LOL! John - I learned to do the same thing. I use the stern end of the gunwale like a fulcrum and just try and hold the net in the water steady and guide the fish to it...Did this with a 23" plus laker (hard) and a 21" frisky salmon (harder) and whole bunch of other fish in the 17-22 in range...Frankly, this was very, VERY hard even with the side-of-boat-as-fulcrum method, but believe it or not I have not donkeyed a fish since going strictly with the rubber net. Maybe thats good "karma" for making up for the extra effort to reduce injury to the fish? On the flip side, I find it MUCH easier to dehook and release AFTER the fish is in the rubber net...
Hey John - maybe we're on to something for using rubber nets alone? What about mounting a short "guide" on a swivel on the stern to put the handle of the net in so you could better maneuver and hold the net with one hand....hmmm
Let me know what you come up with, my Frabil Rubber net net is really too heavy to one hand, but I suppose it's not really designed for using it (one hand) that way.
You come up with the idea and I'll help field test it.
Quick Question where the heck did you find a 96' telecoping net??????? That's gotta be the longest net i have ever heard of LMAO Take Care God Bless and Tight Lines LOL Dave From up North
96" I think? Mine is probably almost that long...and yeah I was one arming it...tough. My idea brought on by our posts is something like an old style oarlock, you know not the "modern" plug-in / pin style but the old "C" ring / swivel type you'd just lay the barrel of the oar in. This would take a lot of the weight and allow you still to push in / pull out and turn side to side...I'll make a sketch...Any of you guys good on the fabrication side? At work I'm normally the 'idea guy' and others with more real skills build my weird ideas...
Oh 96" inches LMAO on your post you wrote 96Feet LMAO I was just kidding with ya Yes i saw your net and will be ordering one this winter Take Care God Bless and Tight Lines LOL Dave From up North