Net or Not?

[Highmth]

I was wondering how many of you use a net and why? What are the advantages of netting a fish as opposed to landing them by hand?
By the way, The only time i ever use a net is in a boat. I have never been in another situation where I feel I needed one.
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[flygoddess]

I use a net for C.P.R. (Catch, Picture, Release) when in my pontoon, on my boat, wading a river or fishing a shore.
If I am just releasing then I don't take them out of the water, just grab hook and take it out without touching.
If I am keeping to eat, then it really doesn't matter.

I fish mostly for trout, and a glove, a rag or boga grips do more damage than anything, so I net.
Rubberized being the most user friendly for the fish and the fisher.
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[utwalleye]

try landing a 45in. tiger with your hands...
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[bornfishin]

I use a net when flyfishing for bigger fish but i use a lip grip when Im in my kayak.
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[chugg]

I do it all the time. Just slide your fingers up to the jaw bone clamp down and hang on. I prefer to land tigers that way. If its not a rubberized net the tail usually gets bloodied up and the fish ends up flopping all over the boat anyway. I quit using a net on them a couple years ago and I still have all my fingers!
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[fishnate]

I use a rubberized net for trout but keep them in the water. For me it seems to relax them nicely so I can remove the hook, lift for a quick pic and release them happy and healthy. For bass I just lip them unless the hooks pose a significant risk then a net might be used. Panfish relax in the hand nicely for hook removal. I like to net catfish cause they thrash around a lot. I net walleye too. I hand "land" sturgeon. Not sure there is a net large enough for them.[laugh]
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[JLW]

I use a net. It is alot easier to avoid a hook getting buried in your finger from a flopping fish....Fishon
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[LOAH]

If I had a boat, I would need a net. For shoreline fishing, I just reach down and grab the fish with some wet hands.

Most of the time, I don't have an issue with them freaking out and flopping on me.

On a tube, I slide them up onto my rubberized apron. Easy enough.
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[sinergy]

As mention earlier I use a net for Catch & Release I rarely harvest my limit ( refuse to eat freezer fish ) but seems when the fish is thrashing round like that trying to hold on to it does allot of damage.

Just scoop it up in the net, get your hook take a pic or measurement and release it back in the water.

Selective Harvest.
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[RockyRaab]

From my kayak, I use a net, or a Fish Grip clamp on toothy critters and carp. For fish like crappie and bass caught on single hooks, I simply lip them. I don't risk grabbing near trebles. The Fish Grip, by the way, is a superb product. It doesn't injure the fish at all, never lest go - and even floats.

Trouting on a stream, I usually just twist the fly out without ever touching the fish unless I'm harvesting dinner, and then I use a net.

Fish Grip link: http://www.cabelas.com/product/The-Fish-...738192.uts
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[TyeDyeTwins]

Net all the way. Won't leave home without it. The few times I have left it at home I lost some pretty nice fish.

You never know what beasts may come!
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[flygoddess]

[quote RockyRaab]From my kayak, I use a net, or a Fish Grip clamp on toothy critters and carp. For fish like crappie and bass caught on single hooks, I simply lip them. I don't risk grabbing near trebles. The Fish Grip, by the way, is a superb product. It doesn't injure the fish at all, never lest go - and even floats.

Trouting on a stream, I usually just twist the fly out without ever touching the fish unless I'm harvesting dinner, and then I use a net.

Fish Grip link: http://www.cabelas.com/product/The-Fish-...738192.uts[/quote]


Sorry, but it does do serious damage. I have one and used it once.
Maybe not so much on cat, bass or toothy critters, but Car and Trout it is ugly.
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[remo_5_0]

I always have a net with me, may not always use it (i.e small fish that I can quickly release) but I don't harvest fish and a net makes it easier for me to safely and quickly release fish unharmed (for the most part).

If you are harvesting fish you might as well have a net also so your dinner doesn't flop away!!
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[RockyRaab]

Flygoddess, I'd never use a FishGrip on a trout, and on a carp, who cares?

Placed correctly (behind the jaw bone and not compressing anything but that thin layer of skin) I doubt it causes any damage to a fish. Used improperly, anything can cause injury.
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[TylerKunz]

+1 on losing fish without one... Those squirly trout are not that easy to grab without a net and not lose it/let it get all banged up. Especially if your CPR. Just upgraded to a clear rubber net and will never go back to the old nets again. It just makes it so much easier
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