Fish friendly nets??

Just thought since we as a group are responsible for the spread of knowledge and conservation of the rapidly growing sport that is kayak angling that topics such as this are a great way to share knowledge and better our sport.

I have been in search of a quality landing net that is easier on the fish. With all the new materials out there ( pvc's and mrb's) which are supposedly better for handling fish intended for release (removes less beneficial slimes, less opportunity to hang up in fins and teeth and "hook proof".
Any experiences with such products??




-Rodney-

Check out the EGO S2 Slider Net that I have. Photo here and in my avatar http://www.egos2slider.com/ . I have the Medium rubber coated nylon.  They make a rubber one but rubber is much heavier when you're trying to net a fish.  I've used it for bass, trout, and salmon.  It's easier on the fish, fairly snag proof, it floats, it extends and it's orange so it makes you a bit more visible on the water.

I have this Cummings net with a safety leash added....   http://cumingsnets.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=38&product_id=75
It's not cheap, but really works......the rubber minimizes net damage to the fish and the lure hooks are very easy to remove.

I too, am interested in this topic. I looked at the EGO nets in a store recently. They are nice, but you pay for it.

I generally don't net fish I intend to release, but it's because it's harmful, not because I don't want to.

I'm all for nets that are easy on the fish. In fact my current go to net is a frabill with rubber mesh   

Works great in the sense it's easy on the fish. BUT I'm looking to replace it.  The well constructed high quality net means it's heavy. The rubber mesh while easy on the fish catches tons of air when "at the ready".  It catches even more water and is next to impossible to use in a fast current while on shore or at anchor. You can't scoop at a fish though from a kayak that's the wrong technique.

In the saltwater if I net a salmon, it's pretty much dead the second it hits the net due to scale loss. In river, I don't feel nearly as bad as the scales are more firmly attached.

I try not to net fish I'm releasing so what I have found is that a lighter cheapo net with thin widely spaced mesh is much easier to handle from a kayak.  And since anything I net, I typically kill. The fish friendly factor is too much a negative.

Holy crap...that's a long response for a net question...lol.


AlaskaKayakFisher.com
Guidesak.blogspot.com
My personal pages...I'm not a guide.

I just weighed my Cumings and it's 3 pounds....not real light due to the rubber netting, but I'll take it any day over my old, lighter weight mesh net.
The frame and handle is very strong and will not get bent with a larger fish flopping around in it.

Anyone try one of these??
http://m.bcf.com.au/Product/Berkley-Catch-Release-Landing-Net-Kayak/295555


-Rodney-

I bought that Ego 2 Slider and it works well. The biggest complaint I have is that one time when the handle filled with water I closed it and something internally broke. I didn't force it much but I also am known to break anything that is not designed well. The result of the break is that now the net does not collapse properly. The front end requires me to collapse by pushing the net down into the handle instead of pushing the button and collapsing with the handle end. The net still does it's job and is otherwise great but I figured I would pass along that detail. If I had to buy again I would definitely think twice and look at other nets.

I got this net last year http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Ranger-Products-Octagon-Rubber-Telescopic-Net/productDetail/Nets/prod9999007623/cat101148
Too heavy for on a kayak probably, its stout and fairly large.  I picked it up because of the hook free aspect.  Got to use it once this summer on a large fish in fast water and worked great.

Does anybody know where you can buy replacement nets which are fish friendly and hook resistant, for use in replacing standard nylon mesh nets?  I'm particularly interested in hook resistant replacement nets, since it drives me crazy when I catch a fish and then need to spend fifteen minutes getting the lure out of the net.  I don't like the thick rubber nets because they're heavy and hard to move through the water.  I prefer nets made of thin rubberized mesh.

Does anybody know where you can buy replacement nets which are fish friendly and hook resistant, for use in replacing standard nylon mesh nets?  I'm particularly interested in hook resistant replacement nets, since it drives me crazy when I catch a fish and then need to spend fifteen minutes getting the lure out of the net.  I don't like the thick rubber nets because they're heavy and hard to move through the water.  I prefer nets made of thin rubberized mesh.

But if they sell you just the net then they can't make money on the handle! 

Seriously, though, I think there are some options. A quick Google search brought up the Frabill store first:

http://frabill.com/landing-nets/replacement-netting.html

Let us know what you land on (pun intended).

I don't do much catch and release. Mostly I'm releasing flatfish and rockfish by catch and don't use a net for them.

Pretty much the only fish I use a net for are salmon. For some time I have had a Frabill Conservation Series net #9510 with a rubber bag.  The bag was too short for larger fish.  It was okay for pinks, but larger salmon were not securely trapped in the net.  I want a bag long enough to get the fish in, then roll the hoop over and trap the fish in the bag.

I like the net's hoop size and the handle for the kayak but the bag proved itself too short.  The Conservation series do not have replaceable bags, so I cut off the rubber one and replaced it with a nylon mesh Frabill 36" long bag for a slightly bigger hoop.  The hoop has to be removed from the handle to thread the replacement bag over the hoop.

My hope is to hook a salmon too big for the new bag.