Insect Net?

[NJDrew]

Does anyone here carry an insect net? I was thinking of buying one soon. I checked out cabelas site, because I will be making a trip out there this weekend and I saw the one bellow. Im not so sure it will work for dry flies however.

Quick Seine - Large

"This large seine attaches to your landing net handle stored in it's own pouch until needed. Stretch it over your net to scoop up insects, then return it to its pouch to land fish."

Cabela's -- Quick Seine - Large

 

[Stimulator]

I have this one and have used it for years. Works well when lifting rocks or checking stuff in/on the surface film. I usually carry a net, so I usually have it with me and it takes up no room in my vest.

I never tried to catch bugs out of the air with it, but I agree that it probably would not work very well.

 

[Pete]

I cut a couple of 3/8" dowels to a length that would fit comfortably in one of my vest pockets. Attached about 12" of nonmetallic screening to them with a staple gun.

Roll it up, & keep it in the bottom of a vest pocket until needed.

Not good for catching airborne insects.

 

[afishinado]

I have one of these:

CATCH-A-HATCH NET


I've had it for a long time. I folds up to 7" and fits in your vest pocket but extends out to 30". It's like a big aquarium net. I found it on the link above. The price looks high, but it does work well for capturing insects on the water or air. It has caught me a lot of fish over the years. Good luck.

 

[onemorecast]

I just bought a regular aquarium net. I bent the handle in half and hang it on my wader belt. The only trouble is - the few times I remember to bring it, I forget to actually use it!

Our TU chapter just seined the small creek behind our meeting place and came up with a really nice variety of bugs. I tried to get pics of most of them, but those swimming nymphs just won't stay still. The Rhyacophila's tried chowing down on the half-dead stonefly almost immediately. These are thumbnails, you can click on the ones that interest you for full size. Anyone know what the first one is?

 

[Broadheadscreek]

I just bought a regular aquarium net. I bent the handle in half and hang it on my wader belt. The only trouble is - the few times I remember to bring it, I forget to actually use it!

Our TU chapter just seined the small creek behind our meeting place and came up with a really nice variety of bugs. I tried to get pics of most of them, but those swimming nymphs just won't stay still. The brachy's tried chowing down on the half-dead stonefly almost immediately. These are thumbnails, you can click on the ones that interest you for full size. Anyone know what the first one is?

Hi Jess,

The answer to your question on the first is a slate drake get tying and when the hatch is on try a pheasent tail soft hackle on the swing can't beat em!!!

 

[mbwmn]

I have one of these:

CATCH-A-HATCH NET


I've had it for a long time. I folds up to 7" and fits in your vest pocket but extends out to 30". It's like a big aquarium net. I found it on the link above. The price looks high, but it does work well for capturing insects on the water or air. It has caught me a lot of fish over the years. Good luck.

Shannon's has(had?) this one, or something very similar to it...small telescoping rods that appeared to be stainless holding a net that seems quite large (18x18?). it appeared to be very well crafted, although i didn't handle it.

 

[AKSkim]

Our TU chapter just seined the small creek behind our meeting place and came up with a really nice variety of bugs.

Did they let you touch them?

 

[Dusty Miller]

Does anyone here carry an insect net? I was thinking of buying one soon. I checked out cabelas site, because I will be making a trip out there this weekend and I saw the one bellow. Im not so sure it will work for dry flies however.

Quick Seine - Large

"This large seine attaches to your landing net handle stored in it's own pouch until needed. Stretch it over your net to scoop up insects, then return it to its pouch to land fish."

Cabela's -- Quick Seine - Large

I carry both the Quick Seine and the Catch a Hatch. Plus I also made a kick net with dowels and screening that a pretty good size: about 2.5 by 2.5' with longer handles.

The homemade kick net is useful for water I'm not familiar with. You have a friend kick up the rocks up stream and see what floats down to the net. I consider it a serious entomological tool, not an off-hand type of test, and good for seeing what's in the water from top to bottom. I keep it in the car; it's not something I carry around all day hanging from my vest.

I use the Quick Seine more regularly for checking the drift. It's simple to roll the netting over my net and dunk into the stream. Good for a quick check of the drift, including emergers, but it won't tell you what's clinging to the rocks on the bottom and it's too clumsy to catch anything in the air.

The Catch a Hatch works best for me for snagging airborne insects (you have to be quick) and fits nicely in an inside vest pocket. Doesn't add more weight than a stream thermometer.

All three have proved useful from time to time. You'll also want to get a key for identifying the bugs you find. Caucci's INSTANT MAYFLY IDENTIFICATION GUIDE is handy.