Wagner

As the year of 2018 came to an end, one last custom net needed to be made.  I got a call from a client wanting to commission the largest net I could make.  Well, that's a tall order (literally and figuratively) since Christmas was right around the corner.  I mapped out my day job schedule and figured I would have enough time.  Thus, this behemoth of a net was born!  I've only made one other net this large, so the thought of making another excited me.  It's a challenge!  Nine total hoop strips at 8 feet long made the glueup frantic.  I use a waterproof wood glue that has an open time of about 10 minutes, and it takes about 30 minutes to apply all the clamps for a net this size...  Talk about stress!

The hoop is nine strips of wenge, maple, and sapele cut from a thicker stock of wood.  The handle is curly maple with some spalting, laminated with wenge for rigidity.  The curly maple used on this net handle has curls that have dramatic movement when moved in the light!  That wood is without rival.  With an overall length of 71 inches, and a hoop size of approximately 22x29 inches, this net is ready for some serious steelhead and salmon action here in the Pacific Northwest!