Better smoother knotting also helps with casting. The net isn't getting caught on it'self in the netting area nearly as much.

My hand measures 4" across. I don't want to keep anything smaller than my hand and right now and would prefer 5"-6" baits (Only because they hit them better when I put out mixed baits). I will say my net doesn't gill much at all except a few at the top. Better knotting means less gilling. Historically, a 1\2" net can gill those 4" baits and smaller where a 3\8" the 4" baits mostly end up in the bow or barely stuck and easy to shake down and it's the 3" baits or smaller getting gilled. Now if it's summer and you can get a bunch of those larger baits then casting the 6' 1\2" is perfect and the 1.5 pound per foot wouldn't hurt at all. The three inch baits can be gold in the colder winter months. The fish like the smaller bait but they never stay alive long in the tank or on the hook. But when that's what you can get and what they will hit then use a smaller mesh and take care of them as best you can. Most other times I'd drop 10 times and cull the 3" baits.

You go out and find schools of bait versus setting up lights at the dock so the 6' will work well for you. When we try to draw bait to us, when sometimes need all the coverage we can get if things are tough.