Looking for a new net?

[mattcarufel]

Read through this story about choosing the right net for the job. You'll be happy you did... I promise!

Nets to you...

-mc

[delcecchi]

Anybody use one of the new type of stowable nets, hibernet or the like? My net isn't really big enough and it already takes up too much space in the boat.

[Esox_Magnum]

Del I don't own one but got to play with the new Fribil Hibernet while up on V, neat net. I personaly run a Frabil Big Game Powercatch or Big Kahuna and no issues with having room for either in my 17' boat....

[delcecchi]

Where do you put it? Just curious if you have a better place than I do. Not that mine is very good.

[Esox_Magnum]

If I'm alone it's on the rear deck if with a partner I lay it on the front deck under my feet..... When not being used it's on the floor under the rear deck. My walleye net is a smaller Frabill and normaly we only troll so on the front deck when we are fishing supper. All are the power yoke ones and collasped untill needed when 2 of us, open and ready when I'm alone. One reason I prefer the Frabill nets over Beckmans is the Frabills lock in place without having to push the button and line up the holes and the Frabills are much less prone to hooks and fish tangeling up in them.

[NCLaker]

Anybody use one of the new type of stowable nets, hibernet or the like? My net isn't really big enough and it already takes up too much space in the boat.

FYI on the Hibernet, the netting is not at all hook resistant and fish gets wrapped up in the limp neting. Get a restless fish and a crank bait tangled in the netting, you end up with a mess. Clever compact design (also has a paddle attachement), just don't like the netting.

[sled59]

We have a Frabil Stowaway and really like it. We have the musky sized net and have no complaints.

[mattcarufel]

I have a Beckman muskie and walleye net. I know there are other nets out there that take up less room and cost less, but I don't want to be out on ML and have a 60" fish come off at the boat because I couldn't fit him in the net, or couldn't get the net unfolded.

I never have space issues with my Beckman because I hang the hoop over the motor, and the handle off the back of the boat. You can't take up any less room than that, its essentially out of the boat completely.

I wouldn't do it trolling, but for every other style of fishing thats the only way to go.

-mc

[dan z]

every net has its time and place if this is a C/R net get something big enough to fit any size fish. big hoop small netting thats coated. I like the idea of the cradles out there but have a hard time with how tired that fish must be to lye in the cradle. I have a beckman that has a 36" hoop and have had one muskie not fit It has enough strengh to also hold 40lb cats. I wish the net was a little deeper tho... good luck and always remeber you get what you pay for most times

[sled59]

They are all good nets. With the Stowaway I open the net up while I am fishing so I am ready. Its nice for me to have the folding net for storage while not fishing.

[Desperado]

I haven't used one on the water, but played with a Hibernet at a local store for a while. I found it awkward to get the thing retracted and not very smooth to get it to deploy; sometimes felt like it was gonna get stuck. Would not want to wrestle with it when someone has one on the line that we really want to land; it's definitely a two handed process, so it would be impossible to deploy if you were by yourself and had a fish on at the time. Thus I'd have to always keep it in deployed position while I'm in the boat; kinda defeats the whole purpose.

My wife bought me a Stowmaster for Christmas several years ago and I love it. I can get it from folded position to deployed and ready position with one hand while I have a fishing pole in the other hand.

[Mike Walerak]

I have had many different nets. I can say the Beckman is far and away the best I have used. It is extra heavy duty and has a coating so treble hooks do not tangle in them. If you are a serious troller you will find the Beckman is the only way to go. Yes they are more expensive than most nets but they make a good present. My wife got me mine for my birthday one year. Coincently I boated 4 walleyes totaling 27 pounds in a tournament the next day. I think the fish just wanted to try the new net out!

mw

[Pat Burch]

I am also a beckman guy. My man priority is not storage, it is about quality and reliability in my equipment. I have the 4 foot beckman handle with the 3 foot extentsion 20 inch hoop. I use this for most fishing needs. I switch to the 6 foot by 3 foot ext when I am trolling cranks. If you had to pick just one net for the average needs of panfish, bass and walleye fisherman, I would get a beckman 4 x 3 with a 20 inch hoop.

[solbes]

Beckman +2, hopefully the last net I will ever own.

[hookncook]

I use the Castalia Outdoors extended handle flip net. I like how it collapses and offers one hand operation while I am fishing by myself.

[sjlund]

FYI on the Hibernet, the netting is not at all hook resistant and fish gets wrapped up in the limp neting. Get a restless fish and a crank bait tangled in the netting, you end up with a mess. Clever compact design (also has a paddle attachement), just don't like the netting.

I hate, hate, hate our hibernet. Missing the rounded end of the net (the hibernet is a triangle meaning it has a straight end) makes a huge difference in the size of fish that will easily fit.

[TrophyEyes]

I have 2 beckman's and 1 muskie frabil. I wouldn't use anything else. I love them all. The muskie net is a little stiff, but does the job on a big fish and is easy to manage the large hooks when everything is flying around.

[harvey lee]

Beckman and a frabil for me and I use them both. No issues with either.

[Down Deep]

Years ago I on a recommendation I bought a Frabil. I own two of them now and both of them are rugged, work well and will last for years.