I had a medium size trout net and bought one of the magnet net releases and used that with good results for a season. The magnet was one of those with 7 pounds of force required to separate the two magnets.
I bought a larger net, a steelhead net and am in the market for a new net release. What do you use or would you use for a larger steelhead type of net? I have seen some magnet systems that will require 11 pounds of separation force that are made for larger nets and was thinking of one of those or the Rose Creek type of net release.
Here is one of the larger magnet net releases that I am considering:
“Jan’s Netcraft” always had on the cover of their older catalogs, for whatever they were promoting at the time… “I sure LIKE MINE, says so and so”!!! And, that’s about all I can say about the two magnetic net releases I own and use.
There’s no fiddling behind my back, trying to “re-hook” my net, no “stab and grab”, trying to get it back onto a clip, hook, slider, whatever.
With both of mine, (large and small…I have an Orvis one and a Stoneriver one), all I need to do is “reach over my shoulder, with my net… sort of like using a back scratcher” and the two magnetic pieces instantly “find each other” to reconnect the net to my vest!
Even charging through, brush and trees I’ve never had either of my nests come loose or pop off the magnets. My large net, I use for Steelheading/larger river wading, is all wood, slightly “heavy” and 31" long, including the handle.
If anyone else has any other ideas on a heavy duty product, that one of our sponsor’s carries or anyone else I would like to hear about it. All things being equal, I would rather buy from someone who supports this site.
I actually took my fish weighing scale which has been very accurate for me along and measured some force to seperate some magnetic releases. The Mayfly XL was 11.1 pounds and I bought it. Another magnetic release said that they went 7+ pounds and the highest reading that I could get was 6 lbs 8 oz. I bought the Mayfly XL and I bought two of the littler ones for my kids to use with their smaller nets. Gander Mt had the little guys for $11.95 and while not nearly as strong as the bigger one were a good deal.
