Fishing Nets

Making Fishing Nets

Handcrafting a fishing net can be a time consuming process, but once the steps are completed and you can take a look at your finished product, the pride of creating a useful tool to add to your collection is worth it. The supplies you need can be found at fabric and craft stores, as well as sporting goods departments. A shuttle, basically, a wide based needle used for making lace, doilies and other household items, will be your number one tool in creating your net. The type of string you use is your decision. You can find nylon strands to work with or simple twine can also do the trick. Depending on the durability you seek, your choices can be from very thin lines to thicker, almost yarn-like proportions.

How to Make a Fishing Net

Much like knitting, creating your own fishing net involves a lot of time and a lot of repetition. The basics involve you taking a medium sized shuttle (the size shuttle you use depends on how large or small you want the holes of your net to be) and winding your string around the shuttle until it is completely full. Using a gage stick can help determine the size and strength of your net and is also a very helpful tool in getting started. Once you’ve established your first basic knot, instead of diving in to create an entire net right away, you want to create a dozen or so starting meshes on which to base the completion of the task. After the first few rows are created, net making becomes a task of repeating the same steps to create a mesh pattern that will later be attached to a frame and handle for use.

Fishing Nets

There are a dozen different types of fishing nets that can be used to trap and release fish. Cast nets are thrown by the fisher’s hand in a manner which blankets a small area; a hand net is the most common type of net and most likely the one you would aim to create. Other types of nets include stake nets, used for catching salmon, a trammel is used by setting up vertically in the water with three layers and a trawl is a large, conical net towed along the bottom of the sea from a boat above. Whatever net you need, with a little time and patience you can create your own.