Wait for the net.

I happened to be watching a fishing show last weekend(imagine that ) and watched a couple of anglers fishing in a tourney. The guy in the front of the boat hooks a keeper fish and has the fish coming to the boat rather nicely. As the fish approaches the boat he hesitates for the net and the fish falls off.

My question is, how many of you wait for the net? Granted, in a tourney, one partner should never have to wait for the other partner to get the net. But as things are, it happens.

I’m one of those people that almost never waits for the net. UNLESS that fish is hooked on a crankbait. I guess I’m just wondering how other anglers address an issue like this. Do you wait for the net or lift the fish into the boat?

Never used the net. One good whack to the head with a ball bat ussually subdues them and they spit the hook at the same time saving me from having to get the boat dirty.

You ARE talking about green carps, right?

Herb, that’s 2. You don’t want to get to 3….

If you are fishing as a co-angler, i think that question is something to answer before even leaving the dock. Some boaters only want the net when they call for it, others expect it on every fish.

If the fish is small I usually swing, but if it’s good, i like to have my partner there and ready…

Side Story–Last year in the MSBC, my partner had a 3.5lb smallie on….the fish was near the boat, but out of netting distance….at the last second, the fish jumped in the air and spit the hook….He did however land in the net cause i was right there to snag him out of mid air…

In conclusion…I say have the net ready at best….

Bait with trebles smaller than a Spook, I like the net.

Anythign under 4 pounds with a single hook don’t really need the net.

The big ones on a single hook is a game time split second decision!!

What will 3 get me?

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What will 3 get me?

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A brand new car????

New car might be worth it.
Might turn out to be a Yugo.
I’ll stop at 2.

I go case by case. My normal partner and I have a real good system and understanding. The net is there and ready if need be on each fish. No words need to be spoken, its just automatic. There has been a time or two in a draw tourney were my partners have not been on the ball and looked as if they never would be so I flipped em’ all, better than waiting. In one club tourney I had to fish alone and ended up flipping some pigs in the boat because I had not put the net in handy place, and I think thats what you were getting at. If its there and ready I use it but if I have to break concentration and make ackward moves to get the net, screw it.

Its a game time decision with me also and like the others have said, size of fish, type lure, and line strength are all part of the equation. My partner and automatically yell net as soon as we hook up but things happen sometimes such as the net hanging up on something or partner is hooked up on a fish also etc. If Ive got heavy line on a flippin stick with the jig hook buried in the top of the fish’s mouth I’m prob going to swing the fish and not hesitate for the net even if its a 5lber. If Ive got a light wire hook on a wacky rig with 10lb test I’m going to bend down and lip the fish reguardless the size of the fish but again not hesitating for the net. In other words don’t hesitate get the $#@* thing in the boat.and then cus out your partner for not being fast enough just kidding

I didn’t know bass were worthy of nets??? Let alone big enough!!!!!

I like Herb’s technique with the “Fish Bonker” . Keeps the boat much cleaner and smelling fresher!!!!!

Last year at our WI FED Zone tourney my partner stabbed at a 3.5# smallie which I though I had hooked good. Sure enough, he hit her right on the forehead and she was gone.

I normally swing fish on single hooks, so this was not typical for me. The smallie just so happened to swim right to the back deck during the fight (which is where the non-boater and net were). I made it clear that I will call for the net the remainder of the day if I needed it.

Blue- you use a crankbait?

– d-nort

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Sure enough, he hit her right on the forehead and she was gone.

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Yep, those melonhead fish normally only need one good smack with the Fish Bonker!!!

ok, ok……..I’ll go away………

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Blue- you use a crankbait?

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I’m sorry, Did I say that? I rarely use crankbaits….They don’t account for many of our winning weights…

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I go case by case. My normal partner and I have a real good system and understanding. The net is there and ready if need be on each fish. No words need to be spoken, its just automatic.

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I think this is true for many anglers comfortable with a consistent partner. My dad and I almost can predict each others actions, its prety cool… we even know where the next flip or cast is headed.

As for the Wednesday nighters where we are changing up fishing partners constantly, well, let’s just say I have a reputation concerning netting of fish… Some people would say I get a little “authoritative” about how I describe netting…

As for waiting for the net… I, too, tend to swing fish in, especially on a single hook, BUT, during a bigger tourney (which I almost always fish with good ol’ Dad), the net is there before I get it to the boat!

We don’t even bring a net along.. Tom just calls out… Winguardian Leviooosoooo. And you all think I am kidding!!!

jc

My partner&I respond to each others eye cross.(hook set)then call it…….(short,short)-(net,net,net).Works well if your vocal enough,and hearing well at that moment.

i think if your partner sets the hook you better have the net in your hand it is his call after that if it is short or a netter. but he better not have to wait while you pull your finger out of your nose. my partner work very well together in this way and we dont lose many fish.