What size webbing would you guys recommend for a cast net to catch bait shad for blues this winter.
I know you need 1.5 pounds per square foot of weight to get deep to the shad.
3/8
1/2
5/8
1
Thanks for your help!

i prefer 3/8,cause if all i can get is 4 to 5 inch shad i will use em. some like the 1/2 cause it sinks faster and wont hold the littleuns so bad. the baitbuster is a good net.

Not trying to hijack GG, but where are ya'll buying your nets too and prices if you remember. I will be in Dallas next week and need to buy another net.

Cabelas has good quality nets but I get most of mine at Academy---I tear up too many to buy the high $$ ones

http://justcastnets.com/index.php?page=joyFish
Good net for the money and it ships to you.

I use the 7' Bait Buster nets. It's a 6-panel net design that opens up a lot easier than the other donut style contructed nets. Mine has the 3/8" mesh. In the winter time, I'll take any shad I can catch no matter what size. It will catch just about anything in it's path. They are a bit more expensive than other cheaper quality nets, but less expensive than other brands of the same quality.

http://justcastnets.com/index.php?page=baitBuster

If you want big baits 5/8 mesh works best. The big baits I catch in the river are tough to catch with 3/8 mesh, especially if the water is clear.

http://forum.l a k e l a v o n fishing.com/index.php?topic=17722.0;topicseen

remove the spaces in lake lavon. Excellent quality nets at a good price.

I get all my cast nets from walmart. They are solid and durable for the money and I don't like big cast nets in my yak anyway. At the price I pay I pretty much consider them disposable when they tear and they usually last longer than the ones I've paid a little bit more for at academy.

I just purchased a 5ft- 1/2 mesh Baitbuster, thanks for all the help. I have to start with a small net while learning to cast.lol

it doesnt take any more work to learn to throw a 7 ft net than a 5 ft and you will be covering a whole lot more area which you need especially in the winter.

I think you would have been a lot happier with a 7'0 net, watch this video and learn how to throw your net, the 1 1/2 lb nets will tear up your shoulder if you throw it forward, this way you throw it like a frizbee, your net will open right every time you throw it just like the guy in the video, good luck to ya!!!

http://www.calusa.com/howtothrow.cfm

Be sure to soak it water with a cap full of fabric softner overnight before you use it.

I learned that last weekend. Found shad at 10' but with my 5' net I had to make about 15 throws to get enough. Could only get 1 to 6 each throw.

Jason on the other forum is making a bulk order joy nets 7 ft 3/8 are like $44. 7 ft baitbuster like $67