We call em hoop nets here. I have had good experiences with the fish net company (nets and more I believe they’re now called). I’ve bought webbing and hoops from them as well as a finished net or two in the past. They’ve also always been helpful answering questions.
I’m not sure if you’re on Facebook but if you are, Jimmy Hickman knows hoop nets in and out, and I’ve never seen him be hesitant sharing information about. Try reaching out to him if you need to.
My net running has been done in shallow water. I like to stake my nets on the edges of a floodplain when the water is rising, and I pull it when the water drops. I also use wire nets, which I like because it retains its shape with only a single rope. These I also set on floodplain edges with good results as well as setting them around log jams and holes. I set a wire net in my pond a few times. One time there were so many catfish I had to carefully remove it because it was bending the frame. I released those fish and probably never caught more than a couple at a time after that in my pond. When setting hoop nets in current, I look for where the current is flowing in a line, with the fish following the current like a sidewalk. Someone here taught me that, and it works.
For bait, I like to use at least 2 different baits. Usually cheese and cut shad, crushed crawfish or whatever else I have on hand. I also like to have some soured hen scratch on hand to throw in as well if I’m using bait. There are times I don’t use bait if there’s a good current.
It’s a very fun way to fish. It’s not as easy as it seems either. You’ll learn just how important location is when you see the difference between catching and scratching can be moving a net just a few feet. Good luck
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