The following are the steps we did to make a fly fishing net from scratch

Supplies

Wood planks in two contrasting colors preferably two kinds of hard wood
Wood Glue
Scrap wood to construct the jig
lots of clamps
Nylon String for stringing up the net
40 inch rubber fishing net
Wood filler

Step 1: Tools

Table saw
drill and drill bits
Table router
CNC router
Sand paper
Clamps
Sewing needles
band saw
Jointer
Thin rip Table saw jig

Step 2: Prepping the Wood

Cut planks down to 60 in with a miter saw. Joint the planks on one side. Then use the jointed side against the fence on the table saw, the first cut piece is scrap. Then rip 1/8 in strips with thin rip table saw jig. Create a device that can hold water and hold the strips that you have cut. We used a PVC pipe that we sealed at one end. Then leave the wood to soak for two weeks for easy bending.

Step 3: The Jig

To set up the jig you will need some scrap wood to cut the jig out of and a bigger board of scrap wood to screw the jig onto. Use the file provided to cut out the jig on the CNC machine. If you want to try to cut out the handles now would be the time to do so.

Step 4: Bending the Wood and Glueing

Now it is time to bend the wood. If it has soaked for the recommended 2 weeks this should be easy. Take 3 strips of wood out of your tube, they should be in an alternating pattern with one dark or light sandwiched between two strips of the opposite color. Now line up the center of the strips with the center of the jig and clamp it down. Start bending the first strip go slow and clamp it down once you get about halfway down the head of the net. bend the strip around the handle and clamp the strip around the main body of the handle as well as the neck where the handle breaks off into the head. Repeat this with the remaining strips and leave clamped over night. After leaving the wood to dry overnight you can remove the clamps and apply glue liberally to the strips and the handle and re-clamp it onto the jig and leave it for another night.

Step 5: Sanding and Routing

After the glue has dried remove it from the jig and cut off any extra wood from the handle. Now begin sanding all the out side edges of the net. Next pay special attention to the handle. making sure that it is smooth and comfortable to grip and make sure there are no sharp edges. Now that you have sanded it is time to route the grove that will be used to string the net. Using a 3/16 inch table router bit set the bit height to about halfway up the outside of the net. Start cutting where the handle transforms into the head of the net and finish at the same point on the other side.

Step 6: Adding Finish

After you have finished sanding and routing the groove it is time to add the poly-coat. Make sure you are adding the coat on a clean surface. Apply the poly-coat liberally on the net. When done hangup the net on the drying rack and check occasionally for runs. Apply as many coats as needed to get a smooth feeling texture.

Step 7: Drilling Holes and Stringing the Net

Make marks in the grove that are 1 inch apart. Make sure to go all the way around the net. Drill a hole at every mark using a 3/16 inch drill bit making sure to go all the way through. Measure out about 80 inches of the nylon thread. Tie a knot at one end of the string and thread the non knot end through a needle. Push the needle though the first hole wrap it around the top row of the net and push the needle back though the same hole making sure to pull for tension. Repeat this for the rest of the holes making sure that the string is nice and tight as you work you way around.