Keep nets

[clayton wood]

I guess this has been done to death.
Today at lunch I was talking to a match fishing friend who fishes the Severn and stillwaters for barbel.
He brought up keepnets and why barbel anglers are against them.
I gave him the usual lack of oxygen etc. He came back with, he's used them for years and put lots of barbel in them with no problems. So why do we really not use them? Main reason for me is the rivers I fish, are a long walk with a net I usually wouldn't use.

[Fred Bonney]

Have a look here Clayton

Welcome to the Barbel Society Website. The national organisation for all barbel anglers.

Many anglers don't find a need to use keepnets.

[Judas Priest]

Doesn't really answer the question "why don't barbel anglers use them" Fred, although the guidelines are good and something the thinking angler has used for years.

Personaly I don't own a keepnet, and haven't done for years, as the need to "see" my catch of any species at the end of the day has diminished.
Keepnet design and material has changed over these last few years what with rubberised versions etc but I still can't see myself buying one.

The problem with keepnets, to me anyway, where barbel are concerned is that many are not staked out into the flow properly and at the end of the day/match the fish are returned hastily.

[Fred Bonney]

I've decided to leave answers to this type of question to those who will almost certainly give a smart arse response to whatever my answer is Phil.

But,it would seem to me that your response doesn't do that either!

[Judas Priest]

"Personaly I don't own a keepnet, and haven't done for years, as the need to "see" my catch of any species at the end of the day has diminished."

Think that explains pretty clearly why I don't use a keepnet Fred.

That's my reason and opinion, not smart, not condescending or anything.

[clayton wood]

Thanks for the answers. The guidelines look good.
My friend said not using keepnets is more of a personal choice rather than a fish welfare issue. By the answers up to now he could be right. I'm off for the weekend it'd be nice if on Monday I could go to work and prove him wrong.

[Ray Wood 1]

Clayton,
Get in touch with Dave Harrell he is one of the top match anglers who has used a keepnet and fished loads of matches on Severn. He has a DVD where you can see how he does it loads of barbel.

I think I read somewhere that he has stepped down from match fishing now.

Better still get along to the BS Show in June he is one of the speakers, I am sure he will give you his views on barbel and keepnets.
Kind regards
Ray

[Judas Priest]

Ray

You sure he's stepped away from match fishing. Thought he'd broken the Severn match record or something this last year.

Clayton
You're right that it's a personal choice, all i'd say is that if you're on a river try to stake the net out in flowing water if possible, and without putting your life at risk.

Another thought for any debate........

Some decry keepnets yet are quite happy to put fish into retention tubes for longer periods than should be neccesary, just to have a nice daylight piccy.

[Titus]

Originally Posted by Fred Bonney

Many anglers don't find a need to use keepnets.

That's certainly true for you Fred.

I stopped using them when I got fed up with taking the stinking thing back in the car at the end of a day 'baggin'.

Dave H was one of my heroes in the late 80's and a master with the bolo on the Severn at Shrewsbury.

[Ray Wood 1]

Phil,
It was just a headline I read, I just googled it and came up with this

Dave Harrell steps down from Match Fishing. Only it refered to him stepping down as editor of the magazine here is a link Angling: Dave Harrell steps down from Match Fishing - Other Sport - Sport - Coventry Telegraph

Kind regards
Ray