Good net for Kokanee?

[johnsland8]

What type of net works best for Kokanee fishing?

I picked up an inexpensive net a while back that has worked fine but I've realized it's crap for Kokanee fishing. With most lures I'm using having double hooks I spent more time trying to get the hooks out of the net than anything, it was a REAL test of my patience. I'm not talking about just getting tangled in the net, I'm talking about the hooks piercing thru the nylon or cotton, or whatever they are, woven threads that make up the net. It was a joke.

So before I go net shopping I thought I would get some tips on what to look for? I've read a couple of posts about rubber nets but I've also read they are heavy? Are there coated nets or just better made/material nets I should be looking at?

Thanks for any advice!

[dbuechler]

I had the same problem with nets. Last weekend I brought a rubberize net at Fishermans- HOOK FREE. And it worked good. A little heavier and not as deep but OK. It was not an extendable but I made it into one, from the handles of one of my other nets.
DB

[SlamminKokes]

I used to have a coated net and still didnt like using it for kokes. I finally got a rubber one and wouldnt ever go back! Its heavier but the lack of hassle is well worth it!

[SilverBullets]

I had the same problem years ago, and also had the line breaking between the double hooks when getting caught up in the nylon. Rubber net cured the problem! Get one that has an extendable handle. Use it extended while trolling, then collapse it for those close up jigging encounters.

[fish-on-bend]

I have a small basket rubber net for kokes and rainbow and a large basket rubber net for bulls and macks. There's nothing like a 20 lb mack rolling in your net with a 3 treble hook lure to make a nasty mess of things. I would not own anything else.

[adobe wall]

I took a smelt net and swapped out the netting for the standard green mesh trout/bass type net bag. No probs with hooks. I use one section of the smelt net handle so I can often get to the koke before it sees the boat and goes nuts.

It's handy, but I get some crap about the handle length at the ramp.

regards, aw

[twisted lines]

I looked at all the places I could and found mine at big 5 and like it a lot. I still try to keep there head up and get them out as quick as I can, just roll it over and dump them, only broke one hook off in four years.

[Dullhook]

Gotta agree with all of the previous posts on the benefits of rubber nets. Because of using jigs with treble hooks most of the time, it had become an absolute nightmare trying to remove the barbs from the nylon. More than once it was necessary to actually use a small knife and carefully spread the strands to remove the hooks. Of course this always happened at the most inopportune times when the fishing was hot!

That said..I got a real education a couple of weeks ago on a fishing trip to Wickiup. It was an all trolling show and the quarry was big Kokanee averaging about 16". Using a 9 1/2' fly rod with the additional length of the dodger/spinners made these fish a real challenge to get into the net. We all know what the usual result is when Kokanee are allowed to do their thing for very long. I have an extended handle on the net, and trying to maneuver it (they're heavy and hard to move through the water) with my left arm while trying to fight the fish with the right became a good source of entertainment for any observers . Usually it was necessary to grab the top part of the rod in order to be able to get the fish into the net. Not the best of ideas, but the only plausible one without losing the fish. If there's a partner in the boat to do the netting...no big deal...but this wasn't the case. Fortunately, only one fish was lost at the boat despite my best efforts to knock them off. Divine intervention I reckon. From now on if I'm by myself and there's any chance of using the fly rod, the old nylon net with the broomstick extension will be accompanying the rubber one. Better safe than sorry.

[jzell]

Rubber net, yes.

Long handle, no.

jz