This was my 15th trip, however my 1st trip into Quetico so barbless hooks are new to me. We missed a lot of fish because we did not have a net. I actually lost my smallmouth fish of a lifetime, however it will live in my memories and tales.

My question is, what is your favorite backcountry fishing net? I have two that are great for a fishing boat, but not for a Duluth pack.

2rivers: "... lost my smallmouth fish of a life time, however it will live in my memories and tales.. "

This is one of my favorite things about canoe country fishing!

Bass Pro folding net - fixed or extendable. Stores well, deploys easy, sturdy.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-gold-series-folding-landing-nets

I use a large REI tent pole bag for storage, slides down the outside of my CCS portage pack and held in place by the compression straps.
 
pd

I was going to suggest the one that portagedog09 talked about. You will want one that folds up and has a net that is rubberized too. Makes it very easy to get your lure out of a rubberized net. Cotton nets are impossible to remove a lure because the barbs dig into the net, get a rubberized net. NET

I 100% agree with getting a rubber net with big holes. This is the one I use:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V2KPMS9

Unless they have made that kast king net stronger, I wouldn't recommend it. My buddy took it up last year and every northern above 27" tore holes right through the netting. And it's even harder to fight a 40" through a net too.

I have the folding frabill net. It is similar to that bass pro one above, but smaller, and the mechanism is plastic instead of metal. The net is also fabric and not rubberized. It's starting to get a few holes where I've cut trebles out of it because they do snag in it pretty easy, and I've never tried a "big" fish in it.

Frabill net

Of the ones shown so far, my money would be on the Bass Pro.

Whatever you buy make sure it floats. If it doesn’t, tape some swim noodle to the handle and test it out to be sure.

Carry some zip ties to make quirk repairs. Northern can quickly put a hole in a rubber net.

I’m going back to caring two nets: one rubber net with a hoop to accommodate 90% of the fish; and one with nylon string for the really large one (s). The nylon string model is a Frabill and weighs next to nothing.

I bring a Tenfin, it’s never let me down.

I have one similar to this, cheap and floats, with rubber net. I lost a non-floating version a few years back on the man chain. I carry it on the side of my pack, folds down pretty small.

Fishing net

The best I have found is the EGO S1 Genesis net. They float and you can get the rubber netting. The handle is detachable for easier portages. The net fits in my suitcase.

portagedog09: "Bass Pro folding net - fixed or extendable. Stores well, deploys easy, sturdy.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-gold-series-folding-landing-nets

I use a large REI tent pole bag for storage, slides down the outside of my CCS portage pack and held in place by the compression straps.
 
pd"

That's a good net.

Any net you get, if it doesn't float, try and make sure to get it floatable.

The pool noodle idea is good, for mine, I removed the end of the handle, filled the tube up with packing peanuts, and it now floats. It's the second one I own, because the first one....................didn't float, lol. Accidents happen.

Bought Stowmaster Mr. Walleye Net on sale last fall. It’s pricey but it’s quality built. I like the 2 stage telescoping handle and tangle feee 24 inch net. Great for bass, walleye and lakers … big enough to net bigger pike too.