I was taught by my dad always net a fish head first or there is a bigger risk of losng it. Watching a fishing show the other day they netted every fish tail first and it made no sense to me. How do you net fish?

Head first for me. I guide them into the net if possible. I can understand once the fish sees the net he will freak out and you might loose him.

Was the show species-specific. I know that muskie people, for example, tend to get into pretty involved debates on how to net those beasts. Same with Sturgeon.

I tend to not catch anything big enough for it to matter that much. I also do a ton of river fishing and am always contending with current, barges, ferries, houseboats, etc, on the Mississippi. So you just get the fish in the boat by any means necessary.

When I had my 13 pound Walleye on the line, I must have told my Buddy,
Net him head first, Multiple times. I always net my fish head first.
That is what I have always read.

Net head first. Fish can’t swim backwards.
Best to have net fully submerged and lead fish into it.

Another vote for head first.

The only issue with head first is that any exposed hook can snag as the fish goes in. This not only stops the fish from going all the way into the net, but also allows the fish to easily shake the hook. I've had this happen several times with decent sized Northerns and an inexperienced net man. I was using a large Husky Jerk and it had three treble hooks. At least one of the trebles were sticking out of the fish's mouth and hooked the net as it was being netted. Once the hooks were caught in the net, the fish easily shook it free and swam away.

I will admit that we were using a net that was probably undersized for that size fish, but it worked just fine for several other fish of the same size.

Now, I look at the size of the fish, the position of the hooks, and if any are exposed before I decide on how to (or if to) net a fish. I also bring a bigger net than I used to. :)

-RW

Head first unless fishing where there is current. If there is current I will do either way, allowing the current to help push the fish into the net.

Head first, and NEVER put the net in the water until netting the fish. They can sense a net, and will dart when they do.

Head first for us.

head first , unless it's a pike , then just bare hand it, (gill plate grab)

Head first.

Head first but agree with RackWrangler on lures catching the net at times.

Any way I can. Where you fish on the Mississippi?

Am I the only one the dives in head first and grabs them with my teeth?

yogi59weedr: "Any way I can. Where you fish on the Mississippi? "

I think this is probably directed at me since I'm the one who mentioned the river above. I fish pool 2 from the Ford dam down to the Hastings dam, with the majority of my time spent around the confluence w/ the Minnesota. I also spend a fair amount of time on the St. Croix.

nofish: "Am I the only one the dives in head first and grabs them with my teeth?


"

You must be part otter.

yogi59weedr: "Any way I can. Where you fish on the Mississippi? "

Absolutely - I'll net 'em sideways if it'll get them in the net and in the boat.
If they see the net coming at them - they'll fight more. Ya' know they can see under water - right?

+1 on head first. I get very nervous netting a big fish for my partner, for fear of losing it for them. TGO is wise, keep it out of the water until the decisive moment,

Head first, but make sure you're getting the net under the fish. I've lost fish and seen fish lost when the net man jams the lip of the net into the line. It's usually a harpooning type movement that will do you in.

Head first when I do net but I find myself netting very infrequently. I don't take a net in a canoe anymore.

The Great Outdoors: "Head first, and NEVER put the net in the water until netting the fish. They can sense a net, and will dart when they do."

Agree completely, and will add that once they are in, lift quickly, or they will turn and dart back out.