As mentioned in How do we increase iNat fish observations? , iNat has very few fish observations compared to other vertebrates. In this topic, I’d like to discuss dipnetting tips you may have picked up to help teach and encourage beginners (like myself) how you do it. To start, one tip I’ve learned i…

My biggest tip is to check your local fishing regulations before you dip net. Depending where you live dip netting may be completely prohibited or limited to so called baitfish. You may also be required to have a valid fishing licence.

Know how what you are trying to dipnet ‘escapes’ For example, crayfish scuttle backwards to escape, ergo, set dipnet behind them sneakily then poke at the water from the front, presto they scuttle backward right into the net. Sweeping blindly = not smart Observing & understanding the movement of …

I did quite a bit of seining years ago. I still have a two-person seine that’s about 10 feet long and a shorter one-person seine maybe 4 feet long. Seines are more effective than dipnets but you use what you have available. Often two people, one shuffling upstream to stir up any critters, and one ho…

My biggest question is where to dipnet. Dipnetting in areas with the name “nature preserve” or “wildlife area” is likely not legal, but I’m assuming that fishing areas and roadside streams are fair game?

I’d like to get into dip netting, but don’t know what to use. The nets I’ve tried using are either too short or have holes large enough to let the small fish escape. Is there a specific net (preferably transportable) that anyone recommends?

Small agricultural canals and drainage ditches can be good areas to try depending on where you live. Even urban ditches can support small fish if they have water most of the year.

You might want to try making your own. That’s my plan. I’ve salvaged and on an old extendable paint roller handle. I have some plastic mesh netting from Amazon. I think it may have been meant for weddings/party decorations. I plan to use an old badminton racket as the hoop. The only thing I’m missin…

Quickly scooping up mats of floating vegetation or leaf litter from the bottom can be a productive way to catch fish with a dip net, especially since many small fish will hide in those places when disturbed. Trying to chase fish that you see swimming around is usually less effective unless you manag…

In black water streams in Florida, I used a tray-like box with screen bottom called a Goin dredge to sample aquatic amphibians and snakes along with small fish that hung out in dense floating vegetation. It was very effective. Have not seen it used in other places.

Like this? [image] http://www.kingsnake.com/blog/archives/3356-Dredging-for-pollywogs.html looks pretty easy to construct with some plywood and window screen, though considering its small size I bet you could achieve similar results by scooping with a sturdy metal-rimmed dipnet like the one I usu…

Dipnetting Basics

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Dipnetting Basics

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