Fish Landing Devices

This net works great after you replace the fine mesh bag with an oversized Salmon net. The 18" opening is plenty big enough for most fish and the top edge is tubing that stretches to accommodate that 30lbs Halibut. I eventually replaced that with heavy surgical tubing that stretches even more, but that was after 10 years of hard use (and no 40lbs butts) .  The oversized net can also serve as a catchbag.  I can’t take credit for this one though. The oversized net bag is an old Dennis Spike tip. The picture is the stock (unmodified) net from Cabela's.


I’ve also really like this lip gripper, but I find it a bit harder to use than the net. Here's a link to a discussion and a pic of the lip gripper.

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=178.0

That lip gripper is the best! I've had mine for just over a year and a half and it's performed awesome every time. One of those things that's got everything you need and nothing else. I've gripped everything from bass to rockies on that thing and really helps when you've got some bumpy water. I connect the gripper w/ a cord to the yak. Then I can land the fish, grip it, put the pole in the holder and then wrangle the fish off the hook with a clear deck. BRILLIANT!!!

Z

I managed to buy a very similar folding net (designed for fly fishing and landing big trout from a drift boat) for about $20 bucks, from Sierra Trading Post.  I drilled a hole in the handle of mine so I could run a keeper line to it and not drop it

For smaller fish (like trout), I just use a standard trout landing net like one would use for wading.  I have found that the "zinger" retractor I use on my fly vest also works very well for the kayak... I just clip it to a strap on pack on the back of my Hobie's seat.

Question on the bigger net, though... it seems like it would be fine for 5-15 lbs fish, but I'm a little dubious of getting an angry 40 lbs chinook on board with it.  Have you used it successufly?

Speaking of lip grippers, I just started using a lip gripper this year, and I love it.  However, don't get a Berkley one with integrated tape measure.  The tape measure started corroding after one use in the salt water, to the point that it isn't very usable anymore.  So I'll be shopping for a replacement sometime this winter.

-Allen

Most I've had was 32lbs of unhappy halibut. She tried to leave, but got stuck in the big bag. As for Chinook? I dunno, but lets go find out!    
Also my net (like anything else I want to keep) is leashed to the boat.

polepole,

That plastic lipgripper is the lick! It floats and can't rust!