Make a Custom Fly Fishing Net - Chinook Salmon Catch-2-Carve

[@larryharding6087]

This net is absolutely beautiful, Your work is outstanding!

[@jeffdodd7451]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@bradcorrea9963]

Looks amazing, I would recommend that instead of the spar urethane, you should try 2k automotive clear. You can actually get it in a rattle can. You will have to find an automotive paint/ refinish vendor. The 2k is a far superior finish and your nets deserve the extra durability.

[@TheMorebravo]

Mate, that is absolutely stunning. I have been making my nets from old squash rackets, as the nets fit perfectly. But I'm going to give this a go.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you! I highly recommend you give it a shot!

[@robvegart]

I really like the french cleat run... Great job on the net man!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

The French cleats are a game changer for me, and I would 110% recommend it for anyones shop or even a small garage space because it makes organizing so easy…even for someone as unorganized as myself.

[@benkimbrell8849]

Thanks for the great videos showing your work. I have been making nets for myself and friends for years now. You make it look easy. You are extremely talented. I enjoyed the video with your daughter the most. She is a cutie. I searched on the comments for a while to get your name. Please tell your subscribers your first name if you would so we can show you that respect. Great work. Thanks for all of the tips.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks Ben! Much appreciated!

[@colekeeshig6233]

man you killed that build amazing video

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks! Got some really cool ones planned in the future too, so check back!

[@ChooseyourownpathWoodcrafts]

Watching your videos are awesome , I just got out of the hospital ( heart attack ) and honestly your work is a healing factor for me . I can’t wait to get back at it . Thank you

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

So sorry to hear about your health, but I'm glad this can help with getting things back to normal, even on some level! Thanks for watching and get well soon!

[@Statedwoods]

This is amazing. I can wait to try this. What craftsmanship. Love watching your painting.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks! After seeing the work you turn out on @statedwoods, I'm honored you think so. Making nets is a blast, and steam bending is a ton of fun in itself. Lots of cool applications for future projects for sure.

[@michaelnichols4693]

Nice Job ... I am an intermediate wood worker and a novice fly fisherman. I am excited about mixing both of these fine hobbies. Thanks for the video!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks Michael! I highly recommend giving net building a shot. It really is a relaxing and fun process with the ultimate payoff at the end! Thanks for watching, and be sure to check back because I have some more net builds with in cooler stuff happening in the near future.

[@deirdrejohnson8985]

Absolutely beautiful! You are a true artist!!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you so much!

[@StanRedMusic]

Just wanted to say thanks. I found a nice net submerged in the river. I was able to clean. I applied your sanding and finishing tips, brought it back to life. Looks brand new. They say “hey where’d you get that nice net?” 🙂

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Fantastic! Congrats on the find!

[@sfleisher1]

Another one! Thanks for sharing. I learned a thing or two for my next net build. Cheers and I hope you are doing well. Scott

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks, Scott! Can't wait to see what you're up to in the shop on kiowa_garageworks. How's the canoe build coming along?

[@sfleisher1]

@@RiverbendWoodworks slowly... Tons of sanding at the moment.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

@@sfleisher1 I can't wait to see the end result! It'll make all that sanding well worth it, I have no doubt.

[@leonidasleon1753]

Muy buenos tus videos amigo

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

¡Muchas gracias!

[@glennthomas4159]

Liked your landing net videos enough to get a figured maple board and a walnut board and take a shot at this. The guy at Woodcraft warned that figured woods may crack. Looks like you had no problem with the curly maple. Wrapping up a fly tying case and hope to start this next week. Thanks for the great videos!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks for the kind words! A good approach to the figured material, I've found, is to let it steam a touch longer--maybe 3 minutes for the 1/8" thick strips. This will give you even more play without totally saturating the material. Just be sure to get them in the form and bent evenly and smoothly, then keep them in the form to set a while longer than usual. You should be good to go! It's also a good idea to work with 1" wide pieces in case they do "check" on the edges so you can remove excess. Good luck!

[@keithmiller7341]

@@RiverbendWoodworks Great advice on a beautiful net my friend. If I could ask, what's the length of that handle? I'm really stuck on length, they all look too short or long. Thanks

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I believe the length on this one is 28" end-to-end, and it feels perfect, especially from a boat. I usually Mae a few templates from heavier paper or even 1/4" plywood and that helps me get a good feel for the size compared to the hook size. Hope this helps!

