Hi folks,
I'm in the market for a new fishing net. Wow, I had no idea they were so expensive!!! A few questions: Which net do you take to the BWCA? And is there a net you have your eye on that'd you buy tomorrow to take on your next trip... and, if so, could you please post a link below? Thank you!!!!!

I bring a lightweight, simple aluminum net and have very few problems. I have some people bring the fancy collapsible nets and such. I just put the net under the stearn seat and use a gear tie to tie it to my seat. When I need the net, just undo the gear tie and slide it forward.

Here is a basic one like the ones I own: Fishing Net

Our group doesn't bring fishing nets, but if we did, we would bring nets on the smaller size. Most walleyes and bass caught are in the sub-20" category and easily landed either by hand or by net. If you catch fish in the low-to-mid 20" range, a small net (or by hand) should be just fine, too.

If you get into some bigger pike, just unhook them at the side of the canoe. To me, it makes no sense to bring a large net for a rare occasion. Either grab the pike by the gill cover and lift it into the boat to dislodge the lure or get a Fish Gripper and use that to steady the fish while you dislodge the hook.

I would think a small fishing net like this would be sufficient for 90+% of the fish that you'll catch in the BW. I don't think $10.00 will break the bank too badly.

Canoe Dude: "I bring a lightweight, simple aluminum net and have very few problems. I have some people bring the fancy collapsible nets and such. I just put the net under the stearn seat and use a gear tie to tie it to my seat. When I need the net, just undo the gear tie and slide it forward.


Here is a basic one like the ones I own: Fishing Net "

I have a similar net. I've been carrying it on all of my river bank fishing trips where I may walk several miles while fishing. it tucks into a few straps on my backpack and carries nicely. Its also good size for a canoe where you are close to the water and likely don't need a long reach like you do if you're standing up right in fishing boat with high sides.

My buddy brings his Frabill folding net, and I bring a fish grip. I’ve used the fish grip for Pike as big as 36”.

I use the same one I use kayak fishing. No link but it's just a 15 dollar folding net. The ring part folds in half, the handle collapses, and folds over the net. It's not big or deep, so I put a longer deeper replacement net on.

Just thought of another thing, get a net that has plastic coated net material. If you just use a plain Jane cotton net you will be spending a lot of time getting hooks out of your net. I’ve had Pike roll in the net and it was so tangled up I had to cut the net. Now you have a hole in your net and the fish has been out of the water for a long time, probably will die. Same fish your treble hooks will not penetrate the coating on the net. Also the cotton net removes the protective slime coating on the fish, plastic coating does not. Get a retractable handle option too, so much less space in the boat.

We bring two - one for each canoe... they are the rubber netting ones, about 2ft long? just a handle and the net, hardly any shaft, from scheels. $25? Spend much less time messing with tangled hooks in nets.

Ironically some of the bigger fish I have caught in the BWCAW were hand landed :) So it is not a necessity, but I much prefer a net.

I am one of those who have learned over time to buy something that will hold up and do the job. Pay once and feel the pain once instead of death by a thousand cuts...

Anyway my suggestion is something no large enough to handle a 40 inch pike...otherwise why bring a net? You want to make sure you don’t lose that fish of a lifetime.

Rubber netting or rubberized netting....better for fish and your hooks won’t get stuck
Collapsible—-easier to carry or portage. Also a collapsible net will extend so if you have a longer canoe it helps.

I’ve been using a stowmaster since 2007 or so, almost everyone who has fished with name owns one the next time I see them. Don’t need that brand name but something similar will make ya happy.


The net below has handled 10# walleyes, many 34-36 Trout, 20 inch bass and many 38-40” Northerns. All minimally handled and swam away quickly—easily...Never hauled to shallow water, warm water, or shore to land adding a lot of additional stress to the fish.

My net

I've taken this Wakeman net (80-FSH5030) to the BWCA several times. Easy to chug along with it and pull out for quick use on bigger fish. The rubber netting is nice and the retractable handle helps. The magnetic clip not very useful for canoe fishing it's probably meant for fishing streams. Here's the link but out of stock for now on Amazon where I purchased it, I guess due to COVID.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0788DL66H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Zoom in to see it in canoe right before use.

Canoe Dude: "I bring a lightweight, simple aluminum net and have very few problems. I have some people bring the fancy collapsible nets and such. I just put the net under the stearn seat and use a gear tie to tie it to my seat. When I need the net, just undo the gear tie and slide it forward.


Here is a basic one like the ones I own: Fishing Net "

I do this same thing... a cheap, small aluminum net but I cut the handle down to about a foot. Stores nicely under the bow seat.

