I debated whether or not to put this in fishing or here. I'll start here....of those who have taken landing nets....whats your favorite brand or model? I've never taken one, we use the jaw grip deal for large fish handling. However, we're planning on taking some newbies that really like to fish. I'll at least entertain a net, esp one thats folding or somehow can be reduced and lashed into canoe when not fishing.

I used to take a larger net, the kind the handle folded in half on all my trips. But for the last 8 or so years I've left it behind. I had two issues that made me decide to leave it behind. 1. I spent more time digging hooks out of it than I cared to. More from it snagging a hook in the canoe than from bringing in a fish and hooking the net. 2. With the big fish, specifically the big Northerns, the net wasn't big enough.

I now just grab the fish, bigger one play them out a little before doing so, and the really big ones I work my way to shore and land them out of the canoe, usually after they've pulled me around the lake for a while and they are pretty tired by the time I get them to shore. I find this much simpler and I really haven't notice losing more fish this way and I have lost less big northerns for sure with this method. Plus with the big ones it's much easier to release them properly from shore than from the canoe. I think more of them survive to be caught again.

Frabill Power Stow Net

I got the Cabela's version of this exact net for a gift several years ago and love it. The net folds in half and the handle telescopes in so the collapsed size is essentially half the size of the net hoop. Plenty small enough to slide in a pack or strap to the side.

I just take one of those plastic, floating fish grippers and I seldom us it. Most of the time I'm happy if the fish gets off on its own. Once you get a descent sized northern or LT in a net they usually are not releasable.

I stopped taking a net last year, and didn't miss it. Like others, I would get hooks, gills, and fish teeth stuck in it, causing more fish trauma. I took a fish grippers to help land a fish if needed, and it's faster and less traumatic for the fish. If it shakes the hook at the boat, which hasn't been a problem, that wouldn't bother me.

My buddy always takes the same one Dean posted. Not much weight in a net, but I never use it. Fish grip for me.

I bring a Stowmaster Kayak net. With the rubberized netting and barbless hooks, digging lures out is a non issue.

Totally personal decision, but I prefer a net. We troll with cranks a lot in the Q and you have to play the fish out too much to safely land them or remove the hooks. Plus it engages my kids more the landing becomes a whole family affair. Also we fish in the summer, we can get the fish in the boat quicker, don’t need to go to shore, can release the fish in deeper cooler water.

I take the stowmaster net. I have the larger bass/walleye version, and have had 40 inch northern s in it just fine. The number one thing about a net is making sure it is rubberized netting...don’t scrimp on that. Nylon is terrible for the fish and you will snag hooks in it. No issues with rubberized netting.

The net folds down and attaches to the top of the pack. I have a case for it so the netting doesn’t snag on trees/brush while portaging. It is expensive but I use it for regular fishing as well in a motor boat or river band fishing.

I think this is the one I have except the net is deeper. I bought them when they first came out and were about half this price ;)

Stowmaster

This is a good thread.

I have a small custom-made wood landing net for my trips. Last year I forgot to bring it on my Quetico trip and can't say I really missed it. But it does help land them if you plan to keep the fish. For any BWCA or Quetico trip, smaller is better.

And yes, they are as helpful as they are a pain in the ass. Just more gear to take with you I guess. And barbed hooks love the netting.

Tom

I believe a net is a great tool to have if you want to release a fish and give it the best chance to survive. I use a rubber net and pinch the barbs on my hooks. I have not lost a noticeable amount of fish because of barbless hook... I would blame it more on not fighting it properly. Here is my reasoning.

When you play a fish out to complete exhaustion you give the fish very little opportunity to survive.. even if you sit and revive it for a period of time. A net allows you to land the fish while it still has some life left in it. I have seen many big fish not recover after a long battle, and the only reason these fights took as long as they did was because no one brought a net along.

I will say that any extra gear can suck to bring along on these trips. Especially when its something as clunky as a net.

When I get to see a fish kick off just a strong as it was when i was fighting it i know it will survive, grow, and be there for future paddlers.

Just an opinion from a young paddler.

Wables: "I bring a Stowmaster Kayak net. With the rubberized netting and barbless hooks, digging lures out is a non issue. "

+1 on the rubber net.

I seem to have no skill at plucking fish from the water by hand, so started bringing a small, inexpensive net last year. On my first laker I was shocked by how much slime was coming off and the hooks were getting horribly stuck. I ended up cutting many slices into that net and just stopped using it that trip except for a fish I was keeping. When I got home I cut that mesh netting out and ordered a clear rubber replacement basket. It works VASTLY better in my opinion. Very little slim and almost no hook issues. I lash it under my seat for travelling.