Making and Mending Cast Nets

By Peter Murray

There is nothing more satisfying than casting and catching fish with a quality cast net that you have made yourself.

 

No fishing book collection would be complete without this book. It is a must-have book for the hobbyist and anyone who enjoys all aspects of fishing and net making.

 

Making and Mending Cast Nets shares over a 100 years' experience of fishing with cast nets, which has been passed down through the generations of one family. This book covers all aspects of making and mending cast nets, and it is presented in a well-illustrated, easy-to-read form, with practical tips along the way.

It also gives you:

• Long-held, secret net patterns;
• Two casting/throwing techniques that have been used for 100 years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peter Murray
• Release date: Nov 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9780645449112

Book preview

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Glossary of Terms

Netting

Selvedge

Direction of braid

Direction of netting

Panel

Sewing

Braiding

Row

Needle

Bar

Points

Clean meshes

Mesh size

Lead line

Handline

Pockets

Mounting

Hanging

2. Necessary Equipment and Materials

Equipment

Meshing needle

Waistline

Threading tool

Wall hook

Scissor

Mosquito coil

Mesh stick

Material

Twine

Rope

Cord

Netting

Swivel

Lead weights

3. Counting Meshes

4. Cast Net Patterns

Multifilament cast net patterns

Monofilament cast net patterns

5. Cutting

All-cleaned mesh cutting

All-points mesh cutting

All-bars mesh cutting

6. Sewing

Knots used in the sewing (braiding) process

Starting and finishing knot

Knot used to pick up two meshes

Side knot

Flat knot

Clove hitch with a half-hitch lock

Slipped half knot

Sheet bend

Fundamental knot-tying techniques

Sewing an all-points mesh cut

Sewing an all-cleaned mesh cut

7. Swivel and Handline Attachment

Attaching the swivel to the net

Attaching the handline to the swivel

Rope terminology

Lay

Working end

Standing part

Splicing an eye in a rope

8. Hanging the Lead Line

9. Forming Pockets

10. Casting Techniques

Technique one

Technique two

11. Mending Cast Nets

Trimming the tear

Horizontal tear

Vertical tear

Oblique tear

Repairing large tears

Tips for repairing small tears

Combination repair

12. Making a Cast Net to Suit Your Individual Needs

13. How a Net Works

14. Care and Maintenance

Conclusion

References

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to my grandfather, Ronald James McFarlane (1928–2020), who fostered my love for fishing by teaching me all his fishing secrets, as well as everything I know about making cast nets.

And to my grandmother, Charlotte Evelyn McFarlane (formally Drury; 1928–present), who was always able to put together something for us to eat on many a fishing trip, whether it be a big family trip at the beach or just a few of us in the boat, it was always enough to get us through the day. Grandma also liked wetting a line, and I often recall her pulling in a fish or two with Granddad’s old timber reel handlines.

I will never forget the day that Granddad gave me my first cast net; I was about 11 or 12 years old. Those early days rubbed off on me, as I still extensively use a cast net to gather bait, as well as timber reel handlines to catch fish.

Up until recently, my grandfather still made cast nets and casts them, being the principle bait catcher whenever we had a chance to go fishing together.

To both of you, I thank you for your time and patience.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my wife for helping me take the photos for this book, and for supporting me in writing this book. I would also like to thank my friends and family who have supported me along the way.

Introduction

A cast net, also known as a throw net, is generally used for fishing. It is a circular net with small weights distributed evenly around the outer perimeter of the net.

The net is cast or thrown by hand in such a manner that it spreads out on the water and sinks. Fish are trapped in the net and hauled back in. This simple device is particularly effective for catching small bait and pan-size fish, and has been in use, with various modifications, for thousands of years.

Cast nets were originally made from linen, which was then replaced by cotton until about the 1940 and 1950s, where a man-made synthetic fibre called nylon replaced it to this day. While multifilament nylon is still available, there is a strong preference for monofilament nylon cast nets, particularly in Australia.

With the advent of this man-made fibre, not only did it add to the strength of the net, it was also practically impervious to rot, reducing the care and treatment required to gain longevity of