Landing net build

[jeremymcon]

I've posted this on social media already, but I'm pretty excited about it, and had asked for advice on finishing a while back. Here is my first completed landing net - walnut handle, white oak hoop.

I originally purchased some very pretty birds-eye maple for the handle, but I had a few scraps of walnut that I thought would be pretty enough for a first attempt. It took 3 or 4 handle prototypes before I worked out exactly the right shape, so I'm glad I used the walnut scraps first. Also required some tinkering with the clamping form, thickness of the strips, etc.

I ended up finishing it with a teak oil product that boat builders apparently use. We'll see how it holds up.

I even caught a trout in it last night! It wasn't exactly the sort of trout that *needed* to be netted - only about a 7" trout from a little tiny local stream, but I felt like the net wasn't really compete until I had a fish in it.

 

[NewSal]

Very nice !!

 

[BrooksAndHooks]

That looks awesome!

Did you do a write up or how to on the whole process? Would love to see some pictures of the build.

 

[jeremymcon]

No, somehow I never think to take pictures while I'm building things. I based it on some YouTube videos I watched that detail the process. I made a form put of two layers of 3/4" mdf, drilled holes in it that my clamps fit into.

The most difficult part was making the hoop meet the handle without any gaps. I still don't quite have that part streamlined, but basically I had to tinker with the shape of the handle, and clamp carefully. My initial handle was a bit too narrow to work with form I made, causing a gap at the top. To clamp the hoop to the handle, I used C clamps on the straight section, then used those trigger clamp thingers along with a Douglas fir clamping block. I tried mdf for the block, but it is very rigid whereas the Doug fir would deform a little bit with clamping pressure and end up filling the little gaps where the shape wasn't quite perfect.

 

[JohnPowers]

I made a large one for the west branch and a small one for valley and the Lehigh Valley. Like you need a net on valley. I bought an old wallpaper steamer for $10.00 off Craig's and steamed some ash I had. Lashed the handle in para chord so the inset was not anything special. I used whatever they use on gunstocks but teak oils used on boats so you can't go wrong. Where'd you get the net bag? I think I got mine from Jann's netcraft. I started with one of those rubbery ones from Grodin but it was too thick and heavy. Stood out from my back like a dorsal fin. I just have regular mesh. Fun project. Nothing to the steaming.

 

[jeremymcon]

Yup- Jann's net craft. This bag is a little heavier than the nylon mesh ones, but it is reasonably supple. Doesn't stand up too much. I love this style of net bag because my hooks don't get caught in it. Always hated that about the mesh ones. It was definitely a fun project! Have another in mind now, actually. I'd love to see your completed nets if you have pictures.