TDIL: Nets are important.

[d-camarena]

I dont even own a net. I boat flip everything. I usually using straight 65lb braid

[N Florida Mike]

We do use nets for most of the saltwater fish we catch.However,I respectively disagree about how to net fish.The way we do it is to wait until the fish is near the boat and heading in .We then quickly dip the net in front of the fish and swoop it up.You NEVER try to net a fish from behind.If you stick the net in too soon the fish will change direction and you'll usually miss or you'll hook the net with the fish on the outside.

[OCdockskipper]

5 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

After getting a hook buried in my thumb, I NEVER lip a bass that is hooked with trebles while still in the water...

I also fish waters with a lot of big northern pike, and they are a magnet for all things trebles...

I think if I fished your waters, I would have a different opinion about nets.  No toothy critters here, only big catfish that hijack the offerings.  Those I land with a pair of grippers.  By the time they get to the boat, they are pretty spent - just grip & lift.

Largemouth over 4 lbs typically have a big enough mouth to accomidate a lure with treble hooks, your hand and a Big Mac all at the same time.  Smallmouth & bass under 4 lbs caught with treble hooks can be landed 2 ways without lipping them or using a net.  If your reach around their head and press on both sides (just above the gill plates), it will imobilize them.  If the fish's head is too big or if you have Donald Trump hands, the belly lift is the other alternative.  This is how you see may of the Elite anglers land big smallmouth.  Just make sure to use a finger pressed into the belly to imobilize them.

All that said, I didn't take my advice and lipped a small bass with a Pop-R in its mouth earlier this year.  Of course, it shook it's head & buried one of the hooks in my thumb between the nail & skin.  Dumb move on my part.  

 

[WIGuide]

I keep a net in my boat at all times. Living in a land of toothy critters it's pretty much a must. Also a great addition for tournaments. I swear fishing for fun they can splash around boat side as long as you want to let them, but once money is on the line, the fish just somehow know haha. 

[Scott F]

I fish a lot of waters with pike and muskies in them but I usually use the net on smallmouth with a mouth full of trebles. I use light line for the most part and don't want to lose a Lucky Craft Pointer trying to hoist a bass over the side so the net gets used. I had an expensive Frabil conservation series net but the hooks were always getting caught. So now I use a rubber net. For pike, I seldom use the net. They go nuts in the net, and slime it up. Hand landing them is faster, safer and easier for me.

[A-Jay]

5 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I had an expensive Frabil conservation series net but the hooks were always getting caught. So now I use a rubber net.

Frabill offers Rubber replacement nets bags in three sizes ~ 17 x 19, 20 x 23 & 23 x 26

A-Jay

http://www.frabill.com/nets-accessories/replacement-landing-nets.html

[Scott F]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

Frabill offers Rubber replacement nets bags in three sizes ~ 17 x 19, 20 x 23 & 23 x 26

A-Jay

http://www.frabill.com/nets-accessories/replacement-landing-nets.html

The bad news is that the bags on the conservation series nets are not replaceable. I did use the handle from the Frabill on the rubber net I bought.  

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, Scott F said:

The bad news is that the bags on the conservation series nets are not replaceable. I did use the handle from the Frabill on the rubber net I bought.  

Good you made it work -

A while back I had a non-replaceable net that needed a new bag.  I cut the old one off & used a stout nylon twine to "weave' the new bag onto the frame.  One long length went through the top net loops and around the net frame.  Worked out OK.

A-Jay