Yo (Thai Lift Net) — a Square Net on Crossed Bamboo Arms, Set Still Underwater, Then Lifted Slowly to Catch Fish and Shrimp

"The net panel is set to 'stop' on the bottom under the water for a while; when fish are expected to have come over the net, it is 'lifted' 'slowly', because the fine-mesh panel drags against the water and the fish must not be startled into escaping first." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author ทำนุ วรธงไชย (Thamnu Worathongchai), CC BY 4.0)

Cut a straight bamboo about 2 metres long as the pole. Split bamboo into two arms and tie them crossed in an X at the end of the pole.

Cut a fine-mesh net to a square of about 120 x 120 to 150 x 150 cm and tie a cord at each of its four corners.

Bend the ends of the bamboo arms down in arches and tie the four corners of the net to them, so the net hangs in a hollow under the pole, as in the real photos.

Photos of real yo nets from the Nong Bua Khok Folk Museum (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author ทำนุ วรธงไชย (Thamnu Worathongchai), CC BY 4.0).

Set it along rivers, streams and canals, especially when the water runs high in the rainy season. Lower the net to the bottom. In still water or in the dry season, use a bait of rice bran pressed with cooked rice or shrimp paste. Leave it a while, then lift it slowly; lifted fast, the fish take fright and escape. Draw the pole in towards you and take the fish and shrimp out with a coconut shell, a bowl or the hand into a fish basket.

A large yo has a net of 3 x 3 to 5 x 5 metres on a heavy pole weighted at its butt, set up on the bank or on a raft. In some parts of the Northeast the small yo is called "sadung" (startle), because the fish and shrimp leap and start in the net as it is lifted. Take care when standing in fast-flowing water at high water. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "ยอ", author ทำนุ วรธงไชย (Thamnu Worathongchai), Nong Bua Khok Folk Museum, Buriram (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives the bamboo frame as about 35 cm long, which is shorter than the net's diagonal; this blueprint makes the arms long enough to reach the net's corners, as in the real photos.