Most professional anglers know that a net is a vital tool for bringing in fish. However, we in the amateur world are not quite so sure it seems. We did have a single fishing net when I was a kid. I remember it having a shiny, aluminum frame with green nylon netting. It was a wide net with a short handle, and it hung proudly on our garage wall at all times.
My father has never been an expert angler. He always had some gear, and we usually caught some fish. However, there was never much rhyme or reason to it all. It was always more about spending time in nature for my dad, so he didn’t really care about catching fish. This could be seen by the fact that I do not ever remember him bringing the net with us. I would sometimes get it down to use it myself at the neighborhood lake, but it never went on the real fishing trips.
As time has passed, both my father and I have learned more about fishing. We both started spending more time fishing for trout and less time fishing for bass. I branched out into fly fishing while my father stuck with a lightweight spinner setup. As we learned from friends and family about trout fishing, we were taught why we needed a specific type of net for this species. We both started carrying nets to fish for trout, while he still refused to bring one for other fish. Some bad habits just won’t die.
As an adult, I started fishing on my own more and acquired quite the collection of gear. As I become more particular about my rods and reels, I also started looking at different nets. I have gone through several in a quest to find the type of net that is most functional for my needs. The frame material, mesh material, length, and width will all affect how a particular net works for you. In this article, I will cover why you need a net and how you can figure out which one may be the perfect fit.
Do I Really Need a Net?
Yes, you really need a net. There are several reasons why a net is important for successful fishing trips, but the clear one is to bring in more fish without them jumping the hook. It is common for fish to struggle and try to get free as you bring them towards the shore. Often they get off the hook when they are just a few feet from shore. Reaching out and using a net to bring them in helps prevent this possibility.
Fish also like to flop around as you lift them out of the water. When you lift a fish up by the line and hook, you give the fish more leverage to flop. When you lift it with a net, they are supported from underneath while surrounded by mesh. I have lost more fish than I care to admit because I was careless bringing them out of the water.
Another possibility that I have faced several times is one about which I have nightmares. You hook a monster fish, and before you can bring it in the fish runs and heads straight for the muck. You know what I mean. The moss, lily pads, grasses, or tree branches that will tie up your line. Once the line is stuck in a stationary position, the fish can eventually wriggle free. Often the fish is just six or eight feet from shore. If you have a net with a long handle, you can either net your stuck fish from the shore or you can wade a bit closer and net it from there. Either way, this is your only good chance for retrieving your trophy catch. Otherwise, you just snap the line and leave your fish just out of reach.
Lures cost money, and fishing without a net can cause the loss of quite a few lures. If you raise a fish up out of the water by the line and lure, you put all of its weight on the line. You also allow the fish to jump about and try to get free. This stress is primarily felt at the weakest point of the line. This is at the knot that connects it to your lure. If this pressure snaps the line, your lure will still be attached to the fish. As it swims away, so does a few bucks from your fishing fund. The same thing happens if the fish snags and you cannot bring it in with a net. Nets will save you money.
Finally, fishing with nets is good for the fish. You may not think about it much, but fish are not designed to be handled or dragged out of the water. If you want to practice catch and release fishing to improve the fish population in a body of water, you must fish with a net. All fish have a thin layer of mucus that protects them from illness. When you handle a fish, it can ruin that layer and eventually cause the fish to die. Using the right net will let you carefully remove the hook or lure and send the fish on its way without harming it.
Handle Length and Hoop Size
When you are picking out a net, the two primary factors for the frame to consider are the length of the handle and the size of the hoop. I feel that the length of the handle has been the most important variable in finding the perfect fit in a fishing net for myself. I do most of my fishing from the shore as my back is no longer a fan of boat seats.
