How to choose the right net for the job

I’m always amazed at how many anglers keep a junk net in the boat. If you think about it, you’re going to use it on literally each fish and the wrong tool for the job may change the day from taking a pic with a lunker, to tears of not-so-much joy.

Here are few factors to consider next time you are in the market for a new net.

Hoop Size—Anglers often choose a bag size that is barely big enough to fit the size of fish they are after. Even if you are just after bass, you may also need that net when a non-target species such as a catfish or walleye bites. Getting a slightly bigger hoop has very few drawbacks and will keep you from having to thread the needle when you tie up with a larger fish than anticipated.

Handle—Much like the hoop, don’t go too small. I routinely see anglers that are stretching out trying to get a fish with a short-handled net, only to lose it in the struggle. Rather it’s because you are netting by yourself or a fish surfaces out away from the boat, the quicker you can get it in the net, the less chance you have of losing it. In most cases I choose a two-piece handled net so that I can have the benefit of a longer net when needed or telescope it down when not needed or when being stored.

Yoke—You can usually tell a quality net from the yoke alone. Cheap nets often don’t even have this part and the hoop goes directly into the handle. This weak point is typically where nets fail first. Quality nets like a Beckman have a lifetime warranty on their yoke. Another advantage of having a net with a quality yoke is that many will allow you to quickly detach the handle to swap them with a different size or store them away when not needed.

Bag Type—The type of material and the size of the holes really does make a difference in a net. Like anything, you need to select the type and size based on what you are fishing for. This is important enough for me that I carry two different types on the boat at all times. A rubber bag is great for having a little less tangle once the fish is in the net, allowing you to get back to fishing quicker, but it does have some downsides. The heavier and smaller holes have a lot more drag and keeps you from putting it very deep into the water. In general, most rubber bags are much smaller and not ideal for larger species either. Due to these factors, I also always carry a larger net with a larger mesh bag on it. This allows for larger fish to be netted and for it to go deeper into the water. Many of these nets on the market have very deep bags and cause the fish to get tangled more easily. If this is the case, you can always cut down the bag a few rows and reattach it to the hoop to shallow up the bag and keep the fish form getting as tangled.

Accessories—The second a net gets near the water the bag typically drifts away from you and towards the fish. This often results with lures getting caught in the net before it the fish is in the bag. A simple fix is to use a two-part magnet that is often found to be used for key chains. This allows you to zip-tie one to the end of the bag and the other to the handle. Make sure to get a magnet with just enough pressure to hold it with regular handling, but not so strong that it won’t release when a fish enters the bag. This basic modification is also great at keeping the bag from getting hung up on cleats and rod holders in the boat even before you think about netting a fish.

Another modification I do to all of my nets it to add a Lakewood net protector over the yoke. This does wonders for eliminating scratches on your boat or motor cowling before or after netting. The sharp corners on most yokes can cause serious cosmetic damage to your boat and I have even seen a truck or two severely scratched due to a net as well.

The right net for each angler is going to be different, but if you take some of these items into consideration before your next purchase, chances are you will end up with a net right for you.

Capt. Ross Robertson

Bigwater Fishing

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