One exciting species that is sought out by anglers of all ages and skill levels is the walleye. This species makes fishing fun because they are an elusive fish that can be very hard to detect when they take your bait. You must be alert and pay close attention in order to know when you have a bite and when to set the hook.
After hooking a walleye, you need to be ready for a fight. They are a very strong species that will fight you to the very end. If you’re not careful, they can work themselves loose and get away. Anglers enjoy fishing for them because they are such a challenge and they make a great meal too.
The best time to fish for walleyes is after dusk until about midnight. They have excellent eyesight that allows them to see well in the dark and this is one of the reasons why they feed the most aggressively at night. However, early morning fishing before sunrise and fishing on cloudy and windy days can also prove to be productive.
There are many ways to catch this species but one thing they all have in common is the fact that you can be more productive when you use fishing nets to help reel in the catch. The nets that you’ll see being sold on the market today are a lot different than those first used by fishermen years ago. They are made from better materials and there are a variety of them to choose from.
There are several things that you need to consider when deciding which walleye fishing nets to use. They come in a variety of styles and sizes. Choosing the right net for the job will greatly increase the number of walleyes you can catch each time you go fishing.
Three fishing nets to try on walleyes and when to use them are discussed below:
* The Teardrop Net- This one is the most popular style used today and it can be used for walleyes most anytime or in any situation. It’s considered the perfect all around fishing net.
* The Scooper Net- This net has a flat leading edge and the hoop is angled much like a shovel that allows you to scoop up the fish. This is an excellent choice to use when trolling for walleyes because it makes it easier to net the fish from a distance.
* The D-Hoop Net- These are used mostly when fishing for walleyes in the shallows because the front rim is flat and can set on the bottom making it easier to get under the fish without scaring them away.
Other things to consider when buying fishing nets to try on walleyes:
* Wide nets with hoops work well for this species.
* Long-handled handheld nets work better for this species than some of the other styles.
* Choose the size of the net based on the size of the fish you want to catch. You don’t want it to be too large and if it’s too small it won’t do the job.
* The knotless mesh styles do the least amount of damage to the walleyes caught in them.
* The wide mesh nets, uncoated nets, light mesh netting and the ones made from thin aluminum are usually best avoided when fishing for walleyes because you can run into a lot of problems with these particular styles.
Always invest in good quality materials when choosing fishing nets for catching walleyes. It would be a shame to lose a good catch because the net gave way under the weight or struggle of the fish.
Experienced anglers have learned that having a good fishing net as part of their regular gear can make their fishing trip more productive. Many walleyes are lost at the last minute right before getting them onboard and this can be very frustration. Many times the line will snap into or the walleye will wiggle lose as you’re trying to pull it from the surface of the water onto the boat.
This problem can be solved by using fishing nets to scoop up the fish and pull him onboard. It will take the stress and strain off of your fishing gear and make it more difficult for the fish to get away. When fishing in the shallows they make it easy to corner the walleye and force him into the net resulting in more catches.
When netting a fish, do so head first. This reduces some of the thrashing around and makes it easier to pull him onto the boat with little damage. It’s also a good idea to get familiar with the net before you try using it to catch walleyes. Practice using the net as often as you can. This way, you’ll know how far out you can extend the net and learn how to handle it in such a way as to make it more effective.