I love fishing for largemouth bass. This means casting into all kinds of vegetation and debris. Whether I am in a boat or on the shore, I often like a longer handle to reach out and pull my fish out of the junk it is stuck within. Just yesterday I waded out about six feet into the water and used my long handle to bring back a fish that would otherwise have been lost. Our first net had a three-foot handle, and it just didn’t help much unless we were in a boat and the fish was right next to us. Then I switched to a telescopic handle that extends from four feet out to ten feet. It has worked in just about every situation it was needed.
The other factor is the diameter of the hoop on the end of your net. That first net that we purchased had a 2.5 ft diameter hoop and it just always seemed to get in the way. Then we went down to a 14-inch diameter hoop and it has been perfect. Even when we brought in monster fish, they just flopped right in. It has also been easier to maneuver around debris that could get stuck in the mesh. I did try a net with a collapsible hoop at one point, but it broke during the first season. This is common for nets with moving parts and nets that are made of cheap materials.
Frame Material
It is important that you select a net that has a solid frame. If any part of the frame breaks when you are bringing in a fish, there is a good chance you will lose that fish. Typically your options for frame materials are wood, fiberglass, plastic, steel, and aluminum. Any of these materials can work well and any of them can be a nightmare depending on how the material is used.
Steel frames are the strongest, but even when made from hollow tubing they can be really heavy. Wood frames can be incredibly strong if made properly but can be relatively weak if made with sloppy seams. They do tend to be fairly light. Fiberglass is unique in that it flexes to prevent the frame from breaking. This can be good for the life of the net but can be bad in that it can make the frame more difficult to maneuver. It is also fairly light.
Aluminum is one of the most common materials used for net frames is and usually consists of hollow tubing. It is light and strong and easy to maneuver. Unless buying a trout net, I typically go with aluminum. There are lots of different types and qualities of plastics available for net frames. When done properly, plastic frames are tough, light, and rigid. When done improperly, they are wobbly and fragile. I suggest you check out a few at your local fishing shop and see which you prefer.
Mesh Material
That green net I mentioned from my childhood had a rough nylon mesh. The material was so rough it was almost sharp, and the intersections of the cordage was knotted to make it even rougher. It was not like the smooth nylon cordage you see today. It was plenty strong, but the mesh was quite prone to tangling. Even a fish that was free from your line could get it’s gills and fins wrapped up in a bird’s nest of that green mess. I’m sure that net also did plenty of damage to the fish.
I tried nets made with a cotton blend and they seemed to be easier to work with. However, they still tangled. I was also concerned that the thin cordage would wear out after a few years. Then I switch to a silicone net a few years back. The mesh is actually made of strips of silicone that vary in thickness. The material itself is super smooth and does not hurt the fish. It is not prone to tangles and is easy to get free. The varying width of the mesh provides more surface area to cradle the fish. It has become my new favorite option.
Trout Specific Nets
As we stated above, all fish have that mucus layer that must be protected. However, trout are unique in that they have no scales. There is very little protection for a trout once you disrupt the mucus layer. This is why you should always use a trout net when fishing for trout. These nets are normally made of a fibrous, soft mesh and a smooth, light frame. Most frames are traditionally wooden, but you can get them made from other materials. These nets are just big enough to gently lift the fish out of the water to remove the hook and set it free. They have an especially short handle so they can be carried with you as you wade out into streams or rivers.
Fishing with a net may just seem like a personal preference, but it can be much more than that. If you take your fishing seriously like I do, you want every legal fish to make it onto your stringer or you want to get a good look before you set it free. I fish with my son and all of my nieces and nephews. One of the worst feelings in the world is seeing a child light up when they hook a fish and then watching them cry when it gets away at the last second. You also might see a grown man cry if someone loses a six dollar lure because they didn’t bother to bring a net.
Just be sure you take the time to consider the different variables to your net. Decide how long the handle should be before you start looking. Decide on the hoop diameter as well. Step into a fishing shop and hold a few to decide on frame material and mesh material. Finally, you might try your local fly shop if you are going after trout and want to get advice on the best trout net. In the end, there is no downside to being more prepared to bring in fish when you go fishing.