Netting a steelhead is an art in itself. Obviously, if an angler is steelhead fishing by himself, there is nothing left to do but beach or tail the fish. But when a netter is involved, precautions must be taken. As in fighting fish, a net job cannot be rushed.
The fish must be clearly done fighting or you’re going to be taking a big chance. More fish are lost at the net then during the fight, and this is usually caused by poor judgement, carelessness or impatience.
Always aim the net for the head of the fish, as this will force the fish to swim into the net if he exerts a final burst of energy. By approaching the fish from the back, the fish has a chance to swim out of the net. Usually, you only get one chance at netting a trophy steelhead so you have to make it count. Netting in a current can be very tricky. Not only do you have to go for the head, but the fish must be facing down-river. By positioning yourself down-river from the fish, you can wait for the most opportune time to go for the net. Never take a wild stab at a fish. The number one rule of thumb is to never even consider taking a swipe, unless the fish’s head is completely out of the water.
Avoid allowing the fish to even lightly touch the rim of the net. Fish can gain leverage from hitting the rim, which will usually result in a lost fish. Make sure it’s a clean swipe, aiming the fish directly into the center of the net.
Whether on a driftboat or on the bank, observe the area during the fight and locate the best spot for landing the fish. Many times the river will have slow currents along the shore as they are obstructed by a large rock or a large group of rocks. When the fish tires, steer the fish into this area, nearly guaranteeing a clean netting. Certain movements with the rods can be critical during the net process. The person fighting the fish can steer, turn and lift the fish to provide better netting conditions. The fisherman and netter should work as a team, communicating the whole way through. As the netter goes for the clean swipe, the fisherman should apply a slight lift simultaneously to prevent the head from dropping beneath the net.
When fishing with plugs, however, be extremely careful not to get the other hooks caught in the net. This will happen if you don’t position yourself correctly, even with a long extension pole. I can remember a guide trip when we had a fish jump out of the water, attempting to shake out the large Rapala stuck in its mouth. The netter wasn’t even ready to net the fish, but had the net too close to the fish. One set of trebles swung around and caught the net. Needless to say, there was a lot of
cursing aboard my boat.
We have found that dark colored nets (black) provide less visibility to fish, eliminating many last minute problems. Silver rimmed nets tend to cause bursts of energy as the steelhead spots the net approaching it. The size of the net is important as well. Small trout nets just do not cut it and have no business being on a steelhead river. A large hoop is important to have with strong netting as well. For driftboats, large handles are best, especially those that extend. Different laws on size of nets vary from state to state, so be sure to check regulations. Polarized glasses are a necessity for netting a fish, as they establish better eyesight, eliminating the glare of the sun. Many times, this glare in the eyes will cause the netter to panic or miss an opportunity to end the battle.
If netting from the shore, the netter should attempt to stay down as low as possible. The fish can see very well and can spot someone standing in near them, especially if the netter is wearing any bright colors. Remember, never rush the net and don’t allow anyone to rush the net on your fish. If you’re fighting the fish, take charge and instruct the netter of the correct positioning and timing--especially if they’re not experienced.
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