[Calvin04]

I pack light and cover a lot of ground in thick brush while steelhead fishing alone on our coastal streams. I don’t pack a net, and lost a bruiser (pushing 20 lbs) on Tuesday. Can’t imagine I’m alone in my search for the right net. The nets that most of us have are great in boat applications, but are extremely cumbersome when breaking trail and when fighting a fish midstream and alone. I generally play the fish to the shallow, calm water and then hope I get it on the bank before it spits the hook or breaks the line breaks- we’ve all been there.

Curious if any of you have insight to a net that can be carried well when not in use and quickly made accessible when needed. A 36” hoop-net doesn’t fall into this category. What do you guys use? I’d appreciate any suggestions.

Tight lines!

 

[DogZilla15]

Very few places require the use of a net when landing. Not worth the effort of packing one around. There's one hole on the Wilson where a smelt net is handy.

 

[Califbill]

I have a folding landing net. Will have to look up brand. pretty compact when folded. won at a dinner, so will have to look for a brand.

 

[Artwo]

Get hold of Rage here on ifish. He bank fishes the coastal rivers as well and has a pretty sweet setup that I've seen in his videos........

 

[GPS]

Very few places require the use of a net when landing. Not worth the effort of packing one around. There's one hole on the Wilson where a smelt net is handy.

Yep. You might lose one every now and again, but still not worth the hassle of battling a net if you cover any ground at all imo.

 

[DirectDrive]

I've been wade-fishing steelhead since Medieval times and have never used a net.
Part of the fishfight is finding a good landing spot. This means backing out, getting to the bank , chasing the fish and then finding that landing spot.
I would use a wading staff long before dragging a steelhead net around with me overland.
And a net can be a liability in shallow water.

I have a fishin' buddy that will not back out and chase.
He fights 'em like he's in an anchored boat.
Weirdest thing to watch, but he does eventually bring them to hand.

 

[Calvin04]

Very few places require the use of a net when landing. Not worth the effort of packing one around. There's one hole on the Wilson where a smelt net is handy.

Copy that. I had fast water with steep banks. Before my first cast, I looked around and forecasted future issues with landing a fish … but the stretch of river screamed that they were waiting me. Win some, lose some … on Tuesday I lost.

 

[Calvin04]

I have a folding landing net. Will have to look up brand. pretty compact when folded. won at a dinner, so will have to look for a brand.

Would really appreciate you taking the time to look at your net and let me know what you’ve got. 👍🏽

 

[Calvin04]

Get hold of Rage here on ifish. He bank fishes the coastal rivers as well and has a pretty sweet setup that I've seen in his videos........

Done ✅. Reached out to Rage minutes ago. Appreciate your suggestion! 👍🏽

 

[Calvin04]

Yep. You might lose one every now and again, but still not worth the hassle of battling a net if you cover any ground at all imo.

Agreed. So far, I haven’t found one that is worth the hassle, and honestly, I have my doubts that it exists. Figured if such a beast exists, someone here would know. Tight lines my man! 👍🏽

 

[Califbill]

Is a Promar net. Similar to this:

Promar Trophy Series Collapsible Landing Nets

The Promar Trophy Series Collapsible Landing Nets one of our exclusive nets, feature an innovative collapsible frame which, at the push of a button, collapses the entire net. Along with solid durable yokes, each net features an aluminum extendable handle providing twice the length.

promarahi.com

fixed handle length.

 

[Huntar2]

If the net is big enough to handle a fish near the 20 pound mark, it will be cumbersome to pack around.

 

[Calvin04]

Is a Promar net. Similar to this:

Promar Trophy Series Collapsible Landing Nets

The Promar Trophy Series Collapsible Landing Nets one of our exclusive nets, feature an innovative collapsible frame which, at the push of a button, collapses the entire net. Along with solid durable yokes, each net features an aluminum extendable handle providing twice the length.

promarahi.com

fixed handle length.

I looked at this very net at Bi-Mart this morning. The folding ability looks about right. Nothing with a hinge will stack up with a standard, boat application hoop net … but we already know this. It would not set any records, but it would work. It probably wouldn’t last for more than a season or two, but at $30, that seems like a reasonable expectation.

 

[Calvin04]

If the net is big enough to handle a fish near the 20 pound mark, it will be cumbersome to pack around.

I wish I could realistically expect to catch 20 pounders on the regular. 😆

 

[Califbill]

I have had it a few years. The case for it disintegrated, but net seems okay. I use it on my kayak, salt and fresh.

 

[MarlinMark]

Fish handling and releasing is part of the game. Nets are for boats.

 

[Rick S]

I can't imagine carrying a net hiking the banks. Just tail it with your hand.

 

[Nor Cal Drifter]

Been back and forth over the years on net vs. no net for bank fishing. Have one that is good for small to medium fish and hangs from my pack on a magnetic release. I like it because the fish can chill in it in the water while I snap a few pics. I’ve found over the years though that fish will chill just as much if you bring them in the shallows and tail them, and those pictures without the net are even nicer. I think it’s less handling without the net - hand on wrist of tail, take a pic, pop the hook, let them recover face into the current and off they go. No rubbing their slime coat off on the net mesh and in the water 100% of the time.

 

[mammut]

These Ninja Nets work great for me. Easy deploy and I attach it to the back of my pack. They fold out like a windshield blocker so it is not too big.

Ninja Net — Robolize

 

[HarvestNFaith]

Google “Frabill Floating Wade Net 19x25”. I use this with a magnetic release. It does catch on brush but I still like having it. Any fish 15+ lbs would probably be pushing this net to its limits though. Here is a 12 lb hen in the net for perspective.