I've been using a 6� radius x 3/8" mesh net for some time now. I have trouble catching larger shad (5"-6") in Lewisville. The sandies won't leave the smaller shad alone long enough to catch a hybrid. I've torn my old net up and I am going to upgrade to a 7 footer. What diameter mesh should I get? I hear the 1/2" sinks faster. Will 1/2" mesh catch smaller shad? I may want to use smaller shad occasionally, especially if the larger ones are not available. What size mesh net do you Texoma guides use?

Bigdad are you sure you are using a 6' radius and not a 6' diameter? I think a 12' daimeter which is a 6' radius is the fresh water maximum in size. I use a 5' radius 3/8' net. Buy a good quality net like a betts from basspro. they have more lead per foot and sink pretty quickly.
good fishing to all!

Big dad,

I have a 6'X3/8" mesh and tend to get the smaller shad stuck in the mehs as it is. I personally wouldn't want to go with a bigger mesh or would lose the ability to catch those smaller shad. I catch big shad when I can find them. Usually 1 or 2 at a time but sumetimes I get lucky and hit the school. I think it is a problem of finding hte big shad and them not being ans abundant as the small ones. Ideally we would have two nets, the faster sinking big mesh and the smaller mesh depending on which size shad we were looking for.

redskin,
Thanks for your reply. 7' radius is the legal limit in Texas. I have been using a 6' radius / 12' ft diameter net. The net is an "Old Salt" from Bass Pro. Only has 1 lb of lead per foot. Nets w/more than 1 lb cost $85 or more. As fast as I tear them up, I think I may stick with the cheaper $50 net and ad some weight to it.

I noticed that Academy sells a nylon and monofilament version of each size castnet. As a beginner, I plan to buy a smaller size but was not sure whether to buy nylon or monofilament?

Academy's nets also show to be 1.5# per foot instead of 1# per foot, and they are on sale as I understand it right now.

But, 6' radius is the largest they carry, and their nets aren't typically as manageable as an Old Salt. But, I have caught lots of shad in them.

When trying to catch larger shad, many times this is more of a situation of finding them, than it being a net problem. Just my two cents.

fishwindsurf, I full well advise you steer clear of the nylon and go with the monofilament. You will have trouble enough getting the small mono to sink quick enough. The nylon will dang near float. And, I don't recommend a person go with a smaller net just because they are a beginner. I think this has more to do with how you want to use it.

In other words, the only difference in my throwing a 6'-7' legal Texas net, and a 10' legal Oklahoma net, is one additional fold in the horn. It's just not that difficult, unless you have a physical impairment, and you will be much happier making a half dozen throws with a 6'-7' net, and three dozen with a 4' net.

Thanks for the advice,

I will go with a 6' mono from Academy so I don't wreck an expensive one learning.

They have a 50% off sale at Academy and I picked up a 6' for $15 last Sunday.

Does any one use a 1/2" mesh net? What size range of shad will it catch? Does eliminate small shad? I've had lot's of experience with 3/8" nets but none with 1/2".

I would seriously doubt that the nets at Academy have 1.5# of led per foot, but I could be wrong. I finally broke down and bought a Cracker net from Calusa and cannot believe the difference in weight between the "cheap" nets and the good ones. The Cracker net is rated at 1.5# per foot and it seems almost twice as heavy as the run-of-the-mill nets in the clear boxes at Academy.

My $0.02...

I bought a back up net at Academy last night. It is 1#/foot and 3/8" mesh. 6' diameter. I'll keep it in the boat for a spare.

Not bad for $15.

Deal runs through July 3rd.

Maytag is dead solid right on about learning with the largest net possible, nylon being difficult and mono much better to work with, and getting 1 1/2 lb per foot nets being the answer to getting deeper faster. Nets with 1/2" mesh are difficult to find in North Texas I've found. $15 bux is an outstanding price for any kind of 6' net. the cheapest 7'ers I've found are at the Texoma area WalMarts, and at the new Sportsman Warehouse store location in south Lewisville on Hebron Road/FM3040-Round Grove Road the east side of I35 next to the new Super Target at the corner of Waters Ridge, these are Betts mfg'd nets and the WallyWorld nets are another brand not carried by all the stores. I am using the WalMart net now for the third time and am satisfied with it but it is a 1lb per foot 3/8th" net.
If I was going to spend more than the $25 range I would order a 7'panel net out of the Everglades outfit in south Florida that was posted about recently. They offer a wide range of different nets and the cheapest 7' 6panel 3/8ths- or 1/2" - mesh mono net was $71 plus about $6 shipping. There's the best way to spend your $80 dollars IMHO. A panel net opens completely flat and a one piece net cannot ever do that consistently no matter how long you soak it fabric softener. Check these Everglade guys out. Somebody here on the Forum, one of the Whitney guides I think it was, recently ordered and was extremely satified with their customer service and shipping.
Ron

Ron

There web site is www.evergladesoutfitter.com I recently got the 7' net and it throws great and opens flat. One thing about it is, it is much heavier than the cone nets you get at Acadamey and you don't want to have to throw it for 2 or 3 hours. But if there is shad below that net they don't escape, it opens wide and flat and stays open and falls fast to the bottom. Tell em I sent ya. Good luck.

A word of warning if you are fishing in TX though. If you buy a 7 foot net measure it! I got a warning ticket because my 7 foot NEW net measured 7 foor 2 inches when the warden checked it. Mono does stretch so you will go over 7'. I tied a loop in my main lines above the horn to shorten the net length a couple of inches when it is layed out.

ScottB

I use a 7' 1/2 Mesh 1.5 Lb Per Ft Net and would not have it any other way. I have several other 6-7 Ft 3/4 lb Ft 3/8 Nets that I never use any more.

I have no problem catching smaller shad. A lot of times I spend more time than I would like ramming their heads back out of the mesh from them being stuck.

Once you throw a heavier net with that bigger mesh that sinks faster you will realize what you have been missing all along.

Only drawback is that extra .75 Lbs per foot really makes a difference on the old shoulder on those days that bait is hard to come by.