How to Tie a Bag in an Oyster Dredge

Oyster dredging requires certain equipment if you want to catch anything. A dredge bag is connected to a trawl line and pulled behind a boat on the bottom of the sea to collect your goodies. You can construct a nylon mesh bag and tie it off, shape wire loops together to make a bag shape or you can just buy a pre-made oyster dredge. The nylon mesh is lighter than the metal dredge and easier to construct.

Things You'll Need

  • Nylon 2-inch mesh No. 21 thread seine webbing
  • Ruler
  • Marker
  • Scissors
  • Nylon string
  • Nylon drawstring
  • 5/16-inch polypropylene rope
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay a rectangle sheet of nylon 2-inch mesh No. 21 thread seine webbing out on a flat surface. Measure, mark and cut a rectangle that is 40 inches across and 80 inches long.

    • 2

      Fold the rectangle in half and match up the corners. Position the nylon webbing with the folded section pointed away from you and the open sections pointed toward you.

    • 3

      Tie one end of a nylon string at one corner of the folded edge with a square knot. Weave the nylon string away from the folded edge and continue going in and out of the holes of the mesh webbing on two adjacent sides. Tie the end off with a square knot when you reach the end of the second side. This will construct the bag with one side open, two sides laced together and the folded edge. Make sure the knot is nice and tight. Cut off any excess string.

    • 4

      Grab one end of a nylon drawstring and weave it through the edge of the webbing where the opening is. Don't weave the sides of the opening together, just weave it through the webbing to secure the drawstring in place. Once you have made a complete circular pass and end up where you started, tie the ends together in a square knot.

    • 5

      Connect the drawstring to a trawl line with a square knot. A 5/16-inch polypropylene rope works well for this.