"Dave Mohnsen" wrote

Problem I have with the insect nets, including the pantyhose option, is
that in fast current, ya better grip your net with both hands. I've had
better luck with an aquarium net, but it is not as convenient. Have to
stuff it in the back portion of the vest, and seem to always need to take
of the vest to get it out.


I took a medium sized aquarium net and cut and bent the wire frame to a
shape and size that fits in my largest front vest pocket. I took the
handle off completely so I ended up with just a rectangle of wire and the
net itself ... works pretty darn well for the top foot or so of the water
column. To sample the bottom I think you pretty much have to have a two
dowels and window screening deal, made stoutly to hold up to the current. I
have a commercially made folding net designed to sample the bottom but it is
usable only in slow waters. I have yet to find a good way to sample
stillwaters ( at the depth and in the areas most often fished)

The turn a rock over method yields lots of interesting finds but never seems
to please me ... I want to know what is actually drifting in the current,
not hiding from that current. For the same reason I try to sample without
disturbing the bottom upstream of the net as is oft suggested .... I don't
plan on doing the SJShuffle out there so who cares what I can kick up? (
The kick it up and check it out method CAN help you learn about what's in
the stream for future reference, but not what's available NOW to Mr. Fishy )

Lastly, but not leastly, if you are planning to drift a nymph through the
chest deep pockets don't assume the bugs in ankle deep water are the same
ones as out there. I tend to seek out and fish waters with lots of 'micro
ecologies' and I'm in heaven when different fish in a small area are taking
different food forms, it makes the fishing an intellectual challenge, rather
than just stick waving exercise. But I think all waters have more
variation than uniformity from water type to water type ... hell that's the
'why' in why we study this **** ...