Cast Nets: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming an Expert at Fishing with a Net

What is a Cast Net and How Does it Work?

If you want to start using a casting net, then you should start with what the heck is this thing? And why would I use one? Honestly until recently, I had seen people use them, but had no real idea as to why they were using them. I certainly had no idea as to how to use one.

What better way to learn than to give it a try. Yep, we went out and bought a cast net to give it a go. This is what happened:

Click on the picture to see the YouTube short of day one.

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We didn’t catch much besides some leaves and sticks. But it was a learning experience, and it can only get better. I think we need to find a better place to throw the cast net. It seems like the fish aren’t schooling.

What is a Cast Net?

So… what is a cast net? Well, a cast net is a specialized fishing net that is used to catch baitfish. Yep, it’s that simple. It works by using a series of weights, lines and floats to create an enclosure around the baitfish. So long as you are throwing it where bait fish are. We’ll try harder next time to find bait fish. This enclosure then traps the fish, allowing them to be easily scooped up with the net. Yep, just throw it out and pull it back in. Why, because, cast nets are easy to use and can be used in both fresh and saltwater environments. If you own a cast net, you don’t need to search for the nearest bait shop when you are traveling. Just throw the net out, scoop up some bait fish and start fishing.

Cast nets do come in various sizes and shapes, making them ideal for all types of bait fishing scenarios. I highly recommend checking with state and local Department of Natural Resources about rules and regulations for using these before just throwing a line out.

Here is a link for ODNR (Ohio Department of Natural Resources) fishing regulations.

5 Must-Know Tips for Effective Fishing with Cast Nets

Fishing with a cast net is a great way to catch a variety of fish. Keeping what you are allowed by your state regulations and releasing the rest back. With the right technique and knowledge, you can catch more fish in less time. I know tips coming from someone who recently learned what a cast net is. I did my research and we’ve been going out and implementing the top tips and tricks.

That being said, here are five must-know tips for effectively fishing with a cast net.

1. Know the wind direction.
2. Never tie it tight to your wrist.
3. Throw that perfect circle.
4. Pay attention to when it hits bottom.
5. Coil the rope as you pull it in.

1. Wind Direction

Why is wind direction so important? Well, for the same reason you should NEVER to pee into the wind. You don’t want to end up wet, if you can help it. Also, throwing into the wind may prevent you from getting out far enough to catch the shad you are trying to catch. The wind can also impede the cast net from opening into that “perfect circle”.

Durring our first outing I ended up getting wet the first few throws, but I was the person standing downwind from him throwing the net. Taking pictures and videos for our socials and learning a thing or two to write this blog.

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2. Never tie it tight to your wrist

You want to secure the net to your person, but never tie it so tight that you can’t quickly remove it in case of an emergency. You got to remember you are throwing something into the water that could get hung up or snagged on something. And the last thing you want to worry about is being drug under water without your consent (consent is everything).

Now you might be asking, then what can I do? I don’t want to be the idiot that throws the entire net and line into the water. We all know that person that gets too excited and ends up throwing the remote at the TV. DON’T BE THAT PERSON.

There are a few things you can do so you don’t end up being the guy with the I went down with the net story.

1. You can loop it around your wrist but not tied. Most nets come with an adjustable hand loop. Loop it, don’t knot it.

2. Slip knot the line. This will allow it to be connected to you, but easily removed in emergency situations.

3. Get a line with a velcro strap at the end, like we did. This will allow you have the line secure to your person, while having a safe and fast way to release it from your body, if an emergency should happen.

3. Throw that perfect circle

Sadly, I cannot tell you how to throw that perfect circle. It is not something you can really read about. It is more something that you must practice, over and over again. With time you will get that net to open beautifully almost every throw. There are countless YouTube video tutorials and wikihow page on this. Feel free to do the research and find a method that words best for you.

Because, learning how to throw and acheive that fully open circle is critical. Anyone can learn to throw a net, but many miss the critical step of getting the net to open fully. It is a great feeling the first time that sucker hits the water and leaves a beautiful ring.

So great, we forgot to pull pay attention and pull it in quickly.

Once you figure out your throw, you’ll need the net to open all the way in a “perfect circle”, so that you are covering as much water as possible. If you’re using a seven-foot cast net that only opens halfway when thrown, you’re no better off than you would be throwing a four foot cast net.

You want the net open as far as she will go when it hits the water so you can cover as much water as possible as it begins to sink. The deeper the water you’re throwing in the more critical this becomes.

4. Pay attention to when is hits bottom

When you throw the cast net into the water you want to pay attention to what is happening with the net and notice the feel of when it hits the bottom. Do this by keeping tension on the line.

As soon as the tension lets up, you have reached the bottom and there is NO TIME TO WASTE. Give the rope a hard tug to close the net and start pulling it back in. That hard tug and pull will quickly close the net and trap the glorious silver shad in the net. Keep the line moving all the way to the shore. Don’t give the little guys a chance to escape.

