Growing up as a young fisherman, I though throwing the perfect net cast was something only possible for the well-experienced and hardened watermen. Eventually, someone showed me the fundamentals to throwing a cast net, and after a day of practice in my front yard, I was throwing more accurate and open nets, landing more bait fish with every cast. I was soon able to perfect my cast and begin using larger and larger nets. Cast netting has been around for thousands of years, and while there are surely a number of different methods to throwing a net, I will provide the first way I learned as a kid and that still serves me today. With any method, there are a number of common tips that will help you throw a better cast. First, the method is more important than the force behind the throw. Concentrate on the steps and a good throw shouldn’t require all of your strength. This includes the preparation to the cast, setting up the net properly will ensure that it opens smoothly and lands where you want it to. Second, practice being smooth as you throw the cast. Momentum is important to the process and if you’re not fluid, you’re losing momentum and losing potential. With this in mind, the following method is simple and good for small nets and beginners. This process has been suggested by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service.

With this method, you’re going to first make sure the handline is secured to your dominant wrist and then coil the line in loops about the length of your forearm, with each loop held in your hand. Next, you’re going to grab the whole net in that same dominant hand, about one third of the way down from the top (horn, where the net meets the handline). Now, with your other hand, separate about a third of the hanging net. This next part is what separates the watermen from the guppies, as you have to hold some of the net in your teeth. On the separated portion of the net, there is one side of the leadline (the line at the bottom of the net, with lead weights) facing you, and another side facing away. Find a portion of the leadline facing you where a tuckline (the lines running down the length of the net) meets it, and hold this in your teeth. Now with your non-dominant arm facing the water, lean towards your dominant side with your arms extended and separated from each other. You’re trying to open the net here as much as possible before you throw it. Now, swing the net out and release it towards your target area. With practice, the net will open and surround the fish you’re hoping to catch. Practice these steps and you’ll be throwing a perfect cast in no time.