One net to rule them all or two nets 1 big, 1 small?

Question:

one big net for everything salt/fresh salmon/hali

or two different sizes

1. What size(s)/dimension(s)?

Thanks,

Mark

For salmon and Hali - BIG, like these:

I also have a smaller one, an EGO, a medium sized telescopic handle. I am favoring the larger one for most salt trips

For salmon and Hali - BIG, like these:

the one in the photo that has a square like shovel tip of it instead of more rounded. they both do the same thing salmon steelhead in the rivers Northern California you will only get one shot at the prize at the end of the line. have had salmon steelhead slip underneath edges of rounded nets. not a big deal in the ocean. just my opinion for a large net that will do it all

I have 2 nets for the ocean, a medium size one for rcg and lingcod, and a large one for halibut and salmon. You really do not need one with telescoping handle since you are sitting just inches off the water, plus they are much heavier, and are prone to breaking.

I have a small net for freshwater trout and bass.

I have a big Danielson net. Cheap and simple and meets DFW regs, not to mention functional. I have a couple of the collapsible nets (I think by Promar) and they sucked. Too many moving parts and they fell apart. I still keep them in case I'm ab diving and rockfishing and just want something that I can throw in a hatch to stay legal.

I have a big Danielson net. Cheap and simple and meets DFW regs, not to mention functional. I have a couple of the collapsible nets (I think by Promar) and they sucked. Too many moving parts and they fell apart. I still keep them in case I'm ab diving and rockfishing and just want something that I can throw in a hatch to stay legal.

 This is gold! I have a cheap aluminum frame net. Those Ego nets are way too heavy. On the aluminum frame one I use I hooked the front of the opening around the trailer ball and pulled a bit. It opens the length of the net a bit.

Go big or go home.

Go big or go home.

+1 for any ocean fishing - you cannot rule out a lifetime catch.

Of course the nets are different for other fisheries.  I run with a large fine mesh net for steelhead season on the Eel, but it's nowhere near as large as the big ocean salmon net.

There's something to be said for having a portable net aboard that meets the legal requirement (18" diameter), but I still defer to the idea that you need to not rule out a lifetime catch when fishing the ocean.  By that I mean, don't find yourself continually going with the minimum legal requirement just to be streamlined in the ocean.  When you do hook a large lingcod, salmon, halibut, thresher, WSB...etc., you don't want to fail to land it if you could've kept it or even if you could've carefully released it. 

The main point, by far, is that if you are EVER fishing for salmon, lingcod, halibut...etc., then you really need to have the big net with you.

I like that info eiboh provided on the rounded vs flatter end of the big net.  Good point for river, and should be considered on the ocean too.

I hate carrying a net. A gaff is way more fun...