fish in close then leave slack in the line and try to scoop the fish it will usually come unbuttoned. I've found especially with trout anytime you get too much slack line they come off.

Bass are guilty of this as well because many times you don't have them hooked as good as you think you do. Especially big bass. I can't tell you how many times I landed a bass and the fly just fell out of their mouth.

I agree. Lots of times when the trout is in the net the fly has fallen out of it's mouth on its own. I'm going to probably try this net thing this evening if I get lucky enough to hook into some trout. If/when I encounter some smallies I may try to lip them unless they're strong/large enough to make me worry. I actually went hunting for smallmouth yesterday but the rain/cloudiness drove me back home. No fun.

 

[Kev2380]

If it's a bass I'll usually lip it. If the fish is really large like a grass carp or drum you can land it by grabbing its tail. This is easier said than done and unfortunately I haven't caught enough big fish to master that method. If I can lip the fish I will. Just got to remember which ones you can and can't lip. Which you'd think would be easy but I did try to get away with it one time catching a pickerel. Never again.