Just hold the net still and let me lead the fish into it...then lift.

Literally had my coangler stab the net at my first DD. I lifted the net out of the water with the 6xd tangled in the net and a 10 lber hanging from the outside of the net. Thankfully the crankbait came out of the net and she remained hooked. I explained to him to just submerge the net and lift when I pulled her over the next.

In his case, he just got excited when he saw the size of the fish.


His biggest fish was probably about 3 lbs. Later that year he hung a 7+ and when he got it to the boat, I did the exact same thing he did, but luckily got his fish in the net. I then told him I just did what I always tell you not to do. In my defense, I don't get much practice with a net.


The biggest fish I ever lost was an easy 8+ that I put my hands on 3 times trying to lip. When I decided to use the net is when I drifted into a dock, she wrapped me up and broke me off. Now I rarely reach for the net when fishing solo.