Regarding fishing and catching fish, some people prefer buying fishing nets, and others find joy in making them. Nevertheless, if you are among those will prefer making their own, then this is the article you need to learn how to make a fishing net.
Learning how to make fishing nets
The first thing you should know when learning how to make a fishing net is that it all begins with a string. Understand that even the mass-produced fishing nets all have strings; thus, they make them the same way yet secure enough to be used for fishing.
In making your fishing net, you must understand that if you want it to be like the mass-produced fishing nets, you will begin knitting from a string. And the ideal options are either polypropylene twine or dacron.
They are the best choice because they are strong, lightweight, and top quality since they can resist rot. Fortunately, net-making begins with deciding the ideal size of the twine you select.
It is best to avoid purchasing fragile ones even though they are not expensive; they are not strong and will not last when continuously used to catch fish.
In other news, mass-produced fishing nets can be made with two methods. First, we will explain the technique if you want to make a woven net. But first, understand that woven nets are an excellent example of the most ancient fishing nets that caught fish quickly.
They are made with any cord so long as you have the right netting shuttle or net needle size. So you will need a heavy cord or frame for the bottom and top of the net.
Then you will need plenty of yards of the net weaving twine or cord plus weights though the weights are optional. In learning how to make a fishing net, the net is made by first securing the heavy frame or cord so that it does not jump everywhere.
After that, you will be weaving your net into the netting shuttle. Then, finally, you will get it wrapped under the open wedge and over the barb at the midpoint.
As you do this, you will alternate front and back until there is more than enough string to use in working. Note that the shuttle must be capable of pushing through the net holes you are weaving.
For those who want their net holes to be four inches in diameter but you have loaded your shuttle to look like a ball, it will not work.
Now that you are ready to weave, the following process entails having the net string attached to the cord or frame using a clove hitch. You are to make another one a few inches along in a way that you leave some string loose between them.
While you continue to weave, you should have some U shapes between every hitch knot. Once you have successfully worked across the frame, you can begin weaving the net.
However, to complete this part, you will have to work your way back to where you began. So, pass your cord into the bottom of the U-shaped on the left but leave enough slack so that you can create the ideal net hole size you want.
You are to pinch the bottom of the U firmly and tight along with the piece of string you successfully weaved through. Next, you need to throw some loop across your hand and leave it slack.
While that is done, push the shuttle around the back of the pinched area and through the empty loop. Pull them through and close them tightly to make the woven net.
If the above method seems complicated for you, you can learn how to make a fishing net by:
Loading your shuttle
In loading the shuttle, you will have to wrap the twine around the shuttle you use for the net. For those that may run out of twine before the shuttle gets full, it is advisable to tie the end to a spool of twine and cut the remaining tags on the knot.
The shuttle should be flat in your hand, while the end of the twine should be flat along the top facing you. Once that is done, you are to loop it around the center or middle peg of your shuttle so that it returns to you.
The strings must be laid on the same side but parallel to the end strand. When that is done, run it down your shuttle before flipping it over and running it up the other side.
The piece should be looped around your center peg and back down to face you. You should repeat the step until you run out of twine or the shuttle gets full.
Making the loop using an overhand knot
Here, the loop you will be making needs to be near the width of your gauge for the shuttle to pass through it. So be reassured about how far the shuttle can pass through the precision in size.
Note that the loop will hang at the edge of the completed net. We will be using the overhand knot since it is familiar and durable. It entails making a loop and passing the end of the line through this loop, then pulling the two ends to get it tight.
The formed loop should be taken from the knot and placed around the peg.
Placing the gauge
One thing to note in the net making is that the gauge will determine the eventual size of the net hole in your finished net. Each net that is made will start with a square, and its sizing will begin here.
Nevertheless, you are to engage in sliding your gauge up under the string attached to the first loop you create. It would help if you placed this loop on the peg so the knot would be close to you.
Then push the gauge upwards to the knot so that the knot gets to touch the top edge of the gauge. The string should be held with your thumb.
Pulling your shuttle through the loop
Here, it would be best to tighten your string around the gauge. To make this happen, you will need to recreate the tightness. Note that constant tightness means evenly sized net squares in netting.
The shuttle should be on the right of your peg, gauge, and loop. It would help if you pulled the shuttle upwards through the loop from the right. This will be through the V made by your peg, gauge, and twine.
Once this is done, start pulling down towards yourself, thus cinching right around the gauge. Then, again, place your thumb on the knot and string to hold them.
Creating another knot with the shuttle
You will need to repeat the knot because it is vital for the overall strength of your finished net. The more knots you have, the sturdier your cast nets will be.
This means you must take the shuttle on the right of the peg, pass it underneath the loop, and then back over. At this point, a slackened loop will be hanging underneath the taut loop.
The shuttle should be passed under the loop and up to the right of your taut loop. Keep pulling the shuttle and twine upwards until the knot that is formed is tight all over the gauge.
Removing the gauge
To remove the gauge, you will have two loops that will emerge from the initial loop that is hung on your peg alongside the remaining string you attach to the shuttle.
To continue the process, you must choose from the two loops. Understand that the two of them will be handled by the time the net is made.
Finishing the net
To finish up netting, you are to embark on replacing the gauge after you are done repeating the steps. First, the gauge should be slid back underneath the single string, and then you can slide another shuttle through the loops you formed.
Once that is done, pull the knot and gauge tightly before bringing the shuttle upward through the loop. After that, the shuttle should be brought under and over the loops once more.
Then tighten the strings around your gauge as you create another knot. Ensure the knots are tight because you will pull the gauge back to the right once the shuttle gets under and over the loop.
