Long time lurker first time poster... Does anybody know where I can get my hands on a quality knotless net for salmon and steelhead. I checked online and found a company called Loki Nets out of Knoxville. Any info on these nets or a local company would be much appreciated.

Peace

Any sporting goods store has them now.
Joes
Boaters world
Sportco
3 Rivers

Just check anywhere and they got em now...

Huh... I have looked at various spots and have not come across them. I thought maybe it was something that needed to be ordered. I guess with the new law more places will start to carry them.

Thanks

I've seen them all over now...Weird

get a beckman

I bought a Beckman maybe six months ago and just don't like the rubber coating. I picked up a Danialson replacement knotless net Sunday at Sportco. It's really deep but I just threaded it on shallower and trimmed it

Loki Nets has a rep. firm that distributes their nets in WA and ID. Call Loki and ask them for the number.

BTW, what I did this year was measure the hoop of my Frabill, then bought a Loki knotless net (tight mesh) and it fits like a glove.

Cost me all of $20.00, and I get the best of both worlds, cheap!

Mike

A knotless net was given to me. The thing is very heavy and awkward. It's like a regular net that's been dipped in tar. The handle and hoop are real nice, so I'm looking to replace the net with something lightweight.

Thanks for the input... I checked out the Beckman nets, and the Pen Fin Saver model with the smaller mesh seems to be the ticket. Also the Loki's Salmon and Steelhead net appears to be a decent net as well. My problem is that I am relunctant to drop $125+ on something like this without actally seeing it first.

If you're looking for a knotless net for the selective fisheries where knotless is required, Beckman does not have what you need. Even the "fin saver/pen net" has knots holding the "bottom" of the bag to the sides. Their dipped nets are a standard knotted net with a dipped coating which is to help keep hooks from getting snarled in the mesh, it's not to protect fish slime coat and scales. I do know that Beckman is working on a salmon bag that complies with knotless requirements.

Ranger Net company has some nice woven mesh (knotless) bags. They sell them as complete nets with hoop and handle, or you can buy just the bag and put it on the hoop you already have.

Okay so that brings up another question. The way that I read the new regulation is that if you put a net on ANY fish that is going to be released it needs to be a knotless net. With that in mind it seems like it would be worthless to have anything but a knotless net on board. Is this something that they are going to be sticklers on? I have no problem with it either way, most nets wreak havok on a fish's slime layer if they flop around at all... Staying on the right side of the law and keeping Johnny off my back is never a bad thing either.

might want to look at Promar Nets. They make a good knotless and you can buy just the sock and attach it to whatever net frame you like.

Knotless nets are required only in freshwater areas where "selective gear rules" are in effect. There is no requirement for knotless nets in "selective fisheries" such as those in Marine Areas 5, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, 11 and 13.

It's only a matter of time. Once again, like the lifting a fish out of water reg, I'd like to see the scientific report behind this reg. Preferrably a comparison between hooking and playing a fish versus lifitng it out of the water for a pic versus landing it with a knotted net. I'm just guessing but I bet hooking and playing the fish does the most damage. The commercial/tribal wings of WDFW must really have a good laugh when these ideas are presented.

Stlhead,

So far there is no scientific report. Why is that necessary if enough is already known about fish health and response to stressors like hooking and scale loss? Do you really need a scientific report that details the ramifications of submersing your head under water for 6 minutes to know that it isn't good for you?

Hooking location is the first determinate of mortality in hook and line fishing. If the fish is hooked in a gill, gill arch, or eye, it's way more likely to die than if it's hooked anywhere else. How much science do you need for such a simple determination?

Playing time doesn't matter so much unless the water is warm, and lactic acid reaches lethal levels.

Scale loss is the next determinate of mortality. Scale and slime loss exposes a fish's skin to infection. Salmon and steelhead have loose scales in saltwater and when they are fresh run into freshwater. Knotted polypropolene nets cause far more scale loss than knotless and rubber nets. Significantly higher post-release survival is a reasonable expectation. How much higher? I don't know. That would take a study, although it wouldn't have to be especially scientific.

Lifting fish out of water doesn't do the fish any favor, but neither does hooking and catching it in the first place. The no fish out of water regulation serves primarily to motivate the cretins among the angler population - and there are many - to not kick their catch up on the sand bar and let it roll around while they unhook it and hold it up for their hero shot photos, and drop the wiggling critter back on the sand, before finally releasing it. Sandbar contact causes scale loss and leads to higher mortality.

It's funny how so many want to see more common sense applied to fisheries management, but need a scientific report in order to understand the rationale behind common sense regulations designed to improve survival of released fish.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

check out Gibbs tackle for a selction of knotless nets in variuos sizes. Berry's Bait and tackle up here does mail order and they have a website with links to Gibbs. Gibbs sells lots of them up here and you will pay about $95.00 cdn for a reasonable net or $45.00 cdn for a net bag only.

Salmo, WDFW states that wading, anchoring and running a sled can hurt spawning beds. Shouldn't we ban these as well? It can only help right? I know the intent of the lifting out of the water rule. It's the "one bad apple spoils it for everyone" mentality. Along the same thought processes most fisheries should be closed because of a few poachers or snaggers.
Maybe no fish to be released should be netted, lifted, or handled period? I am not really concerned about the rule as it is right now it's what it will become. Myself, I don't need a net to C&R a fish. If WDFW ever had a way they have lost their way mired in little regs that have no real impact on preserving or rebounding fish populations. I resent where they are applying their efforts.
I better run out and buy yet another net, one I can net keeper kings with when I fish by myself because I gaurantee this rule is going to all waters soon.