Cage for fishing - which is the best to choose?

Acage for fishing – a natural element of equipment of any fisherman, whether it is a fan of fishing from the shore or a follower of fishing from a boat, who plans to keep the catch alive or at least fresh. Except that cages for this purpose are used differently. They differ in shape, length, material, etc.

Table of Contents

Cage for fishing from a boat

Cages for fishing from a boat are floating and sinking. As a rule, a floating cage has a small size, on its first ring coming from the neck, there are floats that keep it afloat. Of course, the material of such a cage is a net of fishing line or strong kapron threads to facilitate the design as a whole. A definite convenience is the absence of the need to make unnecessary movements, as in the case of using a sinking cage.

A sinking cage is often made of metal mesh woven from corrosion-resistant wire, and has a spring-loaded valve in the neck to prevent loss of catch. In a boat it is used when it is not possible to keep the catch for a long time in the warm, surface layer of water, so it is lowered to the bottom. In all cases where the accessory is used in the boat, the length of the cage is not more than one meter, since longer products cause certain inconveniences. There are special cases when “sport” (length from 2.5 meters) cages are modernized, by adding floats to them and placing them along the side of the boat, but this is a questionable convenience. Built-in cages with aerators and other refinements are not considered, as this is a separate topic for a minority of anglers.

Cages for fishing from the shore

Cages for fishing from the shore have many types and subspecies with differences in numerous criteria and characteristics. First of all, the choice will depend on the place where fishing is most often assumed. For ease of selection, here is a table:

Fishing conditions	Cage	Notes
Gentle bank of the water body	Standard cage made of fishing line or kapron material up to 1-1.5 meters long, but if the shallow water is long enough, a long cage of “sport” size is desirable.	The material of the cage can be different, but it is worth remembering that the cloth ones are most susceptible to retention of a specific odor.
A precipitous shore of a water body	A cage of 1.5 meters or more. Alternatively, a cage made of metal mesh, tied to a long halyard, fixed on the bank.	If it is supposed to be a short-term fishing, you can use a large fishing can or a bucket of water to preserve the catch.
The shore is lined with slabs, the continuation on the bottom is stony or slabs. The banks of artificial channels.	A cage from 1.5 meters or more. In order that the net is not rubbed on the arcs on the rough surface of the slabs, for example, it is necessary either to protect it yourself or to use specially arranged cages, in which the possibility of protection is provided, ie the net passes inside the arcs.	There are models of cages where the mesh runs on the outside of the arcs forming it, but the corners are protected by additional protection and serve as a support. Thus, the cage material is not subjected to critical loads in the absence of tight contact with slabs, stones, etc. The material of the cage is not subjected to critical loads.
A body of water with currents or actively used for navigation and water activities.	Long cage of rectangular cross-section with mandatory protection of the material from close contact with the bottom.	The rectangular cross-section prevents the cage from twisting, keeping the catch in proper shape.
Bridges and bridges, high crossings.	Metal mesh cage tied to a long halyard attached to a hydraulic structure.	A spring-loaded valve at the neck is mandatory, but there are cages with two valves. The presence of the second on the bottom of the cage does not guarantee the safety of the catch in cases where it has to be raised and lowered to a considerable height with a weighty catch.

Cages “carp” and for sport fishing

Separately, it is worth noting the cages for sport fishing, as well as the so-called “carp” cages. The first differ primarily in size, because according to the regulations of international competitions, the cage must be at least 4 meters long. And for regional competitions, it is allowed to use a cage from 2.5 meters. As for the “carp” – in addition to the size (length and size of the neck), it uses a special material from which a fine mesh is connected, in order to exclude injuries to fish.

What to pay attention to when choosing a cage?

When choosing a cage should also focus on comfort, which is facilitated by the low weight of the product, as well as the material from which it is made.

1. Weight

If there are no additional fasteners for fixing the cage on the ground or using additional shipping to eliminate excessive buoyancy, the low weight can cause some discomfort when fishing in windy conditions or when fishing on currents. And also during the excitement of the water mirror, the initially stretched cage will constantly shift.

2. Material.

The material, in terms of comfort, provides the absence of specific odors when storing it after fishing. Fabric cage, stained with fish slime, is not the best fishing accessory, even if you washed it well after fishing. Therefore, you should look towards cages made of rubberized nets, silicone or fishing line. They are the least absorb water, and therefore dry quickly and do not smell when stored somewhere on the balcony or in the trunk of the car.

3. shoulder bags for walking fishing and fly fishing.

In between are shoulder bags or baskets, which are used mainly in fly fishing – also cages, but for fly fishing. Products that can keep your catch fresh for a long time, such as linen bags, will have an advantage. But everything is relative, because as you use it each time it will be more difficult to restore the desired look of the cage. Some anglers repurpose short cages from rubberized netting or fishing line, mounting a belt mount to free their hands, settling for little else. But there are also classicists who use birch bark bins/baskets lined with grass to better preserve their catch.

Thus, an angler practicing different types of fishing and wishing to keep his catch fresh, can have at least two cages in his arsenal, the most suitable for certain conditions.

Author: Bob Nudd is an expert fisherman with over 20 years experience and winner of many competitions.