I def underestimated the difficulties of fishing alone in a tournament. I have a new found respect for the pros especially since they dont even use a net! Here is a funny story from this weekend.... My first cast in my first solo event I hook in to about a 6 pounder. Found out really quickly that coordinating one hand with the rod and one hand with the net is a VERY difficult task and seems much easier then it really is. Finally get this fish in the net and I look down and it swims out! Literally had a hole in my net that I had to sow back together at 640 in the morning.

Moral of the story is never take for granted a net man. If any of you have never fished a tournament solo I encourage you to do so. It can be a very humbling and entertaining experience to say the least!

I like the fact in a solo tourney you can only blame yourself for bad decisions.

I don't even mess with a net if I'm fishing solo. PIA.

I also fished my first solo a month or so ago. I wish I had brought my gopro along cause it was a cluster trying to net.

My net is always under a lot of stuff when I need it. I think it is bad luck to have it ready... The guys on FLW make netting look easy. Use the side of the boat as leverage to scoop them up.

Try netting a fish with a fly rod. Even more interesting!

Solo is a lot more challenging I fished a couple team tournaments solo last year, it would have been comedic to watch the first one got on a spook bite second cast was one about 41/2 lbs net was still in the rod box scooped it in and got the net out next cast hung another about the same size picked up the net and it was hung on both crank baits I had on rods on my deck. I lost that fish and never had another over ended in 3rd by less than 1/2 to move to second. That was my first time being solo in several years and it takes some time to get back in the habit of netting your own fish.

Congrats on the win too, you have put the time in on ray bob and it show.

I don't even own a net... If my buddy fishes with me then I tell him to bring his net if he wants one..

I stopped carrying a net a few years ago, not even sure why!! I fished one solo event at Tawakoni. I had two really big bites on rattle trap, only problem was they were catfish. One was 7 and the other was 9 lbs. Could have really used the net on both of those. When I do get more time to fish some tourneys, I will have it back in the boat!

Not big on a net either...that bottom jaw is a great handle. I'm sure I'll lose a toad right next to the boat now that I've said that...

I prefer fishing alone in tournaments myself just wish I could get out more to do so.

I always use a net; I have had several money fish jump off the hook only to have an awaiting net get them in tournaments, be prepared because it's going to happen sooner or later.

Walk back to the seat work her in close reach in lip her.

I hardly ever use a net. I either land them by hand or boat-flip them.

I HAVE a net... but if its smaller than 6 i'm swinging her 98% of the time. I have lost tooo many in tourney jacking around trying to lip them, IMO you run less risk of losing if you just get them in quick.