A gill net is generally made using a single piece of netting hung between a float line and a lead line. The netting is usually either monofilament netting or multifilament netting. The mesh size, depth, and length of the gill net are determined by the species of fish that you are trying to catch. The gill net mesh size allows a fish of the proper size to fit its head and gills through the net, but not its body. When the fish attempts to pull out of the net, it becomes “gilled” or stuck by its gills.

A cast net is a cone shaped net with a weighted perimeter that is thrown by hand. As it travels through the air, the net will open wide and hit the water in a large circle. The weighted edges cause the net to sink and trap fish in the net. An attached line is used to pull the net back with it's catch of fish. Find out about the history of Cast Nets.

A seine net is usually made using a single piece of small mesh netting that is hung between a float line and a lead line. A seine is used as a “barrier” to either encircle a school of fish so that they can be retrieved or as a “wall” to move the fish to one end of a pond or lake where they can be retrieved. Seines for Koi ponds can be made of knotless netting in order to protect the fish from being injured while they are being collected. Find out about the history of Seine Nets.

A hoop net is a cylindrical net stretched over a series of hoops. Openings called throats funnel fish into the net where they become trapped and unable to find their way out. The net can be loaded with a bait bag to attract fish.