This will be my first time baiting. I was wondering if anyone had any tips for the new guy…
How well does PVC pipe work for poles? I was thinking of using 3/4" with a metal conduit “spike” at the end.
Basic 6’ cast net… I will upgrade later when I can afford it.
Are the tidal areas of James Island any good? I have heard good things about Bulls bay and just outside the mouth of Shem Creek, but I really have no clue (I have only lived here about two years). Any ■■■■■■■■ would be greatly appreciated.
PVC is too limber. The cheapest way is to insert a 10’ 1/2 inch conduit into 5’ 1/2 inch PVC, 1 foot overlap. End up with at a 14’ pole. Connect with short pan head screws. Flatten the end of the conduit to make it stick a little easier. Crab Bank off Shem Creek can be a good spot. Shrimp move around so not getting them one day does not mean they won’t be there the next week and vice-versa. It looks like this may be a good year, knock on wood.
I agree with sulcataman. This is what use. Only difference is that I heat up the PVC with a heat gun then put epoxy in there and then put the conduit in there about 1 1/2 ft. It will not separate.
With a 6’ net I would say stick to shallower water so your poles don’t need to be really long. You can make pretty good poles…the ones I used for years before getting a fiberglass set were made from a 10’ section conduit and 10’ length of conduit. You push the conduit into the pvc to end at the length pole you want. If you leave 4 ft sticking out you’ll have 6’ overlap and 14’ poles. Epoxy the conduit in. I used some hardwood dowels that I hammered/epoxied in the end of the conduit and left sticking out about 3-4 inches. I sharpened that and then epoxy coated it. Made a nice point that would go in any bottom and kept the mud from packing into the poles. I duct taped the joint between conduit and PVC. I used a set of these 4 years and then gave them to a friend when I got fiberglass poles. Remember on length, you have to transport the things in your boat.
I used the Ashley River for years with 12’ PVC before I evolved to fiberglass. i tried the metal which I bent all to hell trying to remove from the mud. PVC or Metal my vote is PVC. Bulls Bay will bend PVC until you cannot see it until the tide goes down.
Net size- Throw what you can get to open. I caught as many shrimp with a $30 walmart net as I have with the super pros that I currently use.
The main thing is use what you can afford and have fun with it.
Thank you all for your great responses. I really appreciate it.
The boat is a 16’ Key West so I think I will go with 14’ poles.
Great input on the build… it sounds like a good overlap will really give the rigidity I am looking for and not hurt the wallet too much.
Yup…it’s a cheap walmart cast net, but it opens nicely. I agree totally regarding shallow depth as it doesn’t sink as fast as the better built nets. But it has never failed me for bait catching purposes.
Has anyone ever had any luck from a Kayak? The reason I ask is that my boss and I have an arrangement. He provides the boat and fuel if I provide the poles, bait, and license. Not a bad deal. However, I would like to go on my own sometime. I have a 10’ kayak that I fish from normally and have no problem floating the poles behind me on the way out/in. I figure that if I can cap the tops and foam in part of the pipe they will float. I have thrown from the kayak in the past as add on outriggers give it the stability I need.(obviously this would be in the tidal areas and not open water)