Netting Salmon

OK, I'm really bummed about losing my last two salmon to bad netting jobs!
granted, in both cases the salmon were longer than the net is wide and I didn't have this problem with fish in the 10lb range but there's got to be a strategy for dealing with this!

Who has the answer?

I've always felt if I get the head in the net first chances are it is a done deal-- always net head first.  Always use a deep net for salmon-- shallow nets are for trout that you may want to release.  If I am going to net a fish-- thats a fish I intend to keep.  Nets do too much damage to the slime layer on fish that protects them.
Knock on wood, I haven't lost a fish at the net yet.

Rob.

Take it with a grain of salt, as I have not used it on a salmon yet, but I bought a full-sized salmon net and took a hacksaw to the handle.  With the handle fully extended (it is extendable) I have a 3' wide hoop and about 3 feet of handle (instead of the 5+ feet of handle that comes on the nets).  I can collapse it by sliding the hoop so it fits in the back of my jeep without big hassles.

I feel your pain buddy. I've lost A LOT of salmon right there in front of me and every time is a real heartbreaker. I believe this to be probably the hardest part of catching salmon on a kayak... especially with barbless hooks. I believe netting a salmon right starts from the second you set the hook. You bring up a feisty salmon to the yak and your chances of netting him are VERY low. I don't claim to be the all knowing expert but here's the strategy that I've come up with over the years.

As much as possible I try to let the salmon make runs early on. I keep my drag as light as possible while still being able to control 'em. After about 5-6 runs I try to tighten the reigns a little. I'll try to steer 'em around a little and it usually results in a few more good runs. After they've taken place the salmonid is starting to get pooped. This is where I take control, crank down the drag a little and pull in the bulk of the line. Now when you see the salmon you're guaranteed to get a few more runs so be ready to let that drag loose again. Again, controlled but steady drag is what you want. Now you've got a really pooped salmon on your hands and it's time to walk 'em into the net. If it were just that easy right? When that salmon is almost breaking the surface you can count on some more acrobatics but this is where I wrangle and really control the runs. Usually about this time the salmon is jogging around the yak pooped and just looking for a way out. Now is where you really have to be good and relaxed to just lead 'em into the net. I usually wait until he's made a good loop and start to pull 'em to the net. The first 1' or so of the net is dropped in the water and if the salmon is still coming my way I slowly drop it more and more into the water. If everything's going good it goes all the way into the water. Hopefully it's pooped and swims head first right into the net. If not then let 'em make a run again and do the same. If I was lucky and he swam right into the net it goes skyward and I pull 'em straight into the yak and it's game over.

I've been really antsy when I first started and tried to bag salmon when they were energetic, swimming away, or sideways or something but forcing 'em never really worked. It usually bumped 'em on the side the fish flipped in the air and my lure went flying and it was all over.

I really believe it's one of the most challenging parts of salmon fishing from a yak and takes practice to get it right. There's a ton of things that can go wrong when juggling a rod w/ a big fish on and a freakishly huge net in the other. But if you time it right, bagging a salmon on your own is the sweetest thing.

Z

Oh!!! Now here is a fun discussion.

Last year at Moutcha I caught a lot of salmon.  I lost at least twice as many, many of those losses due to netting errors.  I also saw a lot of people struggling with the process.  So I have some decent thoughts here regarding this.

First off ... you need a big net.  But that has its drawbacks too, the biggest being that it becomes a bit unwieldy at times.  But the alternatives (smaller net) are worse I believe.  I had a smaller net at Moutcha last year and by the end I had resorted to just landing salmon by hand.  In Canada, you can use barbed hooks so if a fish looked to be hooked correctly, you didn't need to worry too much about slack line causing a barbless hook to come free.

You are at a disadvantage being forced to net one handed.  I like a longer handled net and I cradle it under my arm.   Still it doesn't always work well.

I believe there are probably better net designs that are better suited to get the job done with.  I've tried contacting net companies to share with them my thoughts, but to no avail so far.

The idea I have is similar to this.



The biggest problem I had was leading a fish into the net then being able to turn the net to scoop the fish up.  Inevitably the angles didn't line up and turning the net caused contact with the line which would direct the fist away from the net.  I'd like to see floats added to pictured net above the bend.  This allows the net to float on top, with the front dip extended below the water line.  At $180 this is not a net I would ever spend the money on .. .or maybe I should.  The thought is that a design like I describe would help with one handed control.  Then all one needs to do is lead the salmon in from the front and then scoop up, which is a lot easier to do one handed than trying to rotate a conventional net.  Maybe the offset should be to the side as often times you can't lead a fish in directly from out front and leading a fish from the side would be easier.

Anyways ... I'd love to hear some feedback on this idea.  Perhaps I'll just add a bend to a conventional net and add the floats myself ... time permitting.

-Allen

I likw the scoop-net idea, but if you have the scoop on the left side, and the fish decides to roar around and come in from the right, you're in trouble.  Maybe front is best.  In my usual fishing spots, the seals and sea lions are a real problem and we have to sometimes net 'em green or lose them to the seals.  I've learned to have me reel clicker off, as they seem to perk their ears up and look at you when there's a zzzzzzzzzinging  reel.

  In Canada, you can use barbed hooks so if a fish looked to be hooked correctly, you didn't need to worry too much about slack line causing a barbless hook to come free.

