Fumble V

Who wants to bring a net every time they go fishing? You already have to carry your rig, rod holder (for those of us running multiple rigs), tackle box or backpack and bait. That's only the necessities! What about a cooler, chair, and extra supplies like bug spray, sun block, etc. Not to mention your lucky fishing hat!

So I can understand why a lot of people leave their nets at home but it can be the difference between landing that big one and cursing your decision to leave your net at home. Let the Laughing Pescador lay it out for you!

As stated above, the main disadvantage to brining your net is that you simply don't have the room- this is even more of an issue when you walk to your fishing hole like the longest time I would leave my net at home simply because I didn't think I would need it bass fishing in the canals. Then came the day I hooked a Tarpon. Now Tarpon are rare (but not unheard of) in the section of the canal I fish so you can imagine my excitement. We battled- he jumped, danced across the water and fought harder than any bass I had ever hooked. So you can imagine how I excited I was when I got him to the shore but that's when things went wrong... SNAP! Just as I was getting ready to pull him out of the water (like I do with my Largemouth fatties) the line snapped. The tarpon was simply too heavy for my 12 lbs test- something I knew but with net collecting dust in my garage it was my only option.

I had never caught a tarpon before so I was pretty disappointed that my laziness not to carry a net was the difference between landing it and watching it swim away. I promised myself from then on out I would always carry a net. Well it might not be a Tarpon but my net enabled me to land this Snook!