To those that have them, are Black Pearl nets worth the extra money? $200 is a lot to spring for a cast net. I have a BaitBuster net I use for shrimping now. It’s starting to wear out and I’m not convinced it is closing right while on the bottom. Yes, I have read a lot of good things about Tim Wade’s nets. Thanks in advance.
I have a 8ft black pearl and I DO NOT Like it. Hard for me to reload. Give me my 7 ft Super Pro anytime.
I have a 7 ft Black Pearl I use when shrimping in 6+ feet of water and current running strong. (I prefer shallower water, but sometimes on those high tides can’t avoid the high water). I have the lightest one they make, but it still is heavy. It sinks quickly and does catch more shrimp, but I can only throw it 2 or 3 runs. I would not buy another one. From post here and people I’ve talked to, I would order a Tim Wade net if you were going to spend the big $$'s for a net.
21 SeaPro Bay Boat
“That’s why they call it fishin, not Catchin”
Well that tells me something there. Two people who have them wouldn’t buy another one. Thanks guys. Wade’s nets are in the mix too for sure.
I’ve had 2 nets made by Tim Wade.
Excellent nets at a great price.
Can’t be beat.
“A bad day on the water beats a good day in the office.”
x2 really nice guy and fast turn around
quote:
Originally posted by LeisureLeeI’ve had 2 nets made by Tim Wade.
Excellent nets at a great price.
Can’t be beat.
“A bad day on the water beats a good day in the office.”
2012 Carolina skiff 21dlv 140hp suzuki
Race Ready Fishing
Tim Wade is the man!
Call him, tell him how you are using your net, and he cam help you.
Very price competitive as well.
I third the Tim Wade advise. I was looking earlier this year at the 10 and 12ft black pearls took advice from others on this forum and called him. I ordered both from him both custom to my specs for less than the price of a black pearl. Used it the first time last Wednesday I threw for 2 hours and 15 minutes and had my limit and its not even broke in yet.
+1 … Call Tim Wade and get him to make you a net. Very nice nets for the price…I have a 10ft one and will be getting
an 8ft one for next year.
They are worth the money. With all due respect to Tim Wade, the pearl is one bad-*ss net. I throw a 7’ Pearl all day (I am 6’4" 220) and pay no mind to wind and tide unless it’s super strong. The pearl is durable, reloads in amazing time and you can use them year after year. I do however, want to try a Tim Wade someday. Gotta see what the buzz is.
2004 Scout 187 Sportfish
115 Yamaha
I third the Tim Wade advise. I was looking earlier this year at the 10 and 12ft black pearls took advice from others on this forum and called him. I ordered both from him both custom to my specs for less than the price of a black pearl. Used it the first time last Wednesday I threw for 2 hours and 15 minutes and had my limit and its not even broke in yet.
I have a 7’ super pro and the braille lines are constantly getting tangled in the weights. Buddy has a 6’ super pro and has same issue but nowhere near as bad. Maybe someone has a tip for me, otherwise my next net may still be a Betts but not the super pro.
BGC
Tarpon120, Check to see how long the extra line on the knot tying the tuck (braille) line to the weight line is. I had one net that had about an inch of that stiff mono sticking out at each knot. I trimmed it to about 1/2 inch and it seemed to make a difference.
21 SeaPro Bay Boat
“That’s why they call it fishin, not Catchin”
I’d like to add my two cents to the topic. As a beginner to the casting game, I posed this same question to an old salt who responded like this: What would you rather lose? A $150 net or a cheap $40 net from Wal-Mart? I took his advice, grabbed a $40, 7 footer and haven’t looked back. My first net got hung on an oyster bed and got shredded. I threw it in the garbage and bought number two with a smile on my face. If that had been the $150 net I was considering, now shredded and lying on the deck of the boat, I imagine I would have wept uncontrollably at the thought of needing to buy another one… I’ve heard people say that their net opens faster and falls better. While that may be true, I have done quite well with my Wal-Mart special. Plenty of shrimp in the freezer already this season and plenty of bait for fishing. I will never know the difference and I’m okay with that.
That’s why they call it fishing, not catching…
Yeah I agree with you for general bait nets. I know my shrimping grounds pretty well and don’t worry too much about oysters. I don’t mind spending more for quality. I need all the help I can get!
I throw an 8’ old salt on shrimp and have been using a 6’ old salt for bait fish for years I don’t see how anything could be better for the money, however I have not tried a high dollar net.
I throw a 7’ Tim Wade net after throwing a 7’ Betts blue. But at 5’2" I find it wears me out pretty quick. My back can’t take it for long. Maybe I’m just a puss…