nets sportsman or unsportsman

[gr@ssmonkey]

i'm sure you all use nets in tourneys(sort of foolish not to)but what if the net was taken out of the tourneys,what now??maybe teams that rule all the time might slip alittle and maybe guys in the middle of the pack might move up,landing the fish is as much of a skill as casting/locating fish/or even how you run your boat.BASS did away with the net along time ago and there footage of fishing is way more exciting than FLW,KVD(the all time man-he has nothing more to prove) lands fish after fish on treble hook lures,but he has devoloped a certain style if you look close,yes he bounces the fish like everyone else but before the fish hits the deck he has a special way of holding the line with his hand to take control till its time to grab the fish......no danger from treble hooks..just my thoughts,i know most probably like nets but think about how many 5lbs smallies got cut short of showing what there made of,i know several that might have ruled me but never got the chance thanks to the net

[Grandbass]

Being that fish care should be our #1 proirty I see nothing unsportsman about nets.  I see your point though.  I would have lost lots of fish right by the boat without one..

[Jason Ammerman]

I feel that the net is worse for the fish than if you land them without one. You rub more of the slime coat off of them. If you want what is best for the fish stop fishing with limp rods and 6lb test line. Get the fish in the boat and either put him in the well or let them go.

DISCLAIMER:
THESE COMETS WERE NOT INTENED TO OFFEND ANYONE OR GROUP.

[Grandbass]

Good point. I will remember that next time I get my "Fairy Wand" out... But flippin them in the boat and on to the carpet does the same damage as a net. I guess the best way is to lip em...

[bshaner]

Use a rubber net.  I personally dont use nets.  I never have, even in tourneys where they are permitted(seems to be nearly all tourneys these days).  I dont boat flip either except for extreme circumstances or if the fish is so small I can flip him up right into my hands.  I guess I enjoy the old fashioned way of lipping them right at the water.  Just something satisfying about it.

So no finesse fishing for you Jason? 

Just out of curiousity, are you bitter?  Seems to be alot of negativity looming around in the air.

B

[LGMOUTH]

Then if you fight the fish till its so exhausted it cant swim anymore so you can lip it, that's probably just as bad. Man those fish just cant CATCH a break.

I'm for what ever is in the best intrest of the fish and my opinion is use a rubber net. Its not the best(for scooping up the fish) or easiest to use but it takes care of the problem with rubbing off the slime cote. Just my opinion.

[Jason Ammerman]

I fish with a fairy wound once and a while but it has 10 lb sunline floro and I can flip any fish in michigan on that line without a break off if you know how to do it, Like grassmonkey said there is an art to it.I never carry a net. I just think that nets take all of the ability out of landing a fish. I either lip em or flip em. I have seen more guys loose fish because of the net than I have ever lost without it. I have not used a net for 10 years and you can count the number of fish I have lost on 1 hand in 10 years.

The net should not be used in tournaments.

DISCLAIMER:
THESE COMETS WERE NOT INTENED TO OFFEND ANYONE OR GROUP.

[smbassman]

Many studies have shown that using rubber nets do little to no damage to the fish.  

Getting them in the boat quicker with less stress does effect survivability of the fish.  

Sometimes light line and whippy rods are required for the presentation and the conditions.  

I do not think anyone is dominating tournaments because they are masters with nets.

I don't thiink they would stop dominating tournaments if you took away their nets.

And last of all - I have noticed a big negative vibe swamping this board lately - good call Bshaner!

[bshaner]

Many studies have shown that using rubber nets do little to no damage to the fish.  

Getting them in the boat quicker with less stress does effect survivability of the fish.  

Sometimes light line and whippy rods are required for the presentation and the conditions.  

I do not think anyone is dominating tournaments because they are masters with nets.

I don't thiink they would stop dominating tournaments if you took away their nets.

And last of all - I have noticed a big negative vibe swamping this board lately - good call Bshaner!

Agreed, I dont have time in a tourney to fight them till they are tired.  You can get them to the boat quick and lip them.

Agreed, that removing nets wont change tourney standings, except for maybe the guys who cant bend down to pick up the fish.

And lastly, hard not to notice something hitting you like a brick in the teeth.  It needs to stop.  Hence my positive fishing tips thread suggestion.

B

[bshaner]

Then if you fight the fish till its so exhausted it cant swim anymore so you can lip it, that's probably just as bad. Man those fish just cant CATCH a break.

If your gear cant support you horsing a fish to the boat to lip it then it wont support horsing it to the net to net it.  I'm not talking trying to do the Bill Dance and get it to jump a few extra times.  I dont have time for that. 

B

[karol]

 hey guys,not to be a "tv" guy but if you watch any joe bucher or doug stange both of them use a net and they get a strong release and good swim away. get a beckman or frabill that is tangleless and wet it first and it'll be good for the fish and you. just my .02   karol

[Revtro]

Personally I don't think it's really an issue of sportsmanship.  I use a net primarily because I have a bad back and having to get down on my knees or laying on the deck to lip a fish takes a toll on me.  So using a net gives me a fair shake at competing. 

In the interest of positive comments, here's what works for me:  I use a shallow rubber net. (the "Great Net" from BPS)  I like it because it folds and stores in my front storage locker.  I use what I consider to be a hybrid landing technique.  It a combination between flipping the fish to the boat and using the net to keep it from coming unbuttoned.  The net is more of an "assist" to allow me to bring the fish into the boat without having to tire it out all that much first.  Plus the fish doesn't have to lay on the carpet.  Seems to work great for me and I don't lose too many at the boat. 

[bosshawg]

always for smallmouth, largemouth goes either way depending on size of fish. i also use a shallow rubber net.

[fiker]

I also use a rubber net when I think I need to.  When I do, I make sure it is wet all over before the fish touches it. 
I too have a bad back and it does help not to have to stoop down.
Usually I don't use the net, unless it's a particularly heavy fish.  But in the few tourneys that I've fished I do. 
When my partner hooks a fish, I automatically get the net for him.

[Hooksetter]

I use a net about 75% of the time. I use a shallow rubber net and dip it in the water before netting the fish.

Willie

[djkimmel]

One interesting tip that works with some net material - spray canned rubber on the netting - for a not too big net - a couple cans will do it. I've tried it. Worked okay on smaller, softer mesh, but I had some rubber get off on my boat carpet. It did make the net a lot softer.

I went to a larger mesh last year because I through a lot of crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwater - I was having a terrible tangle problem with the smaller, softer mesh. Trying to find a happy medium that also works on long skinny toothy critters so I went to the bigger and thicker mesh - won't cut the fins like thinner harder mesh.

I tried 'rubberizing' that, but all the rubber came off after only a few weeks of hard use. Overall, the larger, thick mesh has worked better for me - I do try to keep the bass from flopping around like crazy in the net.

Several problems I've had with the soft, shallow rubber in the past - rubber deterioration so the netting fails; slow speed in the water so hot bass can be lost when net swipers 'try too hard'; exhuberant partners who catapult bass out of the net over the other side of the boat; and don't try to net long toothy critters or the salmon/trout type fish in those nets unless you want to end up fighting the fish with your line now through the rubber...!!! Been there. Done that!