I’m in the market for a net, and am hoping to get opinions from the board. Most of my fishing these days is chasing natives in SNP, and I’ve looked at the new nets from Nomad Anglers, specifically the hand net and the mid-size net. The prices are fairly steep, but I think the frame should last a life time.
If any one has a certain brand or style that the recommend, I would love to hear your thoughts. I’m looking for light and durable, and would love to find something in the 50-100 dollar range.
http://www.fisknat.com/ Nice wood nets with rubber bags.
If your looking for something lighter weight, you might consider the aluminum framed measure nets.
I had the Cabelas rectangular catch-release net for years, loved it, lost it somewhere along Falling Springs Creek in 2010 and haven’t replaced it yet. Probably get one with a rubber mesh this time; I’ve seen some fairly inexpensive ones on EBay.
Regards,
Scott
I really like the MeasureNet – http://www.themeasurenet.com/index.htm. Nothing fancy, but a good lightweight net at a very good price. Having the ability to measure fish right in the net bag is nice too. I’d suggest getting their rubber net as it’s snags fewer hooks.
Give a look see here;
http://www.sierra-nets.com/CMS-Sierra/index.php?page=Gallery-of-Nets-for-Sale
Go to cabelas.com and put in “Cabela’s Wooden Boat Net”
This is a “guide” net with a 4’ long handle.
Here’s why you should get it.
#1 – Guides use them for a reason, they work well and it’s not as cumbersome as you might think.
#2 – It’s $69.99
#3 – It’s not as cumbersome as you might think. You stick it through your wading belt (you should be wearing one) and let it lay flat against your back.
#4 – It has a large hoop for easy netting
#5 – It has a rubber net for less fish damage and virtually no flies caught in the net
#7 – It’s not as cumbersome as you might think
#8 – It makes netting easier because you don’t have to have the fish in so close to you
You want to take the eyelet off the end of the handle because you don’t need it.
And…it’s not as cumbersome as you might think.
So, Coach…
Don’t you think that a 4 foot long net would be a bit cumbersome?
;).
Sorry, had to do it.
Buddy
One thing is for sure - any net is more cumbersome than no net !! :rolleyes:
John
You can get just the nets…different sizes…from measure nets and add them as I did to an old tennis racket…or to a larger aluminum net frame for float tubing.
Thanks for all of the replies. Cabelas seems to actually have fairly decent prices on nets. I’m going to keep my eye out this weekend at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival for a net as well.
Funny, I don’t even notice mine is there; sadly, I didn’t notice it wasn’t there.
Regards,
Scott
I ran into a few situations this past summer where I thought a net would have been an asset. So I bought one. And used it a few times. After well over a thousand days trout fishing moving water without a net, the net was always noticeable, was always cumbersome, and was always in the way - a real pain in the asset.
Considering some of the places I fish, the streamside rock and foliage conditions, and the forest and bushwacking conditions going to and coming from the water, the thought of a 4’ long handle plus the length of the net makes me shudder. An injury, and perhaps a catastrophy, in the making.
I’m sure a lot of folks fish places where carrying something like that around makes sense and works for them, not against them. And for many, if not most, perhaps nets make for a quicker, cleaner catch and release. For me, they are a bother and a hindrance and result in a less quick and clean landing and release.
John
Originally I liked a net because I was such a klutz at handling fish (chain pickerel in particular) but as time went on it was more a matter of limiting hand-to-fish contact, the whole protective coat of slime thing (on the fish, not me); I always made sure my hand and the net were wet before touching the fish. After losing the net in that briar patch somewhere in south-central Pennsylvania, I’ve gotten pretty good at getting the fish within forcep range and just flipping the fly out without taking them out of the water; for small fish this works pretty well but on the rare occasions when I do hook a bigger fish and have to spend some time reviving them, I like being able to cradle them in the net until they let me know they’re ready to get back to their business.
Regards,
Scott
I like the measure net. When I take my nephews out we have contests the biggest fish is one on them. Easy to measure and the fish doesn’t have to leave the water.
… and not at all to minimize good catch and release practices …
… there is Howard, who was caught, landed without a net, and photographed six times over a period of two to three weeks who showed no ill effects at all from being handled.
This is pic six of Howard.
John
Howard obviously has a good doctor.
I like having my net…been carrying one most of my life. A smallish Brodin trout model, but admittedly I don’t use it but a few times a year. I’ve been looking to replace mine though since my personal boycot of Brodin. Their Greenpeace sponsorship and a conversation I had with the owner convinced me never to own their product any longer. So I am in the hunt now for a good replacement. 
be sue to purcahse one that has a rubber net. Much less chance of hurting fish by catching gill parts on mesh. If however you decide on a mesh net, purchase one that comes with a fine mesh
And at least smooth nylon
How’s the saying go?:
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, fool me 6 times…
glad to see that Howard seems to be thriving