Hello,
I am looking for a well built fish friendly landing net. I want one that is easy to use and carry but also looks good. I want mesh that will not harm the fish and allow for easy release. WHat experiences have you guys and gals had with different nets. Any really good nets that are not too expensive? By the way I will be using it for mostly trout.
Thanks a lot,
They get in the way. I only use one while in the canoe. Pinch your barbs down and remove that fly without removing the fish from the water. If you must lift the fish just wet your hands and use them instead.
To each his own. Just MHO.
Fisknat nets are great. Beautifully made with rubber net bags that won’t harm fish or snag hooks. Probably don’t qualify as inexpensive, but the criteria of well built, looks good, fish friendly, and cheap don’t usually go hand-and-hand.
mAngler
Not too expensive is a vauge term. It does not mean cheap and it does not mean outrageous. An affordable net, something of good qaulity one can invest in, without going down the “custom made” way, where the artistic input causes the prices to be inflated.
cheap by no means, i hate that term because it carries with it too many other concepts.
I agree with the hands method. But I often fish from shore or off a path, where I do not have waders. Getting down into the water is not always an option. Also if i am in a canoe, most the time i can use my hands, but I feel having a net wouldnt be a bad thing. Also I have the fishpond sagebush which has a beauitful pocket at the back where you can tuck a net.
thanks for the replies.
Do you care about measuring your fish?
D,
Not too much, im one of those eye-ball type of fishermen. I eye ball it. It always makes me feel good about myself :P. Im not too concerned about it, But if it was a part of the net, then I wouldnt complain. I know you can get those things that clamp onto the handle that allow you to measure also.
Flytyer,
I second mAnglers choice of FiskNat nets. I own three of them and really like them. I have two long handled nets that I use while fishing the lakes in my WaterMaster Raft or my pontoon boat and one short handled net for fishing smaller streams.
Bob Nelson is the owner and he produces a great hand made net. He is using the newer light weight rubber netting on all his nets now and that really makes for a fisher friendly net.
Check out his web site. You can?t go wrong with FiskNat
Larry 
—sagefisher—
I like a net with a long handle and rubber netting. I haven’t been able to find the combo of long handle + rubber netting + shallow net. I don’t think a net needs to be more than about 8 inches deep. Shallow makes it easier to get the fish out of the net without any harm. Fish get lost and tangled up in a deep net. I believe a shallow rubber net is easier on the fish than grabbing it by my hands. It gives me control and I can get the barbless hook out easily then just lower the net and let the fish swim away.
By the way some States and Provinces have banned nets that have knots in their construction. So be aware of that rule.
I epoxy a 3 foot measuring tape, the kind you find in sewing shops, to the long wooden handle of my net , gives me instant measurement of the fish.
I use my net for places like Rocky ford creek where you aren’t allowed to wade and have to reach way down in some cases to reach the fish.
The boulder strewn Locksa and Selway rivers are another example of places you might have to reach for a fish.
If I am wading or in the toon or my boat I don’t need a net the forceps being easiest on the fish.
If I am fishing for salmon, ling cod, rockfish, burbot, halibut that I am targeting for food. Where it is legal I use a large commercial gaff. I have never lost a fish on a gaff.
Tropical Lightning Creations.
http://home.earthlink.net/~tlcgpw/id6.html
These net are beautifully hand made
And very reasonable price. Rubberized C&R nets. I like the shallow ones but he makes anything. Also fantastic Fly Boxes and wood magnet rod holders and net keepers.
Mention Joni sent you and I bet you get an even better price off the already great price.
I really like these nets…
They aren’t the rubber ones…[I’ve never used rubber so can’t compare] but these are fish friendly…come in different sizes…I think the extension model would be ideal for tubing and pontoons…
Personally I got the replacement nets in two sizes…very very easy replacement …just zip on…price is reasonable…
We are trying to develop a lake and keeping track of the lengths is an issue…
Did I say I really really like these:rolleyes:
I have one of those nets too Duckster. They float great LOL. However, do not trust the tape measure. It isn’t accurate, specially if a fish has some girth. Inless you lay it out flat, which is tuff to do at times. 
Joni,
Very nice looking nets and the prpices are very reasonable compared to others I’ve seen. Hmmmmm…an e-mail may be in order.
REE
I just look at the fish give it my best guess, and add three inches. I find I do much better this way 
FYI the road from Lowell to Mt is closed and has been for a week. Too much snow. Idaho fishin should have water this year.
Enough of the Hijack
Eric
Joni,
Thanks for the webpage! Those look like some great nets. I love the look of them.
Is there a functional difference between the rectangular nets and the tear drop ones?
Maybe, 'cuz I “love anything 'Boo”, I have two of these nets:
http://www.bamboonets.com/nets.html
The one I use most of the time, is the “Riverkeeper #5”.
All Bamboo construction, and what I really like…it weighs less than 6 ounces. Beautifully made nets!
Just another “option”.
Cedar Landing Net Co.
Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Sponsors of the Winter Hatches Fly Tying Symposium. Excellent product, you can probably get the netting and shape of your choice (deep, shallow, etc.).
If you want bamboo, what about WJ. Nice bend in the handle hooks on wading belt real nice.
Second one down on the page:
http://www.flyfishusa.com/nets/william-joseph-net.htm
As nice as some of those others are, if you are really concerned about what will be most fish friendly, you need to go with the rubber bag nets. I’ve had the others, and there is absolutely no comparison. Aside from the minimal loss of the protective “slime” coating on the fish, there’s no more tangling of fins, jaws, etc. as with the other bag types. Another huge bonus is that flies don’t get snagged on the rubber bags either. Safer for you and the fish, and gets back to fishing sooner.
I too like the Fisknats, but also have had a rubber-bagged Brodin that’s a nice net too.
my measurenet folds in half so it fits into the wader bag that carries everything in the car. the smaller sized net would do 98% of my fish, but the medium one folds up. no-knots replaceable bag. purely functional, but i don’t have to see it hanging off my lanyard on that swell magnetic thingie.
You said you would be using the net for trout, but didn’t say what size trout.
Every year I see many flyfishers on small streams carrying nets they will never in a thousand years need to use. Nets will snag on brush, and geting through brush is often necessary to get to the lesser fished water.
I don’t carry a net unless I have good reason to believe I’ll be hooking up with a 18 inch or larger fish.