Net making gauges

Quick question, for y'all who make your own nets what do y'all use to make gauges ?

Been several years ago, but I quit using the gauges and just used my fingers. Best I can remember, 3 fingers for a catfish net. Jans netcraft is where I got gauges and shuttles in the first place, but like said after getting the hang of it fingers worked well and didn't have to fiddle with the gauge. Thanks for reminding me of this Wolfy, may have to dig out that box of stuff if the weather gets nasty. I really enjoyed making nets and could use a couple new ones.

Some I made out of 1/8 " aluminum flat stock, some out of thin oak strips (sanded very smooth), and some out of high density plastic.

Can't fish with nets or traps here, but netting is useful for a lot of other purposes.


Use whatever ya got access to, Buddy.




Charlie

I wish I could ask my great uncle for you he made and repaired a lot of nets for norther lake Michigan commercial fishing mostly whitefish nets

I seem to remember his shuttle was also the gauge and he made those from wood

Went and found two 8"x3' rios if plexiglass in the trash at work my manager said I could have. Worked out pretty good I think and picked up a red ceder project board to cut some some wooden ones with as well

I usually use fingers but I'm working on something and gonna need to be as precise as possible to properly teach folks lol. Checked with Janns because that's where I got my first kit but guess their kit doing to well because they only had one gauge size and seems like a lot of their net making stuff is on closeout

Cool to hear

That it is. Some 550cord and a big needle can make a mighty fine hammock !

Get a piece of white hanging twine or length of white nylon from homedepot take a ruler and a sharpie marker and mark your lengths, add a piece of tape where your corks go.

When I hang in gill nets , I have my topline (floatline) and bottom line ( leadcore ) parallel about 3 ft apart on a clothesline looking hanger, 50 yards apart. Stretch them even, and tie off with a cleat on top of the hanger. Then I use my gauges, which I made out of tubing, an old hose would work. Cut the hose 3-4” longer than the length you want your tie. Then , measure from the front of your tube to exactly where you want your tie, and make a small diamond shaped cut with a knife, to make a 1/4” or so hole in the tube. I have these tube gauges made for hanging my most common sized nets, simple to make. To use the gauge, slide it on the line you want to mark. Line it up and spray a quick shot of white spray paint in the hole. Slide the tube to that mark , and spray again. Slide and spray, slide and spray, slide and spray. Mark your topline and bottom line quickly this way, and tie on your marks. I hope this makes sense, if not, I can post pics. Works for me, and is simple yet accurate. I cut the tube/hose long ways to pop it on and off of the line easily. Don’t use much spray paint or it will run , just quick shot.

Note: this gauge is for marking lines, not for making webbing. It’s for hanging in webbing. Example, 2 meshes per 9 3/4” tie on 8” .90 mm webbing. My gauge is 12” long with the hole cut for marking at 9 3/4”

John