Step-by-step guide to net making for beginners

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Step-by-step guide to net making for beginners

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Does this mean that you are going to take up a spot of net making?

Javier Casanova on 19/09/2019 at 19:47 said:

Very good, Thank you very much for the videos… I have a question for you.. I want to make a rectangular net, with 4×4 meshes to catch raptors, how many knots (Loop ) should I make to give it the height of 3 feet( 36 Inch ) which is what I want?. Sincerely Javier C.

Martin on 12/04/2020 at 22:59 said:

Absolutely brilliant tutorials, really helped me a lot. I’m not sure what I currently prefer, making nets or netting needles

Contents

Step-by-step guide to net making for beginners

The Basics of Making Fish Net and 3 Techniques to Try

How Do You Fish with Nets?

3 Different Methods of Making Nets

Knotter on 14/04/2020 at 07:50 said:

You have just reminded me, that I really ought to have a go at making my own netting needles. I would like to think that over time and making a few nets, they will end up with a lovely polished patina. Thanks for taking the time to view and also make a comment, very much appreciated.

John Beamish on 28/05/2020 at 08:30 said:

Hi Great demo. I am having trouble when casting on. The clove hitch tends to loosen when I am working around the metal ring. This is also aggravated because earlier loops start to rotate around the ring as I pull a new loop tight on the ring.
I have tried putting an extra lock-off on each clove hitch (as was done on the last lock-off of the first row) – but this comes loose because the whole knot is not in tension.
Is there another knot that can be used instead that can be used.
Regards John Beamish

Knotter on 28/05/2020 at 11:00 said:

Hello John, I think it may be the type of twine that your are using. Even with the stuff that I used, I do sometimes get a bit of slippage on the knot when casting on. I personally dress it as best I can as I go along. Once I get to doing the next row, the tension seems to sort them out to the right length. I am not sure if there is another knot that can be used (well, that I know of). Part of the problem may be that the rings are so smooth, I wonder if spraying them with a bit of hair spray before hand, would make them more tacky for a short period? Thanks for taking the time to make a comment, very much appreciated. Kind regards, John

Tatic on 12/09/2020 at 08:04 said:

How to calculate the twine length needed if netting a 2000 mm x 1000 mm net with 60 mm x 60 mm loops? I intend to use elastic cords to have a large net pocket under the hard top of a boat.

The Basics of Making Fish Net and 3 Techniques to Try

Finn Robinson is a landscape designer and outdoor fitness practitioner from Devon, UK. He works with international clients to create edible and medicinal gardens, drawing upon his nearly two decades of experience with landscaping, rural and urban farming, and heritage property maintenance. During the down season, he helps avid gardeners stay healthy with restorative yoga and strength training.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on my journey towards self-sufficiency, it’s that it’s good to know a variety of fishing techniques. We’ve already covered the awesomeness that is making fish traps, but what about nets?

These are easy to put together, and even easier to use. Read on to learn about three different basic net-making techniques: woven nets, tied nets, and knit/crochet nets.

How Do You Fish with Nets?

Okay, this is where I crack my knuckles and get typing in earnest. There are several different ways to fish with nets, and each one has its pros and cons. Some types are active while others are passive. This means that you’ll have to engage directly with the former to catch your fish, and with the latter, you can just leave a net somewhere and come back to it later.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common net-fishing techniques to illustrate this point.

Drag Net

No, not the classic police drama series. A drag net is rather self-explanatory in that you drag it along the bottom of wherever you’re fishing. You need to attach weights to the edge of the net’s bottom for it to be effective. Otherwise, it’ll just glide behind you like a cape. This catches fish as you pull (trawl) it behind you.

Use this method if you’re using a small boat to catch your fish.

Coracle Net

Similar idea to the one above, only it’s dragged between two small boats. Once you’ve caught some fish, you bring the boats together and draw the net closed. This is a great technique if you and some friends have found a big shoal and you’re keen to work together to harvest it.

It’s also ideal for collecting a lot of fish at once, for when you’re making things like canned fish soups, or drying it for harðfiskur (Icelandic-style dried fish: great for storing long term!).

Seine Net

This is a similar technique to a drag net, only it’s done with two people, rather than behind a boat. The net’s bottom is weighted, and then it’s stretched out in a fish-dense area. The fisherpeople then trawl with it and eventually move together to ensnare the catch. A strong woven net is perfect for this method.

