fishing nets are one of the oldest fishing gear used. they are made with all kinds of fabric like nylon, cotton, grass, flax, and tree fibers. fish nets date back to 8500 bc in . native americans made their nets on the columbia river from grass, cedar, and spruce root fibers. dip netting started in 1989 in the copper river, but the alaskan board finally made it official for residents in the spring of 1996.