While Fishing the Sol Duc with my good Friend Collin and His 10 year old daughter Sunday we hooked up on beatiful Fish. I just love it when the rod is doubled over and the drag is screaming for MERCY before you even touch it. This fish went balistic. We got her to the boat and Collin went to net her and got his thumb caught, on the dip he flipped the fish about five feet into the air, on the way down he made another desperate attempt to net her, but only bonked her again. For some reason the fish was still hooked. We brought her up once again and into the net she went. A couple of quick pictures and back she went.

Any stories or advice on proper netting technique for my friend Collin would certainly be appreciated.

Thanks GutZ

Head first! Always.

Be sure to keep your eye on the fish, and follow through with a smooth, easy stroke. Also, always remember to return to the center of the boat to await the next volley...

You need to net fish like The Kid does.

First off, get yourself a deep pocketed Beckman net. Great nets for those that are COMPITANT enough to net a fish! (Not The Kid)

Hook and fight a fish.

When the fish is close enough to net, plunge the net in the water and be sure to get the hook(s) tangled in the top of the net. Since it's a Beckman with that ultra-deep pocket, the hooked-tangled fish will stay right on the very top of the net and won't fall down in to the basket.

Shake hard once like you're almost trying to net the fish. Be sure to make it look very akward and not very fluent. That will yank the hooks out of the fishes mouth! The fish will then just fall over the net and back in the water unharmed!

Ok, maybe it's not the best of ideas to let The Kid net your fish if you actually want to KEEP it or have it around long enough to get a photo!

Parker I have seen that style used many times.

I fish alone often and have to both handle the fish and net at the same time. I've found it best to bet the net in the water before the fish is next to the boat. Then a nice smooth motion to net the fish head first. the more jabbing, turning of the net,etc.. the more problems.

baddawg

What about netting the fish sideways, instead of head first. I've seen it done and done it myself a few times. Never lost a fish for somebody yet.