Check out this video as an example of how it works:

These are thrown out over a shoal of fish. Sometimes they catch several of them, but the technique can be hit or miss, and it only really works well for really dense shoals. Woven or tied nets are great for this method.

Hand Nets

As their name should imply, these are nets you use by hand. You attach a bag-like net to a handle and then swoosh it through the water, trapping any fish swimming nearby. One of the easiest ways to make these is by repurposing old, broken badminton or tennis rackets. I’d use a crocheted or fine tied net for this.

3 Different Methods of Making Nets

There are many waves to make nets, and each is suited to various techniques.

1. Woven Nets

This is one of the most common, ancient types of fishing net. You can make these with any type of cord or twine, provided that you have a netting shuttle (or net needle) that’s the right size.

What You’ll Need:

Heavy cord or other frame for the top and bottom of your net
Several yards of the net weaving cord or twine of your choice
A netting shuttle/needle
Weights (optional)

Secure the heavy cord or frame somewhere so you can work without it jumping all over the place.

Next, take the material you’ll be weaving your net from. Load this onto your netting shuttle by wrapping it underneath into the open wedge, then over the barb at the midpoint. Do this alternating front and back until you have enough string to work with.

Keep in mind that the shuttle will have to be able to push through the holes you’re weaving. If you want your net holes to be 4″ in diameter, and you’ve loaded the shuttle so it looks like a football, it’s not going to work.

Start Weaving

Attach your net string to the frame or cord with a clove hitch. Then make another a few inches along, leaving a bit of string loose between them. As you keep working, you should have what looks like a bunch of “U” shapes between each hitch knot.

Once you’ve worked your way across your frame, it’s time to start weaving the net. You’ll be working your way back and forth, so for this row, you’re working back towards where you started. Pass the cord into the bottom of the U shape to the left, leaving enough slack to create the size net hole that you want. Then pinch the bottom of the U tightly, along with the piece of string you just wove through.

Throw a bit of loop across your hand, leaving it slack. Then push your shuttle around the back of the pinched bit, and up through that empty loop. Pull it through, drawing it closed tightly.

2. Tied Nets

These nets are incredibly easy to make. They’re not as durable or long-lasting as the others, but they’re good for putting together quickly.

What You’ll Need:

Several meters of cord or twine
A sharp knife

The previous example involved weaving a net out of one continuous length of cord. In contrast, this technique involves cutting several pieces of cord and tying them to one another. Basically, this is fishnet macrame. If you have an older aunt who makes hanging planters or wall hangings with knotted yarn, she can probably help you out with this technique.

You can tie the knots as far apart or as close together as you want to create a fine mesh or a wider mesh.

Secure a length of cord between two solid hanging objects, like a couple of door handles. Whatever will remain stationary for you to work on. Alternatively, you can use this technique for making a hand net with one of those aforementioned tennis rackets, a hula hoop, or some other solid frame.

Use the knife to cut several lengths of cord the same length, keeping in mind how much they’ll shorten as you work. This means that if you cut a 10-foot length of cord, you’ll end up with a 5-foot long net.

Get Tying!

Tie these to your main, horizontal cord or frame, spaced evenly at regular intervals. I use a basic cow hitch (aka “lark’s head” hitch), but you can use whatever type of hitch knot you like best. Just make sure you’re tying the middle of the cord to the frame, so the dangling ends are the same length.

Once all those are tied in place, find the center space, and grab a piece of cord from either side. For example, let’s say that you have 6 cords dangling down. The center space will be between cords 3 and 4.

Take those cords (again, one from the left, and one from the right), and tie them together with a basic overhand knot. This will create a downward-facing triangle. Do the same thing across the entire row, so you have a bunch of downward-facing triangles, all the same height.

Once those are done, move down to the next row. This time, you’ll tie the alternating pieces together to create diamond-shaped spaces. Check out the tutorial below for visual tips:

Here’s where we start weighing the pros and cons of various netting materials. The eco-savvy, back-to-the-land part of me loves to work with natural materials. Furthermore, since cotton, linen, and silk fibers are biodegradable, they’ll break down if they fall into the water.

In contrast, nylon and polyurethane fibers will keep floating around pretty much forever, harming the local ecosystem exponentially.

That said, the aforementioned synthetic fibers are a lot stronger than natural ones. A big, strong fish can easily thrash its way free from a cotton or silk net. That same fish, however, will be held fast by the strength of a nylon net, even if it’s finely woven.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which fibers are best suited to your needs. Weigh the pros and cons, and determine cost and labor, as well as how often you’ll need to do replacement/repair work.

