Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tex on September 20, 2012, 01:55:48 PM

Title: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Tex on September 20, 2012, 01:55:48 PM
Say you are heading out to spend a day on your local flow here in Southwestern BC (the Vedder, the Stave, Chehalis, etc).

Do you bring a landing net with you?  Why or why not?  If you do, what kind of net is it?

I am curious as there have been times I've wished I had a landing net, but I've never actually brought one with me while coho/chinook fishing.

Cheers.
:)
Tex
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: brownmancheng on September 20, 2012, 01:59:42 PM
Brought a net once too much carrying not enough landing of fish to make I worthwhile
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: gipetron on September 20, 2012, 02:03:17 PM
Good question! I have been wondering if people bring landing nets or not and why. I personally have never brought one with me but I am pretty new to the salmon/stealhead scene.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: rickjames_2 on September 20, 2012, 02:13:19 PM
Only salmon river I have ever brought a net to was the Fraser. I used someone else's net on the Vedder(more like he offered to net my fish for me) but it seems more of a hassle and distraction to use than a help. Possibly could be a useful thing if it is extremely tough area to land the fish but for the most part they are not a big help or necessary imo.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: CohoJake on September 20, 2012, 02:21:06 PM
I have been very appreciative of other people's nets when they have been there for me, but never bother to bring my own.  I know I never would have landed my 40 lb spring at the cement slab last year without one!  I have been looking at a nice big knotless net for the vedder, but they are too pricey for me right now.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Stratocaster on September 20, 2012, 02:24:23 PM
It all depends on where I am fishing.  If I am fishing a spot that has some sort of embankment or some boulders that make landing a fish difficult, then a net comes in handy. 
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: bbronswyk2000 on September 20, 2012, 02:27:06 PM
Like a couple others have said. It depends on where I am fishing. Where their is no landing room I might bring one.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Fish Assassin on September 20, 2012, 02:27:29 PM
No, it's just another thing I have to carry and possibily lose. Easier for me to land the fish by dragging it up the beach.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: DanL on September 20, 2012, 02:29:47 PM
I carry a small folding net from CrappyTire. Collapsed, it fits easily in the vest and its much easier to land fish by yourself when fishing alone in rocky/steep areas. If there’s any chance you might release the fish, it will be way gentler (and faster) than having it beat itself senseless on the rocks or tire itself out unnecessarily.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Drewhill on September 20, 2012, 02:59:01 PM
Prefer not to. Most spots have a place to land fish.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: typhoon on September 20, 2012, 03:23:15 PM
If I'm fishing the tidal Fraser rocks for Pinks or certain steep/slippery bank areas for Coho I will bring this net:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Fishing/FishingNetsStringersScalesTools/PRDOVR~0780440P/Lucky+Strike+Telescoping+Net.jsp?locale=en

It's not really big enough for large Coho, but it's a lot better than me taking a nose dive trying to land one.
I don't net anything rotten and certainly no Chum.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Funeral Of Hearts on September 20, 2012, 04:19:43 PM
I bring one if I go with a friend. That way we can share the burden of carrying it and help net ech others fish. That being said, I got fishing alone more often than not, so most times i do not bring a net.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: cutthroat22 on September 20, 2012, 04:24:48 PM
Net-less for me.  Thought about one a few times and I'm sure it would come in handy on occasion. 

If anything I would like a small one for feisty trout as I find them more difficult to handle than salmon.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Bently on September 20, 2012, 05:26:58 PM
Only in the Fraser when Bar Fishing.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: rickjames_2 on September 20, 2012, 06:13:07 PM
If anything I would like a small one for feisty trout as I find them more difficult to handle than salmon.

Precisely my experience as well, way trickier to handle.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: DanJohn on September 20, 2012, 06:14:35 PM
Net-less for me.  Thought about one a few times and I'm sure it would come in handy on occasion. 

If anything I would like a small one for feisty trout as I find them more difficult to handle than salmon.

