Quote:
Originally Posted by TNBronzeback
Thanks TK, i really dont have any information on Cumberland River stripers aside from what ive seen a few guys doing below old hickory and cheatham in the summer during generation. My limited knowledge is geared around the waters of East TN, but i dont see a reason why they wouldnt work on the Cumberland once i found them.
I think i have a place or 2 in mind for chasing on the Cumberland this year so im gonna give them a try.
Actually, as bad as it sounds, my biggest hang-up right now, is not getting my cast net to fully open up when throwing for shad. 1 out of 10 will open up as pretty as a picture while the others look like a half moon or worse! LOL. ive gotta work on that, before the spring run hits!
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I've been throwing a cast net since I was a kid and still throw the dreaded "banana" on occasion. I realize there are a bunch of different ways to throw a net, but for me it is almost always one of two mistakes that stop the net from opening properly.
1. Being lazy and not setting up the net properly. This means not going through all the steps to getting the net ready to throw. In my method I have a few folds of the net to do as I get it ready to throw. Sometimes I think, maybe I can shortcut them a bit to make it faster. Sometime it works, but many times it doesn't. A wasted throw isn't worth the few moments gained by short-cutting the setup. I wish I would take my own advice on this one.
2. Getting tired. After throwing a bunch, my shoulders get tired and I start letting my hands come together at the end of the throw. This always results in a bad throw. You need to keep your hands apart so that the net will open. Easier said then done when you have to throw a bunch of times to get bait. If I can not catch enough before I get really tired then I usually give up on bait fishing and go try something else. That lead gets heavy after a while.
The combination of these two mean that you should take care to make your throws count. Find shad with the depthfinder or your eyes first, then set your net up correctly, and make good throws. I rarely get better with more throws on the water. If I can fill the bait well within about 10 throws (but preferably 1 or 2 throws) then all is good. If I mess up a bunch of those first 10, it is usually a lost cause by 30 or 40 throws.
All that said, cast nets are fun and super effective for catching shad. If you like to use live or cut baits, they will save you a ton in bait costs. Plus if you find the shad, you will usually find the predators. Also, it is an interesting learning experience to understand the daily and seasonal movement of shad.
Good luck on learning your cast net. It is worth it for sure.
Jim
PS - Be careful throwing a cast net in current. A snag is bad news when the net is tight around your wrist and the boat is moving. This is a big issue if you throw a net around a dam with all the current. The neoprene wrist band is way better than the self-tightening loop on your wrist.