Northwest Fishing Reports

I grew up fishing salmon and steelhead from shore and just banked or used a smaller net to land them. I've finally saved enough money for a new boat and setup and have a bunch of questions on gear. I'll start with a net and see how this goes. I will be fishing mostly by myself. What's the best type of net to use? Length? Material? For solo fishing? Where to purchase?

I bought one of those knotless nets from sportco and like it ok. don't remember the brand name. its better for the ones you release apparently. should've gotten one with a deeper bag.

Congrats o the new toy! I'm pretty sure it must be knotless to be legal for salmon. Depending on the size of the boat, one with an extension handle might be a good idea. I agree on getting one with a large enough diameter and deep. Sportco/Outdoor Emporium will have the best deals.

Knotless nets are advised but not a requirement for salmon. Check page 13 and 102 of the regs. If someone sees it somewhere else please post it.
I have both and mostly use the knotless. The hoop on my knotless is a little smaller than I like but I like the net its self.
I was using a short handle wide deep net and thought it would help to have a long handle so I got one. With the short handle the fish must be brought to that limited area to net it. The long handle helps to reach out but the angle of the net can be shallow and can be hard to get under the fish when you try to reach too far out.
I got my last one at Cabelas.

I guess I was reading more into it than is actually there. Plus, it depends on the type of fishing.

Page 10 - Fly Fishing Only In “Fly Fishing Only” waters,
an angler may use only the following tackle:
up to 2 flies, each with a barbless single-point
hook, not to exceed ½" from point to shank, and
a conventional fly line or conventional “Tenkara”
fly line.
Other line may be used for backing or leader
if attached to conventional “Tenkara” fly line or
at least 25 feet of conventional fly line. Anglers
may not use fixed spool reels, bait, or weight
attached to the leader or line. Only knotless nets
may be used to land fish.

Page 11 - Selective Gear Rules Only unscented artificial
flies or lures with one single-point, barbless hook
are allowed. Up to a total of three artificial flies or
lures, each containing one single-point, barbless
hook may be used. Bait is prohibited; fish may
be released until the daily limit is retained. Only
knotless nets may be used to land fish except
where specifically allowed under Special Rules
for individual waters. If any fish has swallowed
the hook or is hooked in the gill, eye, or tongue,
it should be kept if legal to do so.

This one makes it sound like a rule but...

HOW TO RELEASE FISH
Photo shows the proper technique of releasing a fish with
a dehooker without bringing the fish aboard the vessel.
Dehooker
(not a gaff hook)
Fishing Opportunity Depends on Careful Handling of Fish
When you need to release a fish, there are some special precautions you can
take to give it the best chance of surviving:
· Minimize handling by leaving the fish in the water.
· Do not net your fish – but if you must, use a soft, knotless net or rubber
mesh net. Knotless nets are now required in fly-fishing only areas and
freshwater areas with selective gear rules.

Regarding which net to buy: In my opinion you will need at least 3 nets. The first, a long handle trout/kokanee net. The second net, a medium hoop smaller mesh net for walleye/bass/smaller salmon and finally a larger net for general salmon/lingcod fishing. Most of my nets are Frabill telescoping nets (yes I have more than 3; been fishing for 50+ years and never get rid of anything...) but I have many others that work great for their given application .

Thank you all! I appreciate all of the advise!! I'm hopefully picking up my boat this weekend.

Last year I lost my net that I'd had 15 years or so. My boat was moored at the Everett Marina. I bought a new net at the tackle shop near the marina. I don't like it. It has the really long bag which tends to get tangled on rod holders etc. particularly when I'm by myself. The hooks and the fish also get tangled in all that fabric. I like the old ones better but I've looked around and they all have that really long bag now. I suppose all that fabric is supposed to help net the fish but I've never had trouble with netting fish. The new ones are just a nuisance.

Anybody know where I can get a salmon net with the old fashioned, shorter bag? The knotless ones seem to have less bag to mess with.

I don't care for the huge bags either. Lifting a net over my head to get the fish over the gunnels is kind of tough. I've been using the rubber nets for a while. Not rubber coated but the rubber bags. Much easier to look at a fish in a rubber that doesn't hurt them than loose it at the boat.

Ive been wondering how well the rubber nets work and hold up over time. I worry that the rubber will deteriorate in sunlight or crack from being folded over or scrunched up. Are they better as far as fins/hooks/lures getting snagged in the mesh?

Larry3215 wrote:Ive been wondering how well the rubber nets work and hold up over time. I worry that the rubber will deteriorate in sunlight or crack from being folded over or scrunched up. Are they better as far as fins/hooks/lures getting snagged in the mesh?

They are about as uv proof as it gets, had mine for 7-8 years with no signs of any UV damage. 0, yes zero hooks getting stuck in it. Just does not happen.

That sounds great! Gonna have to look at one of those as a replacement for one of my older ones that's getting ratty.

Larry3215 wrote:That sounds great! Gonna have to look at one of those as a replacement for one of my older ones that's getting ratty.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I like them but some people seem to have issue with the weight of the bag. I have had to listen to sniveling. I'm usually so excited by the time the net comes out I don't notice.

Ah. Thanks for that. Will have to play with it in the store