This. I have a nice little wooden C&R net for the rascally trouts, but Salmon require something I dont want to have to lug around. And when they get tuckered out, a leader grab and tailing them is good enough for me. That is much harder on small trout, and they are more fragile as well. But I walk and wade. If we are in a boat, then a net would surely be necessary.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: trout80 on September 20, 2012, 07:40:29 PM
I bring a net, in my opinion it is better than dragging them up the beach and getting sand in their gills or banging them selves against rocks.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: 1son on September 20, 2012, 10:11:41 PM
Nope too much of a luggage for me my hands are usually full
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Rodney on September 20, 2012, 11:19:51 PM
I always have one with me when fishing in the tidal portion of the Fraser River. I bring one to the Vedder from time to time, if I know that I will be fishing at a steep drop-off. This is the one (the telescopic one) that I always use:

http://www.gibbsdelta.com/catch-release-trout-nets
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Zanna on September 20, 2012, 11:28:35 PM
I always have one with me when fishing in the tidal portion of the Fraser River. I bring one to the Vedder from time to time, if I know that I will be fishing at a steep drop-off. This is the one (the telescopic one) that I always use:

http://www.gibbsdelta.com/catch-release-trout-nets

mmm 14” x 17” Did you find the size of that net big enough for Chinook or large Coho?
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Rodney on September 20, 2012, 11:31:32 PM
No idea, because I only catch small fish.

Here's a video of the net in action with a pretty big coho salmon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKF5RcgbgBc
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Zanna on September 20, 2012, 11:43:32 PM
No idea, because I only catch small fish.

Yeah, right  ;)

Thanks for the video link. It looks like it was just big enough for the fish. It's definitely a nice net I like the fact that is made to reduce damage to the fish for Catch and Release.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: DevonG on September 22, 2012, 10:24:39 AM
Sure, I would bring one, right after I grew a third arm!
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: FlyFishin Magician on September 22, 2012, 04:25:27 PM
It all depends on where I am fishing.  If I am fishing a spot that has some sort of embankment or some boulders that make landing a fish difficult, then a net comes in handy. 

X 2, since I'm the one landing his fish of course!!!   ;)  In one particular run a couple of years ago, we found that the net increased our landing ratio substantially.  I think we went from 25% landing success without a net to over 90% with the net. I remember one of my buddies actually "caught", in mid air, a 10 lb hatchery coho for me.  Now is that skill with a net or what???
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Brian the fisherman on September 22, 2012, 05:06:22 PM
i use a net when fishing from my boat in the vedder canal area thats aboot it
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Sandman on September 22, 2012, 05:15:31 PM
I carry a small folding net from CrappyTire. Collapsed, it fits easily in the vest and its much easier to land fish by yourself when fishing alone in rocky/steep areas. If there’s any chance you might release the fish, it will be way gentler (and faster) than having it beat itself senseless on the rocks or tire itself out unnecessarily.

Another plus for the fly rod.  When I am in a difficult spot and want to release the fish there is no need to get even close to the fish as as I just point the rod tip down to the fish, bring the fly right to the tip, give a little push and the fly pops right out.  Fish swims off without coming near the rocks.  Since i am not trying to grab it, I do not have to tire it out so much either.  When I want to keep the fish,  then I always think to myself: I really should have brought a net.  However, like others have said, the hassle of carrying it around for the off hand chance I am going to need it (hook a keeper at a spot I cannot easily land the fish without it) just doesn't make it worth while.  Now when I am in a boat?...definitely.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: Ezio on September 23, 2012, 02:32:10 PM
I don't bring a net when fishing anywhere other then a boat, I try to make it a habit to fish in area's where I can leave the fish in the water so if I have to release it I can just pop the hook out, revive it, and let it be on its way.   I find I don't enjoy fishing in area's where a net would be beneficial (rocks / boulders, high cut banks, etc.)
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: milo on September 23, 2012, 05:46:08 PM
Unless I am fishing from a boat, where having the net can make the difference between landing the fish or losing it, I see no reason to bring a net when salmon fishing.

If I want to keep the fish, I'll just drag it out of the water and give it the rock shampoo treatment.
If I am releasing the fish, getting it in the net can add unnecessary stress to the fish and damage its protective slime coating.

Some people will ask "what about those places where landing a fish without a net is impossible?"
My response is that such places are very likely also a falling hazard, so I simply don't fish there.
Title: Re: Do you bring/use a net when salmon fishing the lower-mainland rivers?
Post by: firstlight on September 23, 2012, 07:42:15 PM
No,only beeks pack nets on the river and specially them Cutthroat guys. ;D