I’m strictly a catch and release man, but I’m also a klutz. 
I use a net to take a pic of a fish if I catch one. It helps me hold fish and rod and camera, if you see what I mean. Anyway, I got a magnetic net keeper, and I like it. But I worry that it’ll hang on a limb or something and come loose and I’ll lose my net. I’d probably feel it, but still I worry about it. Anybody have any problems with these, or am I just worrying needlessly?
thanks,
hNt
I have never had the magnet pull apart while hiking and fishing; however, I have had the lanyard that comes with the net (attached to the handle) pull out of the handle. I attach my magnet to the top of the net and the other part on loop high on the back of my vest so it hangs off my back handle down and easy to reach. I don’t attach the one magnet section to the lanyard that comes attached to the handle of the net – because I have had the lanyard pull out of the net and lost the net.
My fishing buddy made kind of an elastic cord safety strap that he uses — kind of like on the wading staff — and he attaches it to the handle lanyard. If I was concerned about losing my net, based upon my experience of having that net lanyard pull out of the handle, I would drill a small hole through the handle for a safety elastic cord of about 5 or 6 ft. so one end in hooked to my wader belt and the other to the net handle.
I am a Rose-Creek net release guy.
The magnet should be for convenience, for keeping the net out of the way but easy to access. So don’t count on it to secure the net to your back or waist. Use the lanyard the net came with, or get an elastic or curly-q type. Then install the magnet in parallell, between the net and your vest or belt. When you want it, you pull on the net and the magnet releases it but the lanyard holds it if you have to drop it.
When I use a net, which is rare, I like the Orvis magnetic net release.
Don’t know what brand you’re using but with the Orvis you’ll know before you lose your net.
It’s simply the strongest, in my opinion.
Bob
I have had bad luck with re-attaching my large Brodin Cutthroat net with magnetic net releases, including my newest, $30.00 the Net Keeper from Hook & Hackle, which I will sell. I know it’s just me, but I have had 3 or 4 & have trouble with them all.
What I use now is Gear Keeper & love it (it locks too). In fact, their entire line is nice. I also want their camera zinger & already own the standard zingers.
Here’s the site… http://gearkeeper.com/flyfish/landingnetretrac.html
Mike
It is a big net and it holds it secure.
Rose Creek is the way to go
hNt,
I used to use a magnetic keeper but it wasn’t strong enough. Then I went to a keeper sold by Cabelas. It was a pull apart/snap together type. It was decent, but naturally you could loose a net if it hung up in the brush, but I am sure you would know it was missing as your head jerked back before the net released.
Last year at the FFF Fly Fising Fair/Conclave in West Yellowstone, a person donated a Rare Earth magnetic net release for the silent auction. I wish I would have found his booth and bought one. The one he donated, when I looked at it I thought, oh yea, this will really hold a net (with sarcasm in my voice). One piece was like a very short half inch rod with a flat surface. Magnetically attached to that was a ball joint looking piece. That means there was a very small 1/64th of an inch spot on the ball joint that was in contact with the short shaft. I figured, yea, right. So, I took it out of the package. Man oh man, what a grip. Just to pull those two pieces apart took a lot of strength. I don’t think you would loose a net with something like that. I just hope the person is back at the Conclave again this year, I will be buying one of those rare earth magnets for sure.
Larry —sagefisher—
spinner, how does that thing work? It seems to be an interesting design but, I hate to say, their site is somewhat poorly designed, and offers no close-up view of the connecter.
tuber, I use the gear keeper micro zingers and love them.
I agree with bobbyg. The Orvis is the best I have found. Comes with a safety strap from the magnet to a clip you fasten on to any spare ring you have on the side of your vest. I clip the magnet to the ring on the back of my vest at the neck and attach the other magnet with the safety strap to the net end of my net so that it hangs handle down on my back. Then just reach around, grab the handle, and pull. I use a net on fish because I think is is less damaging than picking them up by hand. I prefer not to take them out of the water and just use a ketchum release but if there is a lot of current or the fish is a little uncoperative, out comes the net.
Bob
the release
Mine will occasionally come loose while going through brush. Usually I feel the tug and know it has come loose. Just in case I have a length of stretch cord, similar to the one in spinner’s pic, connecting the net to my vest.
Spinner,
That is the clip type I was talking about.
Larry —sagefisher—
I had the Orvis magnet. Didn’t hold well. Now I use this one with no problems. Mayfly net release.
hungNtree,
I like the Rose Creek release also. I have several different types, magnetic etc. Kinda like them all! I really don’t like extra landyards on my nets - one more thing for trees to catch. Here’s a link to what looks like a pretty powerful magnetic release (7 pounds of pressure to release?) http://www.tight-line-enterprises.com/magnetrelease.htm Hope this helps.
Best regards, Dave S.
I have a Spirit River magnetic net keeper that works like a charm. It has yet to fail me. Excellent holding power. Easy to deploy and reattach.
I also use a magnetic net keeper. Don’t know which one, but it works really well. If you catch it on something you will definitely know it by the pull it’s that strong a connection. I almost lost my net once, but it was caused by a build up of iron that was in the stream bed that came between the magnets. Once I kept an eye on the magnet before re-attaching it I was fine. I really like mine.
Beaver
I use a magnetic catch and have had it come loose only once. I knew it was being pulled loose and was able to get it. I really like having the magnet over the stretch cord I used to use. the pull is strong enough to feel it.
hnt,
dont woory about the pics, we’ve all seen cheek chubs…
I actually have the Orvis, a present from the Mrs, very strong, will pinch the **** out of you finger when re-attaching if not careful. Very strange, I attach it to my vest on the back clip, handle up, and when I bend over it flops in the way. Last trip I didnt use a vest and attached to the cross strap of my waders in the back, it never gave me any prob. It was a little harder to re-attach, but I never knew the net was there until I needed it. Just a little lower on the back made a difference. YMMV