I had a cheap aluminum net but a lake trout trip broke it...just couldn’t handle the weight volume...
This net failed big time

I too learned a good net is very expensive but a good net will also last a very long time.
Very similar to the other stowmaster posted, this has the coated net, retractable hand, and folds in have nicely and comes in a nice bag with HD Velcro for attachment if desired. I use this net for canoe and boat. Have 7-8 years of rough use and she still looks new, very satisfied with its performance in every outing.

https://www.sportsmans.com/fishing-gear-supplies/fishing-accessories/fishing-nets/mr-walleye-stowmaster-landing-net/p/1632158?channel=shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7pKFBhDUARIsAFUoMDajRW2CBlTBqb1FRvsJCkbWq9EWkUr-YzXe_p-EdULYZqpJQATf5hAaAjJqEALw_wcB

timatkn: "I had a cheap aluminum net but a lake trout trip broke it...just couldn’t handle the weight volume...
This net failed big time

"

I lost two high-20's walleye on the Miss river with that exact same cursed net. The bounciness of the rubber and the shallow bag basically created a little trampoline, if the fish flopped the right way it literally bounced right outta the net.

So, with the cheap aluminum net, you don't need to pull the whole fish out of the water. Just slide the rim of the net over the top of the canoe and then remove the hook with the fish still half in the water (in the net). Easier on the fish and the net.

I used to go without a net because of the whole "I can land the fish without a net and less harm to the fish etc..." mentality. That was until I caught a 17" walleye by the front treble on a Rapala. I went to grab the fish and he spooked and went forward.... with the free treble hook now lodged in my finger... we were able to keep the fish and my finger but not without a fair amount of backwoods surgery. We have gotten better at hook removal situations. We cut the single hook off the treble and pushed it through forwards to remove it as the barb was really in there in this case. This is one of the reasons why I prefer to have a net. Also helps to secure that much needed fish when you plan some fish meals and they are hard to come by.

Just my two cents.

Canoe Dude: "So, with the cheap aluminum net, you don't need to pull the whole fish out of the water. Just slide the rim of the net over the top of the canoe and then remove the hook with the fish still half in the water (in the net). Easier on the fish and the net.


I used to go without a net because of the whole "I can land the fish without a net and less harm to the fish etc..." mentality. That was until I caught a 17" walleye by the front treble on a Rapala. I went to grab the fish and he spooked and went forward.... with the free treble hook now lodged in my finger... we were able to keep the fish and my finger but not without a fair amount of backwoods surgery. We have gotten better at hook removal situations. We cut the single hook off the treble and pushed it through forwards to remove it as the barb was really in there in this case. This is one of the reasons why I prefer to have a net. Also helps to secure that much needed fish when you plan some fish meals and they are hard to come by.


Just my two cents."

This right here is why I still use a net. I'm not getting my fingers anywhere near that hook without securing the fish. Preferably, I'll use my pliers to take the hook out quick and be done with it. If the hook tangles with the net, so be it. Better a hook in the net than my finger. Those rubber nets are not a great option either, too heavy.

I'm not a fan of those hand nets either. A longer handle makes it easier to pass back and forth and a little length helps with netting your canoe partner's fish.

I have a Frabill with a retractable 48” handle. The netting isn’t rubber. Looked at a similar Frabill the other day with rubber netting. It was $125 so I didn’t buy it, but I might. Sticker shock held me back.

I mainly fish with barbless hooks so a net is important to me.

A lot of it comes down to personal preference but the one non negotiable thing is a rubber/plastic coated net if you decide to bring one.

I have a frabill with a short handle I bought 15 years ago. Unfortunately I haven’t caught a fish too big for it....

Savage Voyageur: "My buddy brings his Frabill folding net, and I bring a fish grip. I’ve used the fish grip for Pike as big as 36”. "

This is my system as well. My Frabill is fairly lightweight and compact. The fish gripper comes in handy to immobilize the fish so that I don't get a hook in the finger (knock wood :).

I am the simple aluminum one. Couple improvements I made thou. Drilled out the hoop/handle connection to have four screws in it, with a cut off shorter handle. Can simply disassemble the net and put in pack for portaging then.

Also, any aluminum handle net can be stuffed with packing peanuts, the whole handle. Weighs nothing and makes your net unsinkable, guaranteed to float if it gets overboard.

I will never take a fabric-based net again. Landed a sizeable walleye in one, then spent the next 20 minutes trying to get my lure out of it without damaging. Wound up having to cut it out of the net, making it useless.

I now take this one: KUFA Collapsible Aluminum Landing Net

Another tip - I take pipe insulation - or a pool noodle and cut it to the length of my handle and then tape it on there with electrical tape, keeps it afloat for when I wader fish here at home and won't sink up north if something were to happen

SummerSkin: "I will never take a fabric-based net again. Landed a sizeable walleye in one, then spent the next 20 minutes trying to get my lure out of it without damaging. Wound up having to cut it out of the net, making it useless.


I now take this one: KUFA Collapsible Aluminum Landing Net


"

This is exactly what I have but I bought a replacement netting that's about 30" deep. It's supposed to be hook proof but it's not the heavy rubber. Looks like regular net string but it has some coating to keep the hook from going into the strings.