5. Coil the rope as you pull it back in

You would think this is a no brainer…. a common sense thing. But comom sense isn’t so common anymore and well everything needs to be said these days so here it is. Just like using a garden hose, coil it back up when you are done.

In this case, each time you bring the net back in you’ll want to coil it back into your hand. Why you might ask? Well, let me tell you. So, you are basically set up to throw the line again once you bring it in, and hopefully empty the bait.

This will also keep the line from tangling and/or knotting up. I can see it now, the next remember when story. Remember when your feet got tangled in the cast net line and you fell into the water with the net still tied to your wrist and I had to pull you up by the weights. Oh…. good times!!!

6. (BONUS) Always keep the bait container nearby

Okay so picture this…. you have looped the strap to your wrist. Got that perfect circle throw for the first time. Kept great tension on the line and just as the net hit the bottom you gave a hard tug and brought up some of the best looking shad you’ve ever laid eyes on. You turn around to empty the net, and the bait bucket is back in the truck and half mile up the road. Now what do you do? Yep…. Get to walking.

Whether you intend to keep your bait alive or freeze it for later use, make sure you have a container nearby. A cheap bucket works perfectly. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Heck, you want to get fancy, get a bucket with rope handles on the sides and a cushion lid. Easy to carry and a comfy seat when not open.

As an added bonus you can use this bucket to store the cast net in when you are not using it. Here’s a little tip I picked up: throw the cast net over the bucket when draining the water. This will keep the shad from jumping out and freeing themselves or getting all over the ground, boat deck, or wherever you are when you do this.

Understanding the Different Types & Styles of Cast Nets

All cast nets follow the same general setup. There are a few variations, these include: length, mesh size, and weight.

Length

The length is technically the radius of the cast net. Remember that elementary math class? Yeah, neither do I so here it is. The net will be twice as wide when it is open. Example: a 6ft (1.83m) cast net will unfold into a 12ft (3.66m) across circle. Hope that helps explain that a little better.

The length of the cast net is the distance between the horn and the lead line (see photo above).

Smaller cast nets will be easier to throw, however you will catch less bait fish with each throw. Small net = a small amount per haul.

Larger cast nets are more challenging to throw, take a little more time to master, but the time and effort is rewarded with a larger haul per throw. Large net = larger amount per haul.

That it! I suppose that’s it, IF you have found a great spot to catch shad.

The smallest nest can be found around 4ft long and are ideal for children who are just starting out or learning to throw a cast net. Typically, you want to go with a medium length. That’s something around 6ft – 8ft, these can be used in most states and are easy beginner cast nets. However cast nets can get upwards of 14ft (that’s 24ft opened), but I do not recommend this for starting out, and most states don’t allow over 10ft.

Mesh Size

Mesh size can be measured in two ways, knot to knot and stretched mesh. It is more common to see knot to knot. This is measured along one side of the mesh squares and you can see the net labeled as “SQ.” You won’t normally see the stretched mesh measurement, however for educational purposes, this is measured from end to end of the diamond shapes seen in the net. If they have this type of measurement, they will be labeled “STR” and it typically comes out to be double the size of the SQ.

Most mesh sizes are 3/8 of an inch to 1 inch. Mesh that is too large can allow your fish to escape or worse, get stuck in the netting. Causing damage to the net and the fish. On the other side, mesh that is too small will catch big bait, but at what cost? Picking up sand and debris, ripping and tearing at the cast net. Here is a quick guide to cast net mesh sizes.

Weight

The weight of the cast net is normally measured in pounds per foot. This means a 6ft long net weighs roughly 6 pounds. When you see advertised weight, it’s referring to the lead weights along the lead line. Meaning the entire net will weigh more than what you see on the packaging.

What makes the weight so important? You see, the weight of the net determines how quickly the cast net sinks to the bottom. In a world where faster is better this is no different.

FASTER IS BETTER

The slower the cast net sinks, the more the net will close before it reaches its desired depth, ideally the bottom. In a perfect situation, the net will sink to the bottom quickly and remain open to the bottom to capture the most amount of bait fish.

Don’t go adding weight to you net, however. A heavy net is more difficult to throw and will tire you out more quickly. A lighter net is best for more shallow waters. The weight of the net is most important in deeper water.

The ideal weight will be 1lb – 1.5lbs per foot of net length.

Where to Buy a Cast Net

Disclaimer: This is an affiliate links. Meaning I get a kickback if you click the link and purchase the item. This does not add any additional cost to you. This is a service that we provide, with researching and trying out different types of cast nets.

Okay… that is out of the way.

The net we purchased for this was from Walmart.

America’s Best – Super Supreme Cast Net

This was the first net we tried out and it was easy to throw because it’s not too big or complicated. In fact, it is child sized, so our children will be using them shortly. It is also the only one available to pick up at our local store. Making it easily accessible. It was light weight and held bait fish well. However, it is on the smaller side for catching quantity, but there are additional sizes available to ship directly to you.

Hey, would you mind letting minnow what you think about this one? Leave a comment below and help us grow!

If you want to learn more about the best rated cast nets check out this blog post on the 5 most highly rated cast nets.

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