Throwing a cast net

[HURRICANEBOB]

Why don't you post some videos of you practicing throwing that thing in your swimming pool for us to critique?

But please, don't be in a bathing suit when you do it.

Hey Tyme: something that helps me. tTake a 5 gallon bucket drop net in, fill with water add on cup of fabirc softner, and let the whole thing soak for a day. Take net out, rinse with garden hose, then hang net up out of the sun for excess water to run off. The softer and more compliant the net is, the better it will spread with out getting that dunce cap up close to the net nut.

I always tell myself to slow down when throwing. A slow even swing of the net helps it deploy without over spinning and getting knotted up.

Before every throw, check the lead line, and be sure you have no snags or leads knotted up.

No expert, still search for easier ways to get better results.

[HURRICANEBOB]

With the perfect thrower attached, how do you store the net?

[Tyme2fish]

Thanks to all for the encouraging words and tips.

I "found" this net in the Ohio river years ago. I'm thinking the previous owner got as frustrated as I've been and just threw it away. When I first got the net, it had an aluminum "throwing" circle built into it. I could never find a video on how to throw a net with this enhancement built into it until after I removed it. Wish now that I would have retained that asset.

I'm 5'10" and when I hold the net by the horn, it's about eye level with me, so I'll guess it's a 5" to 6' net.

artcarney_agr: That's one of the videos that I've tried to learn. Thanks.

peter: Great tips but I'm beginning to think I'm dumber than a sack of hammers. Yes, maybe I should purchase a smaller net.

No, not ever will I post a video of me in my speedos throwing the net in the pool. I would be banned from this site for life and several members would go blind.

[RoadToad]

No, not ever will I post a video of me in my speedos throwing the net in the pool. I would be banned from this site for life and several members would go blind.

Aw, c'mon man! I'm thinking it would go viral!

[Tyme2fish]

I guess I could ask MHall if I could borrow his thongs.

[stripernut]

hey tyme, if you are ever headed to the jamestown area let me know in advance we will meet up and i will show you how to open the net everytime, once you have it down its actually harder to get the net to NOT open. i throw a 10 foot bait buster green net with 1.6 lbs of lead per foot. the other thing to remember is ; even thought the net doesnt appear to be completeley open when it hits the surface , if it is a quality net it will continue to open on its way down. its just the way a quality net is designed to function. now, if you are throwing in very shallow water you need it to open immediately.
but i will be glad to help if youmake it down this way.

[Tyme2fish]

I practiced some more today (in the grass) and I'm starting to get the net to open. I'm using the "split the net in half,roll over the thumb, grasp the net where the the lead line drops,throw a loop over my shoulder ( I don't want to grasp the line in my mouth), grab again,roll back the portion previously rolled over the thumb and throw." This is the method on the video that artcarney_agr posted.

The net doesn't open to it's full circumference but at least I'm getting a small O on most casts. By that, it looks like about a 4' to 6' diameter.

I don't see any tangles in the lead line when I load but it's still hit or miss for me. I can lay the net on the ground (spread out) and there doesn't appear to be any line snags or other foul ups and it lays flat with no dunce cap in the middle by the throat.

My practice in this heat doesn't take long for me to get tired and sweaty loading and throwing. So much for an old,short, out of shape fat man throwing those weights in the air.

ENDEAVOR TO PERSEVERE!!!!! Even if it kills me.

Now it's Tyme for me to jump in the pool to cool off and mix a double bourbon. The sun has set and so have I.

[Tyme2fish]

stripernut, thanks for the offer.

[HURRICANEBOB]

[QUOTE=Tyme2fish;458727]
The net doesn't open to it's full circumference but at least I'm getting a small O on most casts. By that, it looks like about a 4' to 6' diameter.

Now is the time to get the conditioner out, and soak the net some with fabric softner. Part of what is happening is that the net has memory in it from being too stiff. As you let it go and it starts to spread, it begins to pull back together. Happens to me with Betts cast nets. So I do the soak thing and they go right back to a larger spread.

Second, experiment now with speed. Sometimes going to fast in the throw creates enough spin that it actually causes the net's memory to slam it back shut. Sometimes, a little slower wind up and throw is all it takes.

[the_donger]

It is all in the spin. The faster the spin, the more centrifugal force there is and the wider the net will open. Spin it like a frisbee and then spin harder.

[peter]

One thing to keep in mind is that it will be easier on the grass or by the pool than off the boat. In most cases there are restrictions on the boat you will need to get over, around or miss. So on the boat you may be throwing the net more up than you would on the grass.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Tyme......take it out of the box.