-Allen

...actually in Canada, we can only use barbed hooks while fishing for bottomfish, halibut, rock cod, ling - not for salmon! Salmon may only be kept if angled using barbless.

If you are keeping your catch, would a gaff not be a good tool to use for landing? Another tool could be a tailer...

cheers,
RVP.

  In Canada, you can use barbed hooks so if a fish looked to be hooked correctly, you didn't need to worry too much about slack line causing a barbless hook to come free.

-Allen

...actually in Canada, we can only use barbed hooks while fishing for bottomfish, halibut, rock cod, ling - not for salmon! Salmon may only be kept if angled using barbless.

Ummm ... sorry, you are correct.  I'm getting my Alaska fishing regulation mixed up with BC.  In WA it is barbless pretty much for everything in the salt, so I use barbless as a matter of course.  I actually feel weird up in AK using barbed hooks.  I guess up at Moutcha I wasn't worried about it too much.  You had to weed through a few that were turning already so I was concentrating on releasing them anyway ... which often entailed just grabbing the irons we were using and unhooking them.  We were catching enough fish that releasing was more par for the course than keeping them.

If you are keeping your catch, would a gaff not be a good tool to use for landing? Another tool could be a tailer...

cheers,
RVP.

Before I put my foot in my mouth again.  Is gaffing salmon legal in Canada?   In WA it is not and in CA where I also do a fair amount of fishing,  it is not, so I don't ever gaff salmon.  Regarding tailing ... not sure that's any easier,  but I haven't done that before, so I really can't speak to that.

-Allen

...only when used as a tool to help in landing a fish that has been caught with hook and line and you are going to kill and keep it. You may otherwise not lay harm to any fish that you intend on releasing...so no gaff for C&R fishing.

Great discussion guys!  I appreciat all the input!

I like your net idea Allen.  Seems like once you get the majority of the fish in the net you could raise it enough to scoop the rest in.  And with the higher sides and front, the fish would be less likely to flip around and out of the net.  But $180?!?!? 

Allen,

Go ahead and put your foot in your mouth, because in CA it is legal to gaff a legal salmon you intend to keep (or at least it would have been if salmon was open this year in CA).

Brian

Allen,

Go ahead and put your foot in your mouth, because in CA it is legal to gaff a legal salmon you intend to keep (or at least it would have been if salmon was open this year in CA).

Brian

Hah!  I'll just leave my foot in my mouth for now and proudly wear the asshat for the time being!!!

-Allen

I likw the scoop-net idea, but if you have the scoop on the left side, and the fish decides to roar around and come in from the right, you're in trouble. 

I was thinking that perhaps it would be symmetric and depending on which way you held the net the left or the right would be below the waterline.  The float would be placed dead center at the front.  Of course if the fish came in from the front, you could adjust its approach with the correctly angled pressure and net placement.

I have an extra net, so perhaps I'll just do this modification and give it a go.   And take lots of pictures of course ... now where will I get that extra hand to take pictures?

-Allen

Netting 20+ pound salmon from a kayak is definately a challenge.  First you need the fish at the surface to get the head up before netting.  This can be difficult because with a big fish your pole tip can be buried in the water then you have 3 to 5 feet of leader then the fish.

The first thing I consider with landing a fish is rod length and leader length.  I don't like to go any longer than 8'6'' for kayak fishing.  Next is leader length I use 30 to 32 inches for leaders.  Add a diver, flasher and a very small snubber line(sometimes) and total leader length comes out to about 45 inches. I can now comfortabley land a big fish with the net.

Sometimes I want to use longer leaders (5 -6 ft) but would not be able to reach a fish with the net. To solve this problem, I use the same 30 inch leaders with swivels on them.  They get secured to the mainline with a sliding dropper sinker set up. I then tie on a bobber stop on the leader side of the set up and tighten it just tight enough to hold the slider in place with the dropper line/weight.  when a fish is on you can reel up and the slider will move down the line reducing leader length back down to 30 inches.

Next thing to consider Net size.  A big net is good, I like a four foot handle for my rod/leader lengths with a large opening and a deep 48" net.  I also stuff my net handles with pool noodles so that they are bouyant.

As the fish tires I tighten up the drag enough so that as the fish moves so does the kayak. This really seems to do them in.  Now I'll reach for the net and set it down with the handle in my lap and the opening over the bow.  I have no intention of netting the fish on my first attempt. when the fish finally goes to its side I just show him the net and his fate.  The fish usally does one last run then he's mine.  To be continued have to go work.

I use a bigazz oversized bag (like super hoop, salmon sized bag) retrofitted to a smaller hoop folding net. I got that from Dennis Spike a long time ago and have used it with a Cabela's folding net to take a 30# (say it with me Jeffrey) trophy halibut*. This net, with the big bag added works great.




I've recently started using this 18"x24" hooped net with this 48" deep bag fitted as everyone was crying about loosing big salmon at the boat last year. I like the short handle because its easy to control near the boat. The next size smaller actually said it was a "kayak net" on the label.



 A couple of rubber bands keep the bulk of it out of the way when not in use.



It has a really big bag.



It must work really well because all oversized salmonids seem to know to stay away from my boat.



*32# halibut is a trophy anywhere south of the Oregon border.