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#21 Guest_mette_*

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Posted 09 January 2008 - 10:55 PM

I'm short a dipnet right now but otherwise would love to do something like that.

I have a 55 gallon "pond/swamp/bog tank" that is just about ready for some fish & plants now. Doing a water change on it right now, as a matter of fact.

I could use a better dipnet, too. And then maybe some slow-water darters and Umbra for my 75 - also a swamp. I grow some native plants, too, but all I really have going well right now is Ludwigia palustris and parrot's feather. So there's a whole other list of things I'm looking for.

Are you having any luck finding a good dipnet online? I will probably go with a Cummings, I like wood handles.

#22 Guest_viridari_*

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Posted 09 January 2008 - 11:23 PM

Are you having any luck finding a good dipnet online? I will probably go with a Cummings, I like wood handles.


I'm ordering either a Cumings or a collapsible (metal handle) one from Jonah's when I get paid next week. Yeah that metal gets cold when the water is cold but I only drive a wee jetta so the ability to shrink the net down in size for transport is attractive.

My plant lighting will be here on Friday.

I'll update this thread when I've got a dipnet delivery ETA so we can plan an outing.

#23 Guest_mette_*

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Posted 10 January 2008 - 05:38 PM

I'm ordering either a Cumings or a collapsible (metal handle) one from Jonah's when I get paid next week. Yeah that metal gets cold when the water is cold but I only drive a wee jetta so the ability to shrink the net down in size for transport is attractive.

My plant lighting will be here on Friday.

I'll update this thread when I've got a dipnet delivery ETA so we can plan an outing.

I talked to the Cummings folks today and they sent me to one of their distributors, who quoted me $25.50 plus $12 shipping for the 270-12-SG. That sounds pretty good to me. If you're interested, additional nets are a negligible increase in shipping costs. I'll probably get two anyhow so I can bring a friend along.

Cold weather? What's that? But you're right, I may regret the 58" fixed length of the Cummings. Maybe not a great choice for a net that lives in the trunk. There's a fold-up contraption of a dip net on sale at Cabelas.

#24 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 10 January 2008 - 05:47 PM

I could use a better dipnet, too. And then maybe some slow-water darters and Umbra for my 75 - also a swamp. I grow some native plants, too, but all I really have going well right now is Ludwigia palustris and parrot's feather. So there's a whole other list of things I'm looking for.


I hate to say it, but "parrot's feather" usually refers to Myriophyllum aquaticum, a non-native that is generally considered to be an invasive pest species.

#25 Guest_viridari_*

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Posted 10 January 2008 - 07:05 PM

I talked to the Cummings folks today and they sent me to one of their distributors, who quoted me $25.50 plus $12 shipping for the 270-12-SG. That sounds pretty good to me. If you're interested, additional nets are a negligible increase in shipping costs. I'll probably get two anyhow so I can bring a friend along.


I'm interested! Can I paypal you or something to make this happen? I guess we should take this to PM at this point.

#26 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 10 January 2008 - 08:33 PM

I talked to the Cummings folks today and they sent me to one of their distributors, who quoted me $25.50 plus $12 shipping for the 270-12-SG. That sounds pretty good to me. If you're interested, additional nets are a negligible increase in shipping costs. I'll probably get two anyhow so I can bring a friend along.

Cold weather? What's that? But you're right, I may regret the 58" fixed length of the Cummings. Maybe not a great choice for a net that lives in the trunk. There's a fold-up contraption of a dip net on sale at Cabelas.


While I can't vouch for it fitting in your trunk, I think you can't go wrong with the Cummings net 270-12-SG. I'd be willing to bet that the collapsable net on sale at Cabelas (I looked at it) will fall apart when used for catching small fish. Collecting natives is a lot rougher on nets than when landing game fish. You'll be banging them against rocks and shoving them through vegetation. The Cummings net has a great protective bar and plastic edge cover which makes it perfect for this type of abuse! I suppose you could always order two: a full size to keep at home, and then cut down the other so that it fits in the trunk!

#27 Guest_mette_*

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Posted 11 January 2008 - 12:30 AM

I hate to say it, but "parrot's feather" usually refers to Myriophyllum aquaticum, a non-native that is generally considered to be an invasive pest species.

I am referring to M. aquaticum, and although it's introduced I tolerate it in my tanks because it grows like crazy. I plan to eventually replace it with some Proserpinaca palustris cuttings I'm growing out for that purpose.

I'm interested! Can I paypal you or something to make this happen? I guess we should take this to PM at this point.

PM sent!

While I can't vouch for it fitting in your trunk, I think you can't go wrong with the Cummings net 270-12-SG. I'd be willing to bet that the collapsable net on sale at Cabelas (I looked at it) will fall apart when used for catching small fish. Collecting natives is a lot rougher on nets than when landing game fish. You'll be banging them against rocks and shoving them through vegetation. The Cummings net has a great protective bar and plastic edge cover which makes it perfect for this type of abuse! I suppose you could always order two: a full size to keep at home, and then cut down the other so that it fits in the trunk!

Yes, I hear that Cabelas net is pretty flimsy, but a long net I can get into a backpack is a pretty attractive idea. I currently keep an 18" bait net with my always-in-the-trunk fish and herp gear, and it's often too short to be useful while still not fitting in my pack. But maybe I should just get better seine brailes instead.

Thanks for the recommendation on the Cummings, it looks like a winner.

#28 Guest_drewish_*

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Posted 11 January 2008 - 12:43 AM

Yes, I hear that Cabelas net is pretty flimsy, but a long net I can get into a backpack is a pretty attractive idea. I currently keep an 18" bait net with my always-in-the-trunk fish and herp gear, and it's often too short to be useful while still not fitting in my pack. But maybe I should just get better seine brailes instead.


The Cabelas net is flimsy but useful nonetheless. Like you said, I keep it in the back of my truck for those what-is-in-that-water moments. It is good for kicking rocks in slower riffles. It is stiff enough to stab at shiners in small pools. Just don't try to lift rocks, weeds, or plants with it.

The Cumings is nice but has its limitations. I was on the Clinch R. during one of its swifter periods and stuck the net in a swift current. It snapped while trying to keep it in place. The Perfect dipnet was able to withstand this current because of the different construction.

I still recommend the Cumings because of the wood handle, cheaper price, and the design of the net.

#29 Guest_mette_*

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Posted 03 February 2008 - 12:06 AM

While I can't vouch for it fitting in your trunk, I think you can't go wrong with the Cummings net 270-12-SG.

Good call - it's here and about 2" too long for the trunk. Sell the car!



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