Furthermore, you will pull another through the loop to build another knot. It would help if you looped your shuttle through your second loop until the V shape forms.
When the v shape is formed, you can keep adding knots to the edge of the gauge to strengthen your net. Ensure you repeat the same procedure. Interestingly, when the gauge is removed, you will see the first square of your net.
You must repeat the steps until you complete the fishing net. The last step entails attaching a weight or wooden frame.
Binding your net bag or fishing net
Now that you know how to make a fishing net, another learning technique is binding the net bag or fishing net. It is the same technique that you can use for your big rectangular fishing net that you take to fish.
The steps are:
Getting your tools
All you will need to grab for this are two tools. These tools are your shuttle/your binding needle and, of course, your gauge. The shuttle will help hold the length of the yarn and place it pointedly so you can easily thread it.
As stated earlier, the gauge will determine the hole size that will be found in your net. Note that each square hole will feature four sides, each of which will be the width of your gauge.
You will begin this process by getting some yarn on the shuttle. The first round of loops should not contain plenty of yarn if you want a fishing net with a tiny hole. It means that the first round will have loops of half size.
Beginning the net
You can begin by making a loop of thread that can be hung on your door handle. Or it can be hung on the knot of your chair, wood, or a hook. You will need to hang it in a place that will serve as a steady hold.
As you begin, you will tie the end of your binding yarn to the loop because you will start the initial loop by putting your gauge under the yarn before making a loop behind it.
Your needle will be threaded down via the green loop and come out of the hanging yarn loop. You are to tighten the loop by simply pulling your shuttle towards yourself.
As you hold the yarn with your thumb, proceed by throwing a loop over the green loop and thump before finally threading the shuttle up via the green loop underneath the yarn loop.
Pull the shuttle towards yourself to make the knot tight enough and ensure you do not release the pressure of your thumb. It will be the first loop of the first row of loops.
Finish up the first row
To do this, you will make the next loop just like the first one, as it will serve as the first half of your knots. You will hold it down there with your thumb before throwing the loop over your green loop and thumb.
When this is done, thread the shuttle upward via the green loop and tighten it towards yourself. It will be the second loop of the complete row. The step must be repeated until you have as many loops as you need.
If it is a landing net you want to use to fish, it will be on a circular frame, and the net will be a cone. And if it is a rectangular net you want to take with you to fish, the number of your loops will determine the net’s depth.
You will surely find an example in any net-making videos to help you.
The second row
Once you finish the first row, you will ease the loops off your gauge for the next row. When you do so, embark on unhooking the green loop from where it was hung before turning it over to place the yarn at the left end.
At this point, you are set to begin the second row. The second row is regarded as the trickiest since it has no actual structure to the net. Therefore, you must catch the next loop from the first row, or the net will end up loop-sided.
The second row must start like you began the first row but will not be binding it to the green loop. Instead, you will bind it to the loops of the first row.
Please begin by placing the yarn at the top of your gauge. It should be done before catching the first loose loop. After that, the loop will be caught from on top and through the loop at the right. Next, you should tighten it towards yourself to form a new loop around your gauge.
As you tighten it, place your thumb on it before embarking on the throw-over-your-thumb thing. Finally, stick your shuttle via the loop of the former row, then draw it towards yourself.
The third row
When you have bound the loops on your second row, you can begin easing them off your gauge and turning the green loop to get the free yarn to your left. Again, the binding from this point will be way easier.
This is because the net can help you find where to place the shuttle. You can begin this process by creating a loop over your gauge, under the gauge, and catching the first loop from the former row in a downward direction.
Now, the loops will be full-size and easier to pass through. It would be best if you tightened it towards yourself, holding it with your thumb and throwing a loop over it. It would be best if you kept doing this until you reached the row’s end.
And when you get to the end, embark on easing off the loops, turning the net at regular intervals before continuing for as long as you want.
Finishing up
You can tie the starting loop in a tight circle if this is a net bag. It will become the center of the bag while the other parts get tied together in a zigzag fashion.
You can thread the loop along the opening to close this bag or have it ousted to a frame, making it a landing net.
If this is a rectangular net you use to fish, you can remove the starting thread by quickly cutting it and dragging it via the knots. Then, you can complete it by binding a frame of thicker strings on the top and bottom.
More so, you can attach weights and floats so that they can stand in the water. Once you have finished, you can use these fishing nets to fish from on a kayak.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
What do you need to make a fishing net?
Modern nets are typically made of synthetic fibers, such as multi-twisted or braided polymer filaments for seine and trawl nets and monofilament nylon for gillnets.
How thick should I make a fishing net?
Here are the specifications that commercial fishing nets follow:
1. Length: 10 m – 2000 m
2. Depth: 10 md – 1000 md
3. Thickness: 0.32 mm – 5 mm
4. Mesh size: 10 mm – 125 mm
You don’t have to follow them fully when you make a fishing net yourself.
Which material should I make a fishing net from?
If you think of making your fishing net, you will need to consider two essential parts; the mesh and the handle. You can make the handle from aluminum, fiberglass, or wood. And for the mesh itself, you can choose between nylon or rubber.
Do I need to make a fishing net to land a fish?
The simplest method for landing toothless species like bass and crappies is to place your thumb inside their mouths and lift the fish up. There is another equally simple approach for these species. The gill cover compression technique is what it is. Folks, this is how you land fish: gently guide the fish alongside your boat and then reach up to grab its head with your hand from the back.
Conclusion
In learning how to make a fishing net, you must pay close attention to ensure everything is correct. Fortunately, net making is fun, as we have provided you with all you need for the entire netting process.