[@glennthomas4159]

I guess I decided to go with more of an all purpose net. My handle is done but 26”. I think end to end it’s about 40”. I’ll probably make a smaller “trout targeted” net because the project is so much fun.

[@keithmiller7341]

@@RiverbendWoodworks thanks. I'm going to do 2 since I made the jig and have extra.. 28" and 22" I think. Great piece and way to remember the memories. Thanks again

[@MrRwp1]

U gotta use it to land a big brown in Australia high country.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Oh man, that is a Life Goals kind of a trip right there! I’d make a whole new net with a brown trout in it for something that epic.

[@andrewdg90]

Amazing work! Also funny, because I just ordered some roasted tiger maple, curly walnut, and some Gaboon Ebony for some custom trout nets. That carving takes the cake! Always look forward to seeing another video posted.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks for watching, Andrew! Sounds like some amazing material to work with for sure, and I think what's really cool about these nets is they require so little material to make something amazing. I just got a piece of some incredible figured koa that was a throw-away and already have a pattern drawn up for another net.

[@andrewdg90]

@@RiverbendWoodworks awesome! Make another video! Also, any reason for using Gorilla glue over Titebond 3? I plan to use Titebond 3 with a multistage finish: TotalBoat penetrating epoxy followed by another epoxy followed by TotalBoat Halcyon for UV protection as I spend a lot of time on the trout streams come April and my current (Frabil) net is getting pretty bad. Anyway, looking forward for more content!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

@@andrewdg90 Honestly, that sounds like a great combo you have lined up, and I have considered the Titebond 3 route before because it's waterproof and all, but the epoxy sounds bulletproof! Please let me know how the combo goes!

[@andrewdg90]

@@RiverbendWoodworks will do, thanks!

[@AKSawdust]

Watched quite a few of your videos - really good stuff. Haven’t used gorilla glue much, curious if there is a reason you choose that brand?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks Brian, much appreciated. I primarily go with the Gorilla Glue because it is 100% waterproof and the bond is insanely hard. Another reason (under most circumstances) is because it sets up and dries quickly, making for a faster demold time. I am going to steer away from Gorilla Glue if the shop temp is over 70 degrees though, as it sets up so fast it is really stressful. For hotter temps, I’ll go with Titebond 3 and put a little water on the strips to help extend the dry time a few more minutes. Hope this helps!

[@briancook5873]

@@RiverbendWoodworks Thanks. I appreciate the info. I'll have to give it a try... don't have to worry about 70+ in AK too often.

[@valabaster1215]

What a amazeing build......where do ya get your laminates strips from having hard times sourcing materials

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I actually make my laminated strips for the hoop using my table saw, though you can use a bandsaw as well and save a bunch of wasted material because of blade width. As far as pre-made strips, it’s kind of tough, and it may end up requiring something like thicker veneers found online. This can make the glue up process a little longer and more layers, but should work well.

[@patrickkelley4082]

Really a unique and interesting concept, great job. You made me nervous drilling the lanyard fitting, not much room for error. When are you going to break it in?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

It was a tight squeeze on the lanyard for sure! I think the day we hit 50 degrees here is the day this gets a trail run :-)

[@joebrink62]

Looks great! Your koa net inspired me to try making a net myself, and I've been trying to decide what finish to use. Have you found that the spar urethane does a good job at waterproofing the net?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Hi Joe, thanks for watching. The spar urethane on the koa net has held up incredibly well, and I've beat it up pretty well this season backpack fishing, kicking it around the bottom of my canoe, and lugging it all over the state. So far, so good! I'm really glad you're trying out net building! It's such a fun and relaxing hobby and a great way to use up those smaller pieces of highly-figured wood!

[@rudolphvarshine1606]

Pieces Use bicycle inner tube straps to hold the bow strips also the bow to the handle it will be tighter when you stretch the rubber straps they will be tighter than any clamp you hold

[@mitchelrowe9630]

Very nice job. Im not sure if someone already asked. Where do you get the molds to bend the wood ?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I actually make each one myself based on the common sizes of net basket I buy. It's a little bit of trial & error to get perfect, but once you got a good form, you're ready to roll for a long time and a lot of net builds. Would you be interested in seeing a video on the process I go through to make a basket mold?

