landing big fish

Hi all,  I have a kayak now and I need some advise on landing large fish.  I have been out Bass fishing so far, but now its time for a Salmon.  I was wondering how you experienced handle the larger fish.  I'm thinking a net?  Any advise would be welcome.  Thanks

Hi all,  I have a kayak now and I need some advise on landing large fish.  I have been out Bass fishing so far, but now its time for a Salmon.  I was wondering how you experienced handle the larger fish.  I'm thinking a net?  Any advise would be welcome.  Thanks

Big fish, big net.

Big fish, big net.

Bsteves speaks the truth.  I remember when I started fishing for lake trout.  I had a medium sized net, and when I hooked a big laker, I'd jam that net over its head, and its tail and about a third of its body would be hanging out of the net, and it would start thrashing around and would flip itself right out of the net.  I'd end up getting a lap dance from a big irritated fish with a couple treble hooks hanging out of its mouth, which is a recipe for disaster.  I was lucky and got a big net before I put any holes in my dry suit or got a hook imbedded in my thighs or other nearby portions of my anatomy.  So listen to Bsteves, and if you're fishing for big fish, get a big net.

I have boated four salmon with a lip gripper, the biggest was 17 lbs. Very dicey but doable and you better know where your bonker is. I'd recommend a net.

net.  big net.   but note that if you store it up in the air, in a rod holder for example, it will catch the wind like a sail and can really push you around.  for windy conditions, you might need a way to carry it on the kayak laying down, something to consider...cheers, roger

Hi all,  I have a kayak now and I need some advise on landing large fish.  I have been out Bass fishing so far, but now its time for a Salmon.  I was wondering how you experienced handle the larger fish.  I'm thinking a net?  Any advise would be welcome.  Thanks

  Question for ya Ry@n ---- were you just "lippin" the bass you were catching ?

   You probably don't want to do that with salmon. I have and had my hand and fingers ripped to shreds. Get a big net.

Big net for sure. I gaff sometimes when I'm in California where it's legal.

Obligatory big net photo

Your net will never be big enough...go big!

There are plenty of videos on Youtube of people netting Salmon from kayaks. That might be a good way to learn what to do and what not to do.

Obligatory big net photo

  Isn't that your small net Brian ?

If you catch a salmon, you need to be able to identify whether or not is is a hatchery fish if there are restrictions to taking wild fish. If it is a wild one and you are prohibited from keeping it, you should not land it if at all possible. In other words, don't take it out of the water. Leave it in your net in the water and use a pliers to unhook it and let it swim away. If it is tired enough, you may not even need to net it.

Same with sturgeon. You can not remove an oversize sturgeon from the water wholly or partially. Roll it on its back and pop that barbless hook out. Most times it is easy. If ODFW sees you with an over-sized sturgeon out of the water, even partially, you get a nice ticket. If they see you with any sturgeon out of the water for an unreasonable time, ie. to many glamour shots, you get a ticket.

Also, you are required to tag your salmon as soon as you can reasonably do so on the water. Don't forget your pen and know the number code for the body of water you are in. I have a small copy of this laminated along with photos of key identifying features of the various salmon. Sometimes they can be tricky.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/licenses_regs/docs/fishing_harvest_card_location_codes.pdf

Thanks guys.  Ill use my big net.  I have a Frabill with a 4' handle how long are yours? 

@ Mark Collett.  yeah I am lipping those bass and release

net.  but note that if you store it up in the air, in a rod holder for example, it will catch the wind like a sail and can really push you around.  for windy conditions, you might need a way to carry it on the kayak laying down, something to consider...cheers, roger

I use a Frabil "Powerstow" folding net, and like it.  I store it folded and bungied on top of my cooler.  I've gotten pretty good at opening the net with one hand and a toe while keeping tension on a fish with the other hand. Some people probably wouldn't like the extra hassle of wrestling with a folding net while fighting a fish, but I prefer to deal with that hassle rather than having a big net sticking up from my kayak catching wind.



Definitely get a net with rubberized mesh.  After spending fifteen minutes a couple times a day trying to get a lure out of a non-rubberized net, you'll be ready to throw that net away and buy a net with rubberized mesh.  I prefer nets with rubberized mesh to all-rubber nets, because all-rubber nets are a lot heavier.

I prefer a net with a handle about three feet long, which is long enough to stick in my armpit when handling the net with one hand.  A longer handle just gets in my way.  But that's just my preference.  I see a lot of pictures of kayak anglers with nets with much longer handles.  What length net handles do other kayak anglers prefer?