Beginning the Net

Step 1 Load your shuttle.

Lay your shuttle flat in your hand and lay the end of the twine flat along the top, facing you.
Take the twine and loop it around the center peg of the shuttle so it comes back towards you.
Lay the string down on the same side parallel to the end strand, and run it down the shuttle and flip it over and run it up the other side.
Loop this piece around the center peg and back down facing you, and repeat the process until you’re out of twine or the shuttle becomes too full to handle. [3] X Research source

Step 2 Make a loop with an overhand knot.

The overhand knot is the one most everybody is familiar with: you make a loop and pass the end of the line through the loop, pulling both ends to tighten.
Take the loop that has formed from the knot and put it around the peg you’re using.

Step 3 Place your gauge.

Slide your gauge up underneath the string attached to the loop just created. The loop should be situated on the peg so that it’s knot is closest you; have the gauge pushed up to the knot so that the knot touches the gauge’s top edge.
Hold the string with your thumb atop the gauge, using the hand opposite the one which will use the shuttle.

Step 4 Pull the shuttle up through the loop.

Your shuttle should be to the right of your peg, loop, and gauge; from the right, pull the shuttle up through the loop (through the V made by the peg, twine, and gauge).
Then, pull it down towards you, cinching tight around your gauge. Place your thumb on top on the knot and string to hold it.

Step 5 Make another knot with your shuttle.

Take your shuttle, which should be on the right of your peg and loop, and pass it under the loop and back over. There should now be a slackened loop hanging under the taut loop.
Pass the shuttle under this loop and up to the right of the taut loop; continue pulling the shuttle and twine up until the knot formed is tight around the gauge. Then repeat this step one more time. [4] X Research source

Step 6 Remove your gauge.

You’ll need to choose one of these two loops to continue with the process, and it doesn’t matter which one. Both will be dealt with by the time your net is made.

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Finishing Your Net

Step 1 Replace your gauge.

Slide your gauge back under the single string coming from the two loops. Going under your gauge, slide your shuttle through one of the two loops just formed.
You should be able to pull the knot tight and the gauge closer to the knot by bringing the shuttle upwards through the loop.

Step 2 Bring your shuttle under and over the loops.

Once your bring the shuttle under and over, there should form another slackened loop as in step 1.5.
With your shuttle back to the right, pull it through this loop from underneath and back towards you to create another knot. This knot should be tight against the edge of gauge farthest from you (closest to the peg).

Step 3 Loop your shuttle through the second loop.

Pull the shuttle through the loop from under and back towards you to make a knot at the edge of the gauge. There should now be a “V” shape formed by the two loops pulled tight against your gauge (the point of the “V” should face the peg).

Step 4 Pull your shuttle up through the “V”.

Coming from the right, pull your shuttle up through the gap in the “V” to make another slackened loop as in previous steps. The loop should hang to the right of the “V.”
Pull your shuttle up and through this loop and down towards you to tighten into a knot. Then repeat this step exactly.

Step 5 Remove the gauge and start again.

Repeating these steps should increasingly widen the net as you continue to make loops and knots; every new square will have two attached loops with which to continue.
Once your net has reach desired length, you will ignore one of these two loops to narrow the net back down. [5] X Research source

Step 6 Complete your net with frame or weights.

In either case, it’s acceptable to use extra bits of string to fasten whatever you need to the net, or to fasten the net to a frame. For more durability (if you’re less picky on the condition of the wood), use heavy duty staples to attach the net.

Community Q&A

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Question
Does netting require two hands?
Community Answer
Yes, almost certainly.

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Question

I am trying to rebuild the net on my handheld trout landing net. I want a type of twine that is not too abrasive to fish for releasing purposes. Can you suggest a type of cordage should I use?

YOGESH DHATRAK
Community Answer

Kingbird Fishing Twine, less than 4 mm diameter, is the main thread used for making hard fishing nets, which perfectly applies to weave mesh and sew or knot net fishing gear.

Question
Do you need to have a shuttle and a gauge?
YOGESH DHATRAK
Community Answer

You will need two loaded shuttles or one shuttle and a ball of thread. Pinch the end of the ball thread with the pinched index finger and thumb.

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Step-by-step guide to net making for beginners

Step-by-step guide to net making for beginners

The Basics of Making Fish Net and 3 Techniques to Try