Preparing A Cast Net To Catch Bait

Cast nets (casting nets) can be tricky to use to catch bait if you have never used one before. If  you have decided that you want to start catching fresh bait, or you have been using cast nets for a long time and have a new one. You are ready to get on the water and start catching some bait and get to fishing.

Sure, you can use the cast net right out of the box, but spending a little time up front to prepare it will not only extend the life, but also make it easier to throw, and make it much more effective at catching bait.

Let’s walk through the steps of preparing a net, and I am going to share some tips and tricks with you that I have learned along the way that will make the process of preparing your nets easier and much more effective. I posted an article a several years back on the North Texas Catfish Guide Service website about this, you can read it here.

The process I am outlining here is what I have found to be the best process.

Step 1: Identify The Parts

Hand Line – This is the long rope that attaches to the top that you attach to your wrist when throwing.

Yoke – This is the round piece that is at the top (usually plastic)

Lead line – This is the rope around the bottom with the weights attached to it

Braille Lines – These are the pieces of heavier line that run from the yoke down to lead line at the bottom

Net – This is the mesh around the outside that actually catches the fish that you are using for bait

We have posted a video that walks you through the parts of a cast net, make sure you check out that video here.

Step 2: Trim The Braille Lines

Almost all nets ship from the manufacturers with the braille line ends  much longer than they need to be.  These braille line ends often extend several inches past the end of the knot and the lead line. Take a pair of sharp scissors and trim each tag end of the braille line off, just a short distance past the knot (about 1/8″ of an inch).

While you are trimming the braille lines on the cast net, check the knots and make sure they are good and tight. If not, then add a small drop of super glue to each knot to make sure it holds really well. Just be careful and make sure that you let the glue dry and you don’t glue the braille line to the net (I won’t tell you how I know that!)

You can certainly glue all of the knots if you wish, but I have never really had the need to. I do often find a few loose knots though.

Step 3: Prepare Your Cast Net Soak

Soaking your cast net will make it much softer and easier to throw. Most people will soak their nets in the washing machine but I have a process that is much better.

The first thing you want to do is get some fabric softener. You can use any kind but the cheap stuff will do just as good as the expensive fabric softener for what we are going to do. If you are going to be preparing cast nets on a regular basis, you would probably do best to buy a big gallon of the cheap fabric softener (it will keep you out of trouble with your wife or girlfriend). They do manufacture cast net soaks for this but I have used cast net soaks and found them to be no different than fabric softener.

Get an insulated ice chest. I prefer to use a round  water cooler, like the ones you see on the sidelines at football games, but any type of insulated cooler will work.

Add a couple of cups of fabric softener to the water (1 cup will work but I like to add more because it seems more effective).

Fill the cooler about 3/4 of the way full with HOT water (enough to cover the net) This needs to be the hottest tap water available.

Put your cast net in the cooler and let it soak over night.

The process of soaking the net in the insulated cooler will retain the heat from the water  for a much longer time than the washing machine will and will really help with softening the cast net and making it easier to throw.

Step 4: Remove From The Soak

Remove the cast net from the water that it has been soaking in and discard of the water. Take the net and shake some of the excess water out.

Step 5: Hang The Net

I have used two different processes in the past, one has been stretching the net out in the grass and using nails to stretch it out, and the other has been hanging the net. I find that hanging them to stretch it works better (and is a LOT less work) but you can do either one, as they are both effective.

Hang a nail somewhere higher than the length of your net (if you hold it up by the yoke you want the weights of the lead line OFF the ground). Once you have a nail hung then take your net and slide the nail CAREFULLY through it just below the yoke so the bottom of the yoke will rest just above the nail, this is where it will hang and the yoke will support the net so the it does not tear.

Step 6: Hang Dry

Let it hang (and stretch) until dry (longer if possible, I let mine hang over night again).

Step 7: Go Catfishing

Once you are done hanging and stretching your cast net you are ready to go and start catching bait!

If you need to purchase a cast net you can purchase Cast Nets at Cabela’s.

Product Links:

Old Salt Series Cast Net

Betts No Spook? Camo Cast Nets

SOUND OFF! What process do you use for preparing nets? If you use this process let me know how it works for you!

Be sure to check out our other articles on cast nets and live bait like:

Benefits of using a cast net to catch catfish bait

Building your own homemade bait tank

What to consider when purchasing a cast net

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