[5]
LANDING NETS
Whether you choose to net a fish or land it
by hand is a matter of personal preference,
dependant upon a number of factors. Small
fish can usually be brought to hand quickly
enough, provided the banks allow it. So unless
there is a long drop to the water they rarely
call for a net. Larger fish are another matter.
They can be netted sooner than they can be
hand landed, which is good as they are therefore
less likely to be exhausted, but once in the
net they might easily become entangled and
take some time to unravel.
It
is a lot easier to untangle pike and lures
from nets with large meshes, but as yet I
haven't come across one that is perfect. Stiff
meshes are more hook resistant, but not so
kind on the pike. Soft meshes do little damage
to the pike but are less easy to free from
hooks. Whatever mesh you opt for the frame
should be as large as possible. I prefer a
triangular frame with arms that separate from
the spreader block, for easy of transportation,
with forty-two inch arms. There is a trend
towards round or roundish framed nets for
lure fishing as I write (why this fad only
seems to apply to lure fishing I haven't a
clue), but I still can't see that they offer
any any advantage over triangular frames -
despite all Barrie Rickards has had to say
over the years. Indeed I recently had cause
to be grateful for the frontal width of a
triangular net when netting a large pike for
a friend from a high bank. Owing to the banking
my reach was limited and the pike was coming
in sideways on, all of it just went over the
net cord, but once in the fish was easily
engulfed. A round frame would have had to
have been enormous to achieve the same result.
A
net that floats (not the mesh, but frame and
pole) is a real help, especially when boat
fishing or wading. I have seen a few nets
sink gracefully out of sight in my time! With
two anglers in a boat a circular framed net,
which cannot be collapsed, takes up too much
room and always gets in the way at some time
or other. A triangular frame with arms that
pop into a spreader block can be left with
the mesh rolled around the arms waiting to
be set up as soon as it is needed, by the
angler who is not playing the fish. For boat
fishing the pole need only be three feet long.
If you are alone in a boat then the net should
be assembled in advance, there being no serious
alternative until someone comes up with a
strong, reliable and foolproof collapsible
net that can be opened out with one hand.
Ryobi have recently come close with a French
made net with a collapsible triangular frame,
similar to those used by trout anglers. It
is possible, at a pinch, to set this net up
with one hand, which is not the case with
the Fastnet design that is favoured by quite
a number of pike anglers. The only drawback
is the weight of the Ryobi net, being constructed
with an aluminium frame, but it is extremely
sturdy.
A lightweight carbon-composite frame and arms
next to a Ryobi collapsable landing net.
Next : 6 - Unhooking
Gear