Correct method to land a large Walleye???

[golden carp]

Help me and a buddy settle a disagreement that popped up while landing some nice fish yesterday

One of us says you put the net in front of and under the fish and pull the fish head first into the net.

The other claims the best way is to bring the net in from behind and scoop tailfirst.

Is there a right or wrong way? Or are both styles equally effective?

THANKS!

[Sunshine]

Always head first! Don't put the net in the water until you and the fish are ready.

[eyedoktr]

I have to agree with sunshine. Always head first. I've seen too many people do the tail first method only to have the hooks catch in the top part of the net. The fish then has the leverage to yank the hooks out of his/her mouth and swim away. Head first, if the hooks get caught in the bottom of the net, there is enough play in the loose net (versus the top where the hoop is) that the fish will have a tougher time dislodging the hooks.

[Eyez]

Head first, that way if she runs, she'll go right in the net. Also, if the line breaks just at the side of the boat, she's more likely to end up in the net. Had that happen once, she swam right in the net.



Eyez

[Suzuki]

Gaff.

[Airwave(OH)]

Another thing I always tell people on board is to wait till the fish is close enough that you don't have to stretch way out to get it. Get it close and go in front of the head and under. Don't get in a big rush to throw the net at it. LOL I know thats hard to do when you have a big girl on but it'll make your job easier. Most times when you reach you come up short and end up with the hooks in the net and a fish dangling outside of the net. I KNOW THIS ONE!!! :)

[Jim Ordway]

They can't swim backwards, always net from the head. Never jab at the fish, always keep the net away from the fish and bait until the fish feels like it is "ready" so the net and hooks don't get tangled. Scoop the water under the fish, sorta like a sand wedge.
Enjoy,

[Nighteyes]

You net when the fish is ready and you net agressively head first. I netted a 11.75 pounder this year about 3 feet under the water surface. I probably would have waited a little longer but that fish was worth some large tournament money. I had the chance and she swam straight into the net. It also helps to have a large net when you are talking about netting big walleyes. The jig came out of that big fish as soon as she was in the bottom of the boat. Who knows, one more run and she may have free'd herself.

Never net tail first. If you are trolling and the boat is moving, you will never be able to net a fish tail first against the water! Head first only.

[Chad]

Get the head and the rest will follow.

[W'eyes Guy]

Always net head first, for one reason; if you can only get half of the fish in the net, you want it to be the heavier end so the rest will fall in with it! I've seen enough fish caught with tail in net and head outside, flip end over end while hooks get tangled in net and "See Ya". Just a note: Even head first doesn't work all the time: a fish ain't caught 'till it's in the boat!

#610

[Backwater Eddy]

In rivers or in areas of currents it is often best to net a piggy walleye from under and behind.

Guide them up and in using the current to your advantage as well as the leverage you have on the fish with the lure and line.

Just scooping of placing the net in front of a piggy in current will either get the net caught on the lure (especially cranks), or spook the fish even further. Both scenarios can produce another “the one that got away” story.

Backwater Eddy ~ ~><sUMo> ~ ><>

http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html

[ETT]

In open water situations, wait until you can scoop the fish. You want swish the head straight to the bottom of the net, in one motion.

Most fish are lost by the netter reaching for the fish and tangling the hooks in the leading edge of the net. We always have the guy with the rod call the shot, unless he can't see the fish.

Propper netting techniques is probably worth several hundred words, but those would be the main points.

There's a whole bunch of guys practicing propper netting of oversized walleyes on Erie right now (PWT).

Good luck.

[ezmarc]

Jim, I would guess that netting fish would make the pro side anglers really nervous, more than anything else. How many would you say have the rookie reel em in and do the netting themselves?

[GREEN HORNET @-.]

I WOULD AGREE WITH HEAD FIRST. BUT, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE FISHERMAN YOU ARE WORKING WITH GIVES YOU AMPLE SPACE TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. THEY CANNOT BE AFRAID TO BACK UP ECT. WHEN TOLD AND HAVE FAITH THAT YOU WILL GET THE FISH IN THE NET. THATS WHAT SEPERATES PARTNERS FROM TWO PEOPLE FISHING. GET HIM NEXT TIME,LAUGH ABOUT IT, TALK ABOUT IT, BUT DON'T KILL EACH OTHER OVER IT. P.S. SOMETIMES THE FISHERMAN WITH THE ROD TAKES UP BACK CORNER AND DOES NOT ALLOW A CLEAN HEAD FIRST SWEEP AND THATS ONE OF THE REASONS WE LOSE FISH.

[fishnerie]

Alawys head first. I lost a Wall Mount that a buddy caught not putting head in first. Fish bowed in the net got hit by wave and she spit the hook. That was 4 years ago and i still feel really bad about it!!

[Chair Puncher]

I always say if you want something done right--do it yourself. Alright, head first...

>Help me and a buddy settle a disagreement that popped up
>while landing some nice fish yesterday
>
>One of us says you put the net in front of and under the
>fish and pull the fish head first into the net.
>
>The other claims the best way is to bring the net in from
>behind and scoop tailfirst.
>
>Is there a right or wrong way? Or are both styles equally
>effective?
>
>THANKS!

[j9f]

Head first and be agressive. When I am out, I will let anyone reel in a fish, but there are not many people I trust with the net. I always hold the netting against the handle with one hand so it doesn't dangle in the water and spook the fish.

[ETT]

Mark,
Many if not most let the Am reel with a propper drag, and do the netting. If you are dealing with an inexperienced fishermen even reeling can be done poorly. Sometimes all you can do is crank it in yourself, and tell the Am to wait until you call the shot. Then just swish the head to the bottom of the net. Some of these folks have never seen walleyes like these and I'm sure there has been some misfires.