how to throw a cast net

THROWING A CAST NET
SIMPLE THROWING TIPS
There are a number of ways to throw a cast net and there is no right or wrong way. The ultimate goal
is that you can throw the net, get it to fully open up and can get bait inside of it. It really doesn’t matter
how you throw the net as long as these things happen.
I’ve posted two videos in this tutorial one uses your teeth to hold the net and the other is essentially
the same method but you lay the net over your hand instead of using your teeth. I put the lead line in
my teeth. I have been throwing this way for years and it’s an old habit. I can throw without using my
teeth just as well but still prefer that method.
Below are step by step instructions on how to throw a cast net. Watch the videos included with this
tutorial several times and get a good understanding of this process and then print this step by step
guide and go out and practice.
I am a firm believer that anyone can throw a cast net with some practice. Most people that tell me
they cannot throw a net either have not paid attention to how to correctly throw or have not devoted
enough effort to practicing.
I taught my son how to throw a 7 foot, 1.5 lb per foot cast net when he was 9 years old. He was
throwing perfect circles within 15 minutes. I’ve also never met anyone that when shown proper
technique could not throw a net.
Here are a few simple tips to help you in the process of learning:
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It’s not about how hard you throw, it is about how you throw.
The “setup” is just as important as the throw (how you hold the net prior to throwing)
You need to move in a fluid motion (be smooth) when throwing.
You’re not trying to open the net as you throw it. The net opens itself.
The motion you make with your body forces the net open.
Your lower body stays in the same place
You twist your upper body and lean into the throw.
As you throw, lead the net with your dominant arm and follow the throw all the way through
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Go outside and practice.
Throw over and over again until the net opens every time
Practice some more
If you fish from a boat, once you have the throwing process down on dry land, stand on the
deck of your boat and practice some more, on dry land. The process of throwing from a boat is
totally different from throwing on the ground.
Once you learn to throw, you can throw any size net. The only difference is how much net you
cinch up in your hand before you throw,
IT WILL PROBABLY BE MUCH
EASIER TO LEARN FROM THE
VIDEOS IN THE TUTORIAL. THIS
WRITTEN TUTORIAL WAS DONE
SO YOU CAN PRINT IT AND HAVE
IT WITH YOU OUTSIDE AS A
REFERENCE WHILE YOU ARE
LEARNING.
HOW TO THROW A CAST NET
These instructions are for throwing if you are right handed. If you are left handed you will need to
reverse the hands that you use.
1. Hold the yoke of the cast net in your left hand and hold the cast net up in the air, fully
extended. Shake the net out and make sure the lead line around the bottom is not tangled or
caught on itself.
Tip: If this is not done the net will not throw correctly and will not open up completely.
2. With your right hand grab the net in the middle of the net about half way between the yoke and
the lead line.
Tip: This is critical. If you grab the net too low the net will not allow itself to open with it’s own weight.
Experiment with grabbing the net higher or lower and get a good feel for what is more comfortable for
you and how easily it is for you to get the net to open. Find the “sweet spot”.
3. Roll the net over your left hand. When doing this you are rolling the net under your left hand
and back over it so it back towards you.
Tip: If you roll the net in the wrong direction it will not open.
4. Split the lead line at the bottom of the net in half. You want about half of the net to be in your
left hand and about half of it hanging down. Check again as you are doing this and make sure
the lead line is not tangled. If the lead line is tangled, untangle it. Now, roll this portion of the
net over the top of your left hand, going away from you.
Tip: Again, making sure the lead line is not tangled is critical. Splitting the weights in the right area is
critical also. Doing this correctly makes it much easier to throw.
5. When you look at the lead line facing away from you the weights and lead line on your left
should be almost level and the weights and lead line on your right should be almost level also.
There will be a noticeable drop in the lead line and it should be near the middle of the net
facing away from you. Grab the lead line in the middle of where it drops. This will be the middle
of the net.
6. Put the lead line in your teeth, not the weights, just the rope. If you prefer to throw without
using your teeth then you would lay this portion of the lead line over the top of your left hand.
7. Reach down with your right and grab the lead line facing away from you as far down as you
can grab it without bending over (note my right hand).
8. With the lead line in your right hand, roll the portion of the net laying over your left hand into
the palm of your right hand and hold it firmly.
9. Now you are setup to throw. Remember your using the weight of the net to open itself and the
motion of your upper body. It is not about how hard you throw it is about the motion and proper
technique. Your lower body is relatively still. I make a slight step with me right foot but it’s very
short and only to compensate for the motion of my upper body so I don’t lose balance.
Tip: One of the best things you can do while holding the net like this is practice rotating your upper
body and watching what the net does. As you rotate your upper body the net should swing open (out
away from you. Practice this holding these parts of the net in your hand and getting a feel for what is
taking place.
10. Rotate your upper body and throw. As the net opens up I am letting go with my left and first. I
still have the net in my right hand but am holding it very loosely allowing the net to come out of
my hand but still following through with my right arm helping the net to open. Open your mouth
to release the lead line (if you are using your teeth).
Tip: Where most people go wrong here is they rotate their body and just try to lob the net out there.
Rotate your body, allow the net to open, and follow through with your right hand helping to carry the
net open while allowing it to slide out of your hand.
Also, don’t forget to open your mouth and release the net from your teeth.