PREPARING A CAST NET

TO CATCH SHAD FOR CATFISH BAIT

AND SELECTING THE RIGHT NET FOR CATCHING BAIT

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Following are the steps we use to prepare our cast nets to catch shad catfish bait and other fish for cut bait for blue catfish.

Cast nets are an essential part of catching shad and fish for cut bait when fishing for Blue Catfish. Part of being a successful catfisherman is learning how to throw a cast net to catch bait, and learning how to find and catch shad at different times of the year so you will always have catfish bait for blue catfish. Catching fresh bait is an important part of our guided catfish fishing trips with North Texas Catfish Guide Service.

During most seasons, shad are fairly easy to locate and catch but during the Fall and Winter when the shad go out to deeper water, catching shad can be a challenge and requires som skill and experience.

When selecting a cast net for catching shad, you need to consider several things, size of the net, mesh size, and weight. A good all around cast net for catching shad for catfish bait in Texas is a 7' 3/8" Mesh 1/2 or 1Lb per foot net. I prefer a little heavier net than most people use and like to use a 1Lb Per Ft or 1.5 Lb Per Foot Cast Net. I use Fitec Super Spreader Cast Nets in the Pro Select Series in a 3/8" Mesh and 1/2" Mesh depending on what time of year it is and what size bait I am trying to catch for my guided catfish fishing trips on Cedar Creek Lake, Lake Lewisville, Eagle Mountain Lake, Lake Grapevine, Ray Roberts and the Brazos River..

Using a bigger mesh like a 1/2", 5/8" or 1" mesh will typically do a better job catching bigger shad and bigger bait but the smaller shad will swim right through the mesh or get stuck in the mesh so you make some sacrifices.

I highly reccomend using the largest diameter cast net that is legal, which in Texas is a 7' Cast Net (14' Diameter). We only use 7' cast nets on our guided catfish fishing trips with North Texas Catfish Guide Service.

Cast nets will range in price from $25 for a lower end net at a discount store, to as much as $120 for the Fitec Pro Select Series Cast Nets like we use on our guided catfish fishing trips with North Texas Catfish Guide Service. One thing to consider when purchasing a cast net for catching shad is that you will tear up nets. They do get hung up on limbs and underwater obstructions and you will tear holes in the cast nets. They can be repaired at times when they are smaller holes but there are also times that they will be damaged beyond repair. Just keep this in mind as you could easily go out and buy a $125 cast net and tear it up on the very first throw.

Once you have purchased your cast net, you need to prepare the cast net for use. Preparing the cast net will make it easier to throw and also make it open better when you throw the cast net and make it perform better when it hits the water.

Different people have different methods of preparing a cast net, and I can only tell you what works for me and the process I use for preparing my nets for my guided catfish fishing trips with North Texas Catfish Guide Service.

The first step is to take the cast net and spread it out fully.

Go along the bottom lead line (the thicker line with the lead weights attatched) and locate the drop lines that run from the yoke to the lead line. These are the lines that cinch up and cause the cast net to close. These lines will be tied around the lead line.

You need to go all the way around the cast net and put a drop of superglue on each of the knots that are in the lines tied to the lead line, and then go back around the lead line of the cast net and cut the excess line off the knots of the drop lines just past where you put the superglue on the knots. The manufacturers typically leave anywhere from 1/2" to 1-1/2 " of excess line past the end of the knots when the manufacture the cast nets, Having this excess line on the net will cause the net to get tangled up and not open fully when your throwing your cast net to catch shad or bait fish for catfishing.

Once you have completed these steps you then need to take your cast net and fill the washing machine up with hot water and add 1-2 cups of fabric softener to the water and put the cast net into the water with the fabric softener and let it soak overnight.

Once the cast net has soaked overnight in the hot water and fabric softener, it will relax the monofilament in the cast net and cause it to be much more limber and managable, therefore making it easier to throw and making it open better.

When you remove the net from the water, take the net outside and spread the net back out in the yard. Take some large nails and go around the lead line just inside the line and stick a nail in thr ground and go all the way around the net staking the net out and spreading it so it will stretch and lay flat on the ground. Leave the cast net sitting this way in the sun for a full day. This will make the net lay flat and help stretch the cast net so it will be easier to throw and easier to open.

Once you have completed these steps, your ready to catch some shad or other bait fish with your new cast net.

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