Cast Net Fishing: A Beginner's Guide

How to throw a cast net:

Mastering the cast net throw is a crucial aspect of an anglers knowledge.

• Wrap the rope's end around your right wrist.
• With your left hand, measure out an arm's width of rope.
• Coil it up in your right hand until you get to the swivel.
• Take two net coils (the size of these coils will depend on the size of the net).
• Hook your right middle finger onto the front of the net bunch, where the leads are attached.
• Grab the bottom of that lead line again and place it over that same finger.
• Grab the bottom of the lead line on that side with your left hand and bunch until you have about half the leads left.
• At this point, you should have the net facing away from you, a clump of lead leader in your left hand, and coils of rope and net in your right.
• Now, extend both arms to the right.
• Give it a try and then let go of the net.

How to maintain your cast net:

Is your net still casting as well as it did when you first purchased it? If not, try this hack to get it to throw like it's brand new.

You will need:

• Fabric softener
• Cup for measuring
• A tub or bucket large enough to hold your cast net
• Your stiff net

Instructions to clean your cast net:

• Fill your tub or bucket halfway with water to soak your net.
• Check the fabric softener label to see what liquid ratio to use.
• Put that in there and give it a good swirl.
• Hot Tip: Insert the top of the net first, so that the lead weighs the net down in the water.
• Allow that to soak for 30 minutes.
• When the timer goes off, take it out and rinse it in fresh clean water.
• Just hang it up to dry. Never dry your net in direct sunlight as this can cause damage.