How to Fish With Hoop Nets
Various forms of hoop nets have been used for centuries to trap fish, crustaceans, turtles and other aquatic species. A hoop net consists of a series of hoops covered by a cylinder of netting. One end of the cylinder is left open while the other end is closed, usually with a drawstring. A cone-shaped net similar to a basketball net is fitted inside one or more of the hoops. Fish can freely swim into the larger side of this internal net, but cannot swim back out.
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Instructions
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How to Fish With Hoop Nets
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Add an identification tag to each trap in accordance with local law. Every state has a ban or strict regulations regarding the use of nets for fishing. The regulations may restrict such things as placement, construction, timing, eligibility and target species.
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Find a legal spot to place your net. Get the property owner's permission if you will be placing your net from the bank. Hoop nets are designed to be used in bodies of water where the fish have predictable migration patterns, such as swimming upstream in a river.
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Place bait in a mesh bag or slotted box attached inside the hoop net near the closed end.
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If the hoop net is to be attached to stakes, attach a rope loop to each end of the net. Otherwise, tie a weight to each end if the hoop net. If the hoop net will be fully submerged, or if required by local law, attach a rope between each end of the net and a buoy.
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If the hoop net is to be attached to stakes, attach a rope loop to each end of the net. Otherwise, tie a weight to each end of the hoop net. If the hoop net will be fully submerged, or if required by local law, attach a rope between each end of the net and a buoy.
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Either local regulations or your own schedule will determine how long to leave the hoop nets in place. Usually, the nets are place in the evening, then picked up the next morning, or they are placed in the morning, then picked up that evening.
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Pull up the open end of the hoop net first. Using gloves, pull up the closed end of the net. When you get the net into a convenient place, release the drawstring on the closed end to retrieve your catch.
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Tips & Warnings
Modified versions of hoop nets are used to catch everything from lobsters to bait fish.
There are probably local regulations about what you can use for bait.
Wear gloves when retrieving your net. You never know what unexpected creatures or objects may have found their way into the net.
References
- USGS Fish Sampling Methods
- Book: Recreational Fisheries; John W. Sigler; 1990
- Book: Fish Catching Methods Of The World; Andres von Brandt; 2005
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
