Gill Netting

[heritage 202]

I just thought I'd ask those that gill net regularly what there preference was when it comes to using weights / anchors.....

 

I'm not looking to find something local or cart around bags of rocks so in an attempt to get organised and being a welder / fabricator I've decided to save a few pennies and make my own.Now,in all honesty I'm not sure which type to use so your opinion on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thankyou.

[Tiercel 6,986]

I just thought I'd ask those that gill net regularly what there preference was when it comes to using weights / anchors.....

 

I'm not looking to find something local or cart around bags of rocks so in an attempt to get organised and being a welder / fabricator I've decided to save a few pennies and make my own.Now,in all honesty I'm not sure which type to use so your opinion on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thankyou.

Do you intend netting in the same spot or moving the net around around?

 

The easiest way is to dig boards in to the sand around 2ft depth, with lengths of rope coming off the boards. Simple pieces of ply 9" square with a hole the size of the rope drilled in the centre will do the job. Pass the rope through the hole make a double overhand loop and pull tight.

 

If the net has a lead line then one tie on each end of the net is all you need, if it does not have a lead line then one tie every 10 yards of net would be better.

 

TC

[BIGLURKS 874]

I use trawling swords got a few scatterd about my usal spots never come out and last 12 year plus I've tried the board thing like tiercel has mentiond but tend too use boards for the middle of the net ie 50 yards would have two end swords and one board in the middle 100 yards would have 2 boards in the middle spaced at 25 yards just incase you don't set right angle and she rolls on ya but as for anchors really if you wanted too use metal a bar with a hole in and bury it would be your cheapest option it's just handy if you do it right the first time you can go back too the same spot knowing your anchors are all done just mind and attach some plastic milk cartons too the line when you pull the net in so you can find the ropes again

[perthshire keeper 1,239]

like tc said....i have and do use all kinds of things from paveing slabs with holes in them to hollow blocks..wheel rims..moleboards off plough`s scrap steel..fish boxes burried in sand..sand bags with sand and rock in...... but the best ive found if you can get them is the fancy blocks that go on walls with like a pattern their about 12inch square? that way if they wash out they dont rool too bad! but 90% of my nets are held by 12inch ply with a 3ft lenghh of rope and a single float on the end of it with my name on that way the other lads on the beach know thats my anchors (very different to my "spot" theirs no ones spot on the beach!) ive got about 20 sets of anchors in all up the bech for about 2 miles and at all tide hights and at diffrent direction depending if its trammels or gillnets ime fishing....infact our local beach has soo many net anchors on it with all the old ones its like a kelp bed in some places!!

ohh goody its nearly the 1st of december i cant wait to get em out...300m of 4-3/4 inch 50mesh deep gill net and 200m of trammel gear

[heritage 202]

Thankyou for the replies,....

They've certainly given me food for thought.

I won't be using permanent anchor points as were fishing relatively deep water & our fishing spots vary from week to week. I'm really looking for something that can be kept in the boat and attached just before shooting the nets.

The nets do have lead line fitted and I'll be using an anchor ( of some description ) on either end of the net.

Were using several nets and I hope to produce something that won't leave me feeling upset if ever there lost, whilst at the same time I don't want to fill the boat full of heavy , arkward items.

I have been using concrete filled containers but wondered if there were any better alternatives available.

Thanks again

[Tiercel 6,986]

As you are netting of a boat that is a different story. I think the best type of anchor for you would be home made Danforth types. Only do not made the holding flukes as big as on the proper Danforth, and don't forget to make a loop or drill a hole to allow you to fit your strops at the back end, crown, of the anchor, makes pulling up the anchor a lot easier.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=homemade+danforth+anchor&biw=1352&bih=632&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=7nYaVJ_rKaPN7Abq5IDQCQ&ved=0CDEQsAQ

 

TC

[Tiercel 6,986]

A little tip if you are not using a hauler as it can be murder if the wind or tide is against you when hauling the net. Get a couple of old window sash weights. Failing that use some heavy chain. When you want to haul the net if you can haul into the wind, that way the wind keeps you off the net when you are hauling. Do you have bull horns on the front of the boat? If you don't you will be pulling the boat sidewards as you haul the net. this is where the sash weight / chain will help.

 

Go to the up wind side of the net and pull up the anchor and replace it with the sash weight drop the sash weight back down in to the water, now go to the other anchor and start hauling the net, that way you are not pulling the boat sideways to an anchor but pulling the net towards the boat, as the sash weight / chain acts as a drag, it is a hell of a lot easier and by doing that into the wind, it keeps the boat off the net.

 

TC

Edited September 18, 2014 by tiercel

[heritage 202]

That's a fantastic reply....

Really useful tips there that are bound to make our days out run so much smoother.

Thankyou

[Tiercel 6,986]

Another tip is keep the bridles that go from the anchor to the net longer than the depth of water you are fishing in. There are a few reasons for this but the main two are.

 

1 It lets you set the anchor before you shoot the net. So you know for definite that the anchor is set and not going to move.

 

2 When you drop the second anchor you will always have slack in the bridle because of the depth of water and the angle of the bridle from the bottom to the surface. By having the longer bridles it ensures that the net cannot get caught up in the anchor as it moves and takes up the slack with the change of tides.

 

The easiest way of doing that is to know the deepest water you will be fishing in and make the bridles longer than that depth.

 

Here is a link to a simplified way of fishing bottom nets but it has plenty of drawings and will give you a better idea, as one picture can explain better than a thousand words.

 

http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x6935e/x6935e00.htm

 

TC

Edited September 18, 2014 by tiercel

[heritage 202]

Thanks again

That's really helpfull stuff.....

 

Enough for one day though....I can only digest so much info without going into overload..

 

There's several other newbie questions to follow shortly so brace yourselves..

 

Thankyou.

[heritage 202]

I've taken on board what's been said above about the bridles being longer than my max fishing depth,..

Its a good tip and makes perfect sense but I'm struggling to understand the tip on retrieving the anchor as I don't know the correct terminology as yet.....

Could you tell me what a strop is please,

Thanks again.

[Tiercel 6,986]

My fault sorry, bridles go from the anchor to the net. A strop goes from the anchor to the buoy on the surface. When pulling up an anchor it is far easier if it is pulled out in the opposite direction to which it is being pulled either by boat or net. A lot of people put a weak link on the front of the anchor but attach the anchor rope on the crown or the back of the anchor then if the anchor gets stuck the weak link breaks and it allows you to pull it out the way it went in.

 

TC

[heritage 202]

Ahhhh, I understand now

 

Going off on a tangent slightly..,

I'm just getting used to the components used on nets and couldn't help but think that a lead line would ( perhaps ) make a half decent bant cord.

[netrigger 568]

I rigged this nice wee 50 yarder last week ..

 

 

 

 

 

3z nylon netting rigged onto a number 4 floatline and a number 2 leadline ...

 

should get its first soak this w/end

[heritage 202]

That looks a cracking net..., nice neat finish.

What are the advantages of using a float line over conventional floats ?