The Secret to a Great Catch is in the Net
Species Featured in This Article: Amboyna
The Secret to a Great Catch is in the Net
SPECIES FEATURED IN THIS ARTICLE: AMBOYNA FIND INFORMATION ON THIS AND ADDITIONAL SPECIES AT WWW.IWPAWOOD.ORG
One way people are dealing with the COVID pandemic is by pursuing hobbies that can be enjoyed safely. The sport of fly-fishing is one that has surged in popularity as anglers target beautiful fish in beautiful locales using aesthetically pleasing equipment like nets from Brady’s Handmade Nets.
Joshua Brady and his father, Russell, craft custom fly-fishing nets from a small workshop in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They started back in 2015 when a beautiful day on the river ended with a fall and a broken net. Josh and his dad decided to use the old net as a template and make a new one. Later that year, they made two nets as Christmas gifts and posted the photos on Facebook. Unexpectedly, someone saw the photos and asked Brady to make him a net. Over time, more requests came in.
In 2017, Brady was dabbling in netmaking while rehabbing from an injury and again posted some of his handmade nets online, this time on Facebook and Instagram. An order came in the very first day. “By May of 2019, we had established our brand and become connected with the online fly-fishing community of guides, outfitters and enthusiasts, and business took off,” Brady said.
Brady works with many exotics, including Tigerwood, Wenge, Purpleheart, Lacewood, African Mahogany (Sapele), Cumaru and Paduk and has done custom orders with woods such as Mesquite. His favorite species is Amboyna Burl, a beautiful tropical hardwood indigenous to Malaysia and also found in the Philippines, Borneo, Burma, New Guinea and Indonesia. Amboyna Burl is heavy, dense, moderately hard with strong bending strength and strength in compression parallel to grain. “Visually, it’s a beautiful, rich mixture of figure, burl, eyes, blisters and a vivid deep red-orange color.”
Customers choose nets based mostly on visual appeal, according to Brady. “They are mainly drawn to a net’s color, figuring, and luster. They may request that we woodburn an image into the handle to add to the uniqueness of the net. It might be a portrait of a trophy fish, a name or logo.”
Brady selects wood pieces in two categories. For the hoop, he looks for long, straight grain, no warping, and a moderate amount of figuring. For the handle, it’s all about figuring.
Other key characteristics are size, comfort in the hand, durability and weight. “The net’s design is important so that the fish emerges safely. Nets are sized according to the target species, whether trout, steelhead, bass, salmon, etc.,” he says.
Brady’s business has increased by about 25 percent since April 2020, when the impact of the COVID pandemic began to be felt. “People cannot socialize or go to the office. What better way to cope than to go fly-fishing and enjoy a beautiful day outdoors? We’ve experienced a few sourcing delays in supplies of lumber, netting and epoxy, but we’re on pace to continue to grow.”
This business has brought me closer to my dad, plus it gives me time for family and for fishing. I feel truly blessed.”
Frequently asked questions
Who makes Brady's Handmade Nets and where are they located?+
Joshua Brady and his father, Russell, craft custom fly-fishing nets from a small workshop in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They began making nets in 2015 after a fall on the river broke their net.
What wood species does Brady's Handmade Nets use for fly-fishing nets?+
Brady works with many exotics including Tigerwood, Wenge, Purpleheart, Lacewood, African Mahogany (Sapele), Cumaru, and Padauk. He also takes custom orders using woods such as Mesquite, and his favorite species is Amboyna Burl.
Why is Amboyna Burl a favored wood for handmade fishing nets?+
Amboyna Burl is heavy, dense, and moderately hard with strong bending strength and strength in compression parallel to grain. Visually, it offers a rich mixture of figure, burl, eyes, blisters, and a vivid deep red-orange color.
Where does Amboyna Burl come from?+
Amboyna Burl is a tropical hardwood indigenous to Malaysia. It is also found in the Philippines, Borneo, Burma, New Guinea, and Indonesia.
How does Brady select wood for the hoop versus the handle of a net?+
For the hoop, Brady looks for long, straight grain with no warping and a moderate amount of figuring. For the handle, it's all about the figuring.
How has the COVID pandemic affected demand for handmade fly-fishing nets?+
Brady's business increased by about 25 percent after April 2020, as people turned to fly-fishing as a safe outdoor hobby during the pandemic. The company experienced some sourcing delays for lumber, netting, and epoxy but continued to grow.