Ok need some advise for buying a cast net for shad. Believe i need 3/8 mesh but just guessing the size should be 7' at least ?
Thanks for your help.

7' is as big as you can use in tx. . You for sure want to get one with a real lead line...

Get at least a .75 lb per foot net. Heavier, falls faster. I prefer to have them at least 1 lb per foot, but a .75 will still work.

If your tossing in really shallow water that would be fine.
My nets are 1.5 lb per ft.
Fish can swim pretty fast. So it only makes sense to me for my net to fall faster.

Another cold front or 2 and it’s gonna get a lot harder to get bait shallow. If your serious about getting the right baits year round then a taped deep hole net is an absolute must. I throw a 7ft taped deep hole net with 5/8” mesh and 1.5 lbs of lead per foot year round. Without a deep net your screwed in the winter.

It all depends on what depth water and what size Shad you are trying to catch. If targeting smaller Shad in water say about 10-12 feet or less then 3/8 mesh and 1 pounds of real lead weights will be fine.

If deep than that you will need about 1.5 pounds of lead per foot.

The more lead and bigger mesh will sink faster.

If targeting really deep Shad then you will a taped net.

7 foot radius is the biggest you can use in Texas.

Most of the year I throw a 7’ 3/8 mesh with 1 pound of lead per foot. Late fall and winter I target big Shad and I use a 7’ 5/8 mesh taped net with 1.5pound per foot.

And just FYI, if the price of a taped net is out of reach or you just don’t want to pay that much, YouTube has several tutorials on how to tape a net-
I used gorilla tape and mine last a pretty good while-
But a taped net is a game changer-

Bank or boat? If on a boat, the answers above are spot on. If locked to land, I don't believe a taped net is worth it unless you have access to some deep water in marinas or something. If on land, the cheaper nets seem to be better as you will lose quite a few. The sizes given however are all good.

Bank or boat? If on a boat, the answers above are spot on. If locked to land, I don't believe a taped net is worth it unless you have access to some deep water in marinas or something. If on land, the cheaper nets seem to be better as you will lose quite a few. The sizes given however are all good.
Yo Steve!!! How ya been bud?

You don't mention if you're just starting with cast nets. A lighter (smaller diameter) net is easier to learn with and doesn't wear you out as quickly as a heavier one will. I think that's real important while you're getting your technique down.

Gato, and all, are absolutely correct regarding cooler weather and the bait going deeper (thus, the deep hole/taped net recommendations).

Have fun, develop your technique and know that you'll graduate to bigger and more specialized nets fairly quickly. If you don't tear it up, or lose it, it will still be useful in tight places or longer distance casts.

Hey Trent!
I’m hanging in there buddy, I been seeing you and Kasen are still pulling in some nice ones, that boy is sure growing!

I love reading this thread. It reminds me that we all went through the pain of learning to throw a cast net. Then, we learned the pain of losing them to crappie condos, stumps and all other manner of snags. I will say that it took me a long time to learn the deep winter bait lesson. I could never figure out how I could see clouds of bait that went on forever, throw on them and not catch a thing. Then I read something about a taped net. Mystery solved! I tried taping my own net, didn't do a very good job or I used the wrong tape because it didn't last. Bit the bullet and spent $180 on a good taped net and viola! It isn't cheap, but it is very satisfying pulling them up from the bottom and knowing you will always have fresh bait from now on!

Gotta have a deep net for when they School in the deep water..... Are shad up here last week was running 30 to 40 ft deep and I'm with el gato a tape net is nothing less than a miracle for deep water...

Speaking of cast nets, has anyone seen any taped cast nets actually in stock, and available to ship? None of the sites I've been to had any. 7 ft, 1/2 inch in particular.

Try castnets.com. I think they have them available? I just ordered a 7' net from them, it was not a taped net though.