Have read about putting duct tape on the bottom of cast net about 4 inches above weights to keep the net open in deep water . Has anyone used this method and is it worth the time. Thanks lb

Looks like it could work

It isn't needed on a good panel net and probably ain't worth the trouble on a cheap net

I lost my net last weekend and am going to get a new 7 footer for the deeper shad I've been seeing . I have yet to catch deep water shad so im doing a lil research on this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Saturday I'm going to spend the whole day trying my hand at the deep shad.

Baitbuster or joynet

7' baitbuster in 1/2" or 5/8" mesh. Right now im using 1/2" mesh but the next ones I buy will be 5/8".

Remember with a 1/2 or 5/8 net you will get nothing but large bait. Sometimes it's better to have some smaller bait than no bait at all. I use a 3/8 bait buster and 1/2 joynet.
Read on the specs for the net as to how big the holes get when sinking. I think the 1/2 inch stretches to 1 1/4

Glad this thread came up. I'm looking for another good cast net. Bought 2 new ones and 1 lasted 2 throws before it got hung, the other only lasted one throw. 2 totally diff spots too. Dam the luck

Most of the time with my 1/2" mesh I catch more gilled 3"-4" threadfins in 1 throw than I could use in 3 trips combined. Id like to eliminate a lot of that and catch more 6"+ gizzards.

I do keep a 7' 3/8" mesh super spreader from academy in the boat as a backup.

Can you get a 7 footer in 3/8 . I like using the smaller live shad for hybrids and thr box fish too . Also will be adding 25 foot of rope to cast net.

Ok I see that up there cool I usually by cheap 5 foot blue ss1000 as I catch most of my bait on rip rap.

Baitbuster

I would say joyfish. 1/2 to 5/8 7ft. and a long rope extention. works great. you can use a bait buster which is better but you will work your butt off if you only get a few each throw.

I would think the duct tape would slow down the rate of the net going down in deep water but I could be wrong, this is the first I've ever heard of this, if you try it let me know how it works