How to Make a DIY Dip Net for Landing Large Fish from Shore

An after-work fish at a dam near Melbourne or a weekend trip to a river near Brisbane can end with a good fish that will not fit a small hand net. A DIY dip net gives shore anglers a longer reach, a wide hoop and full control without the bulk of a boat net.

Design matters because golden perch, Australian bass, Murray cod and large carp rarely sit still for the final metre. The net should be light enough to control, strong enough to take a surge, and soft enough not to abrade fins or gills.

Choose the fish before choosing the net

Start with the fish you actually target and the bank you actually fish. Bass and perch around Sydney and reservoirs near Melbourne can be landed with a smaller hoop than a Murray cod from a steep riverbank, while silver carp in a Victorian dam may demand a deeper bag and a reinforced mouth.

Measure your reach before buying material. From a high platform, a hoop may need a 1.2–1.8 metre handle; on a low mudflat, extra length can make control harder. Test the setup empty on dry ground before committing to a wet, slippery session.

A hoop around 50–70 cm across is a useful starting point for heavy shore fish. Keep the mouth wide, the bag deep enough to contain the fish, and the rig light enough to lift. Patience and preparation matter here, just as they do when breaking in a new rifle barrel: test the setup before the pressure arrives.

Build a hoop that handles a surge

For the frame, 20–25 mm PVC pressure pipe is light and inexpensive; 16 mm aluminium tubing is stronger where fish are powerful. Cut two lengths, join them with a short reinforcing sleeve and marine epoxy, and clamp the pieces square until the adhesive cures. Thin garden hose is not a substitute.

Bunnings aisles have the pipe, tape and epoxy, while Australian tackle shops supply landing-net accessories. An old sectional garage door can also provide aluminium offcuts: the roles of sections, rollers and tracks in garage door parts make it easier to identify smooth channel sections for a handle extension, though not as a load-bearing hoop.

Never repurpose torsion springs or sharp panels. Fit the hoop ends into a handle socket, secure them with epoxy and a positive mechanical restraint such as stainless bolts, then smooth every cut edge before adding mesh. An aluminium handle needs a cross-brace at the grip against twisting.

Attach soft mesh without weak joins

Choose dark, knotless nylon mesh with a 10–20 mm opening, depending on the target species, and cut a bag roughly 50–70 cm deep. Insect screening is too flimsy, while coarse woven net can rub scales. A pre-made net bag can often be transferred to a DIY frame.

Roll the cut edge around the hoop, then lash it to the frame with waxed braided cord every 25–30 mm. Cable ties can stop the mesh shifting, but they should not be the main connection; UV exposure makes them brittle and a sharp fish can split the edge.

Close the bottom with a knotless mesh panel or a reinforced sewn seam, leaving no hard rim to catch the fish. A square bag is easier to make and gives useful depth, although a rounded bottom reduces the number of corners where a fish can snag.

Land the fish with a quiet, deliberate sequence

Keep the fish moving in open water and away from branches, rocks and boat moorings. When it approaches, lower the hoop ahead of it rather than chasing from behind. Let the fish enter, sweep the mouth under the body, and lift only after the weight is balanced.

On a steep bank, do not try to raise a heavy fish straight into the air. Let it swim in a small bag or wet net, support it with one hand, and use a fish gripper for a controlled lift. This protects your back and prevents a thrashing fish from snapping the handle.

Keep the fish wet, use wet hands, and revive it in shaded water before release. A hand dip net is normally a legal landing aid, but freshwater rules differ by state: check Fish NSW, VicFish or Queensland rules for size limits, protected species and required handling. Do not target protected fish.

A practical kit and final landing checks

Make the net a complete shore kit rather than a hoop hidden in the garage. These checks keep the build consistent and make the landing less hurried.

Building and packing

• A 50–70 cm hoop of suitable diameter, with every joint sanded and secure.
• A 1.2–1.8 m handle sized for the bank, plus a short grip or cross-brace.
• Knotless nylon mesh, braided lashing cord, marine epoxy and UV-resistant cable ties.
• A fish gripper, wet net or small keepnet, plus a spare hook and line in the tackle bag.

Landing and releasing

• Maintain light line tension without dragging the fish towards an overhead net.
• Lower the hoop into the fish’s path, sweep under it and wait for the fish to settle.
• Keep the fish supported in water, revive it in shade and release it according to the local rules.

Practise the swing on the lawn with the empty net, then rehearse the angle of approach at the bank. Keep the mesh wet during repeated attempts and check the hoop for cracks after every heavy fish.

Remember the essentials: a sound hoop, a patient landing and careful handling protect the fish and the tackle you have worked hard to use.