FW Net reccommendations?

No I didn't use the search feature 

Looking for a good net to replace my very easy to snag small hooks in, folding Promar.   While I love the function and stowability of this net it has frustrated me for the last time. I like how light and easy it is to swoop up a fish, but it's just too snaggy and need something that wont take for ever to pull hooks out after a fish is landed.  Love the look of the snagproof nettings but looking for advice on one that works well for kayaking, and is hopefully not very heavy.  I have a heavy rubber net, but it just is too shallow and heavy.  Needs a heavy fish to make it stretch and be a net.  Not a short one too, needs a decent handle like 18".


What do you guys like to use? 

My favorite net is a gaff.

All my nets are rubber nets.  It's irritating to have to spend fifteen minutes getting multiple treble hooks out of a mesh net or a rubber-coated-mesh net, which in my experience are barely any better than a mesh net.  Rubber nets avoid that problem.  I prefer deep nets, so I can corral a fish in the net and leave it in the water while I release or whack it, but it can't get its head or tail on the rim of the net and flip itself out of the net. You need to get a net big enough to accommodate whatever fish you can expect or hope to catch.  You can use a pretty small net for kokanee, but landing a big fish in an undersized net is a challenge.  I prefer short handles on my nets, so when I put the net in a rod holder on one of my kayaks, the net isn't towering many feet above my head, catching wind and hooks and interfering with casting.  I used to use foldable nets, but it's a hassle to get a net unfolded with one hand while you're playing in a big irritated fish with the other hand, so I quit using the foldable nets.

My current "big fish" net is an Ego S2 Slider large deep rubber net. I have replaced the slider handle, which extends from 29" to 60", with an Ego Kryptek SI Genesis 13" handle. I only use the slider handle when fishing from a motorboat. But I see that Ego now makes wade/kayak nets with short handles.  I also see that Ego now makes a S2 Slider 18"-32" handle.  I may have to get one of them.

Thanks for that suggestion!  That is a bit pricy, but after dealing with frustration for several hours, seems worth it to me.  Going to check out their kayak sized large/deep versions, as I too want to safely land and release bigger fish with it for sure.

Welcome all inputs!  But gaffing fish to release them is just silly 

I just refurbished these two rubber nets by replacing the pole with bamboo and paracord weave. A little small for ocean applications, especially large halibut or salmon, but perfect for freshwater. PM me if you are interested.

I like to take full sized nets and cut the handle down to length for what works for me.

Those EGO wade nets look nice, but the handle might be too short for you. I would look at the S1 non sliding net and cut the handle to whatever works best for you.

I use a Promar premier angler series net with a 24” (EDIT It’s actually 20”)hoop and a cut down handle. It’s not too snaggy and the price was right. I’ve had it for years and it will swallow almost all freshwater fish you could find up to and including 35 inch stripers.

I use a Promar premier angler series net with a 24” hoop and a cut down handle. It’s not too snaggy and the price was right. I’ve had it for years and it will swallow almost all freshwater fish you could find up to and including 35 inch stripers.

+1 for the Promar premier angler series net.

But gaffing fish to release them is just silly

I have a "Kiss and Release" shirt which I wear when I go spearfishing for pike, although catch and release doesn't actually work very well when you're spearfishing.

I have a Promar profloat net that I'm pretty happy with. It floats and has a fine rubber mesh. Works great for shaker halibut too:

https://promarahi.com/products/profloat-landing-nets?_pos=1&_sid=e153a4ea9&_ss=r&variant=42397476454632

Liking the look of the floating Promar Profloat.  I'm not wanting to carry something heavy, so that looks good but didn't see the weight of it.  If the finer rubber mesh is lighter then that might be the way I'll go.  Specifically for freshwater is my question, but feel free to say what your net recommendation is for anything.  I will keep my folding Promar net for Rockfish and Halibut fishing, as I just want a net to be legal, but I'll gaff any legal butt and quick release or lip grip any of the RF/Lings/Cabbies.  For salmon I have a huge aluminum one that I cut the handle down, but if it gets tangled up it's all good, as long as its a legal salmon.

Hum, that Premier looks pretty good too.  https://promarahi.com/products/premier-anglers-series-landing-nets?variant=42397478650088  Looking for specs to see what is lighter

I had to edit my above response. My net for freshwater is a 20”, not 24.
With a cut down handle it is 1.1lbs. Full handle is 1.2 lbs. I have a non cut one and cut one.

I wanted to add, if you find a net you like with a hollow aluminum handle you can cut a strip of pool noodle down and slide it inside for floatation.

For cost and features I think that I'll go with the  Promar premier 20", just looks best overall.  Thanks for the suggestions everyone!


Although trying to find a place to order it other than Walmart.com...

Although trying to find a place to order it other than Walmart.com...

I got mine at Big 5!

 Hey Al,
Al's has them on sale $22.39

https://www.als.com/ami-net-landing-anglers-series/p?adpos=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI19aLxePV9wIVJgytBh0aVgQeEAQYBiABEgIETPD_BwE&idsku=72309&sc_intid=72309&scid=scplp72309&skuId=72309&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google