Best bug net?

Bueller

Just Hatched
I want to start catching more bugs on my water and I need some suggestions for a good screen/net. What set up are you using? Thanks!
 
Bueller,

A very knowledgeable friend of mine, John Kreft uses a mesh paint strainer bag, 1 gallon size. Lowes and Amazon has them. Sorry but I cant figure out how to cut and paste the Amazon Link. I tried but I am a techno idiot.

I picked up mine at Lowes in the paint section. Its like 2 mesh strainers for 3 or 4 bucks. They slip over your trout net when needed, take up very little space in the pack or vest and are extremely nice to have.

Check out Johns website Riverkeeper Flies. Massive amount of knowledge and info shared there by him.

Have fun.

Bob
 
Great thread. I've seen kits in catalogs but have not pulled the trigger. I'd be curious what @Taxon , @Mark Melton and troutnut use. I spend some time looking closely, rolling some rocks, and I carry old pantyhose to strain a small part of the flow. I'm usually just trying to figure out what to tie on, not collecting though.
I wish I had a better eye for detail, but beyond kind, size, color and shape I don't note much differences. Remembering where I got them and when, like riffle edge in January, helps as much as anything. Figuring out what they are though when I can has really helped improve the catch rates when nothing is obvious. Knowing what should be there, like small dark stones with some brown in winter for example, helps even if I can't see them. I always appreciate everyone's bug posts, and ID help.
 

Attachments

  • 20220307_074924.jpg
    20220307_074924.jpg
    165.1 KB · Views: 8
Last edited:
Thanks, these are great ideas. I've been tying for lots of years but recently started reading Dave Whitlocks - guide to aquatic trout food and it has changed my thinking. Always been one to just glance at a hatch chart and go. I really am excited to tie up some look-alikes.
 
Bueller,

A very knowledgeable friend of mine, John Kreft uses a mesh paint strainer bag, 1 gallon size. Lowes and Amazon has them. Sorry but I cant figure out how to cut and paste the Amazon Link. I tried but I am a techno idiot.

I picked up mine at Lowes in the paint section. Its like 2 mesh strainers for 3 or 4 bucks. They slip over your trout net when needed, take up very little space in the pack or vest and are extremely nice to have.

Check out Johns website Riverkeeper Flies. Massive amount of knowledge and info shared there by him.

Have fun.

Bob
Just got on the site. I am looking forward to a deep dive. Thank you!
 
When in WA insect collecting, I used a kick net, home-made with two dowels and window screening material.
That's exactly what I use. One of my fishing buddies was fairly heavy into entomology and at one time he had to decide to go into entomology or microbiology while attending OSU. He decided on microbiology but did take enough classes (with Hafele and Hughes) in bugology to know quite a bit and passed some of the knowledge on to me.

We made the kick nets as Taxon described and gathered nymphs on Oak Creek just outside of Corvallis. Turns out that Oak Creek has more species of aquatic insects then just about anywhere else in the West.... so we had no problem getting samples for the bug aquarium we'd set up for the local flyfishing fair.

I became interested in the bugs and set up my own bug aquarium in my garage. Ran into some problems.... the mayflies would eventually hatch under the warm lights and fly off into the garage rafters. Then I had made the mistake of nabbing quite a few golden stonefly nymphs. During the night they just about ate every other bug in the aquarium ... so I ultimately ended up with a golden stonefly colony in the aquarium. Got bored with the project and dumped the remaining stoneflies in a local creek.

Anyway, the dowels with window screen works quite well for gathering the critters.
 
In the past, I used a paint strainer bag from Home Depot. It worked well and was compact.

I don't put much value on seining, these days, though. In my experience, it doesn't give you a meaningful signal.
 
I don't put much value on seining, these days, though. In my experience, it doesn't give you a meaningful signal.
There's a ton of value in it....especially when you take your kiddo along who doesn't give a crap about the fish or fishing, but really thinks the bugs are pretty damn cool.
 
There's a ton of value in it....especially when you take your kiddo along who doesn't give a crap about the fish or fishing, but really thinks the bugs are pretty damn cool.
Also useful in scaring the crap out of your significant other as you show her a giant stone nymph…my wife took her bare feet out of the river…
 
Also useful in scaring the crap out of your significant other as you show her a giant stone nymph…my wife took her bare feet out of the river…
lol....

This was from several years ago.

D4D2ZSL.jpg


little insect net that I held in the current while doing 'the shuffle'

caught a few cool things...
tu8tmx3.jpg

zyQI6f3.jpg

PTJ4Ue6.jpg


Even managed a short-fin grayling on a called shot...first time and only time.
Xos3t1S.jpg
 
Back
Top