[@mitchelrowe9630]

@@RiverbendWoodworks Yes that would be awesome !

[@mitchelrowe9630]

I want to start making landing nets for Steelhead and Atlantic salmon.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

@@mitchelrowe9630 Now that's a beast of a net and would be an awesome build!

[@scotthawley7282]

Have you tried a spokeshave for shaping the handle?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

You know, I haven’t tried it yet, but I do have an antique spokeshave here on my bench that I’ve been itching to try! Thinking I’ll give it a shot!

[@TheOutdoorsman]

Amazing work! What is the thickness of the net handle and strips if you don't mind sharing

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

The handle on this one is a bit of an odd ball. The max thickness on the epoxy end is just under 1”, and it narrows slightly at the thinnest part of the handle (it’s perhaps 3/4” thick there), then it gets back to just under 1” thick for the hoop. It makes for a unique feel and appearance and is kind of hard to see in the video. Hope this helps!

[@TheOutdoorsman]

@@RiverbendWoodworks that definitely does, thank you so much!

[@TheOutdoorsman]

@@RiverbendWoodworks 1 last question, do you based the size of the entire landing net around the size of netting you can buy? I'm wanting to build one and want to use the silicone netting, I have a size and shape in mind for my build but don't want to get all the way through the build and not be able to find the correct size netting

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

@@TheOutdoorsman I have always purchased the net basket I wanted (usually in centimeters) and build a form off that to ensure a good fit.

[@TheOutdoorsman]

@@RiverbendWoodworks thank you!

[@bulentsanat8722]

Wonderful work.. may i ask? Which kind of wood u created fish? Thx..

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

The wood I used for the fish was bass wood. I also like to carve smaller fish with Tupelo wood as well. Thanks for watching!

[@caseystekly2178]

Awesome! How thin and wide are you making the strips for the hoop?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

These strips are just under 3/16" thick, and this ends up being a pretty heavy duty net hoop. You probably could do 1/8" strips and be good even for the heaviest of fish, but that's kind of something you can change to fit your personal style. Thanks for watching!

[@raymondistenes1604]

Do you have a template for your patterns? Or have you just based your sizes off of typical nets you can buy online. I am looking to try to make some nets and don't want to reinvent the wheel for the general pattern if I don't have too. Great work and attention to detail.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

The template you see is actually just one of my own making based on the circumference of the net basket itself (120cm in this case), and I just made it to fit in the shape I liked best. There are net baskets available in all sizes, so find one you like size wise and give it a shot on matching that with a template! May take a try or two, but it’s pretty fun!

[@raymondistenes1604]

@@RiverbendWoodworks Thanks, I am ready to give it a shot.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

@@raymondistenes1604 Fantastic! I'd love to see your progress, if you'd like to share it on Instagram. You can find my at @riverbend_woodworks and shoot me a message there. I also love to share others work on my KZbin channel as well to spotlight it!

[@caseystekly2178]

What did you use for the brass eyelet for the lanyard? I can’t find anything to use!! Thanks

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Oddly enough the "brass" shown in the video turned out to be brass plated steel--which I has no clue was even a thing. I have since gone to our local hardware store, similar to a Home Depot, and in the plumbing department they're sure to have a good selection of brass tubing in all sizes for ya. Just scuff the exterior surface before installing it and use plenty of adhesive to seal the raw wood edges inside the mounting hole. Good luck and thanks for watching!

[@tomhowes2966]

What is the width (not thickness) of the strips? Same as the handle thickness?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Hi Tom, Yes, the strips are the same 1" thickness as the handle. All the tapering was done after the glue up with the combo sander and rasp to get the slim waist on it. The feel of this net is one of my absolute favorites in-hand. Thanks for watching!

[@tomhowes2966]

Riverbend Woodworks, thanks for the quick reply. This will help me get started. You do beautiful work and your video is very helpful.

[@nagazinafireworks7594]

Would you consider selling one of those I would love to buy one

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I’m actually not taking orders at this time, but plan to have a website ready in the near future where these builds and other work will be available.

[@9909drew]

Do you or are you willing to sell your fish carvings for net handles?

[@henrynorton2537]

Do you sell any ?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I do, however the lead time on these is quite long, so if you’re not in too big a hurry, and possibly would like one that ends up in a video like this, I’d love to hear from ya! My email is on the ‘About’ tab on my KZbin main page, so please feel free to touch base!