How to Tie a Cast Net

Load the shuttle, rotating it to fill the top and bottom points of each side (moving in one direction only), with the appropriate amount of cord. If you run out of cord during your weaving, you can attach additional thread with a square knot and trimming the tag ends.

Wrap the cord twice around the gauge, then tie it into a square knot. Remove the gauge, and pull the doubled loop into one loop. Trim off the tag end of your knot. Hook the loop, or mesh, around a stable item that will keep the line steady as you work; turn the loop's knot a quarter turn to the left and hold the gauge under the straight line of your cord.

Bringing your cord around and under the gauge to the right underside of this first mesh, thread the shuttle through the center of the mesh and pull the resulting knot tightly. The gauge, now cinched within the second mesh, rests under the new knot. The second mesh lies just below and to the left of the first one.

Holding the knot of the second mesh against the top of gauge, bring the shuttle from the left over to the right, creating an open loop. Thread the shuttle from under the right side through the center of the second mesh, pulling the shuttle through the open loop to create a new mesh under the first mesh and to the right of the second mesh. Cinch the resulting knot tightly against the top of gauge. Remove the gauge and set it below the knot, under the working cord. Repeat until you have reached a chain of two rows of 41 loops, then join the chain end-to-end to create a chain of two rows of 42 loops.

Fan out the net so that you see two rows of meshes. Load the meshes in one row onto a hinged metal ring that is clamped between two pieces of plastic. Secure this plastic clamp to a sturdy and stable fixture so that you can continue weaving the net.

Start a third row of meshes. Add widener knots to expand your net. Starting with the fourth row, add a widener every third loop. Knot the next two rows normally, and then, on the seventh row, add a widener knot every fourth loop. Knot the next two rows normally, and then on the 10th row, add one widener knot every fifth loop, and so on. Continue tying the net as before, until it is the size you want.

Add weights to your net. The easiest way to add weights to your net is by adding round smashed lead weights to the entire circumference of your net. Slip the lead line of each mesh into the split cut of each weight, and smash the weight shut with a hammer. Add four weights to each of the compass points, and then four more between those points, to add two points overall to your net. The extra weight will help the net sink faster, capturing more fish.