landing nets

[theirwellkid]

you have a good point there jon! seems to be a gap in the market... maybe greys would be interested???

 

[Jonathan Whitham]

If my Prodigy Barbel is anything to go by then I'd certainly be interested in a Grey's net. I've been following this thread as my own triangular net is a tad too huge, but at this stage I don't seem to see a clear winner.

 

[Sean Meeghan]

I've used a Diawa Specialist folding round net for the past 12 months and haven't had a problem with dorsals catching. Its light, its large and it folds. An excelllent bit of kit.

 

[theirwellkid]

me niether mate, i have just e-mailed greys and suggested that they produce one, if they do it turns out to be as good as thier rods then i'll happily part with my money for one

 

[Matt Brown]

I also use the Fox Predator net.

Upsides; It's big enough for decent doubles, fairly cheap (net only ?19.99), stiff and lightweight.

Downsides: It took me ages to find someone who had one in stock (Yately Angling Centre), it's a little awkward to carry (as are all round nets) and resting Barbel is a little more awkward than a triangular net. It's handy in fast flows and overgrown swims as it's not too deep and the mesh is just right. I've caught many treble hooks in the mesh when spinning for Perch and somehow, it's really easy to remove the hooks.

A mate has a Fox Barbel net (pole and net for under ?40). I'm always landing Barbel for him so I feel I'm in a decent position to relate an opinion.

Upsides; Plenty of room for the biggest Barbel, stiff (unlike many cheap tri nets I've used in the past), folds up and will stow easily in a rod sling (unlike a pan net) and is great for resting Barbel.

Downsides; I'd really like to be able to buy just the. I have loads of landing net poles already (including a Fox pole from a Carp net) and I don't want to pay for another have it sat at home collecting dust. I've emailed Fox to see if I can order just the net but have had no response. Come on Fox - get your finger out! Because of its' extra depth, it's a little unwieldy in fast flowing or overgrown swims.

I've never caught a Barbels' dorsal in either of the above nets, but that was very rare with my old cheap nets too.

I've seen Ron's net it's pretty damn good but I didn't like the brushed silver aluminium frame (too bright) or the expensive price tag.

 

[theirwellkid]

thanks matt, what sizes are these made at? the folding barbel sounds good!

 

[theirwellkid]

sean how big is the diawa net tha you use?

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA-Life Member)]

Mine is the Insight Wanderer net. It has a fairly fine "free-flow" mesh, a very strong frame AND a high tensile steel male threaded section. It is 25" x 32" pear shaped.

Since I have had it I've landed 15 lb pike, double figure barbel decent sized zander and some nice trout whilst boat fishing. I got fed up with the triangular net nearly being washed out of my grip in the current of the Trent.

As for the shiny rim, it would be easy enough to paint it with a fast drying laquer, but I don't think I'll bother. It was expensive at a penny short of ?50, It will probably last me the rest of my life however.

 

[chris 2]

You,ll proberbly loose it over the side of the boat this weekend Ron.

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA-Life Member)]

I'm not boat fishing this weekend Chris. The weather forecast is talking about 16 inches of snow and temperatures down to minus 22 this weekend!

 

[Fred Bonney]

Sorry got the name wrong but, have a look anyway.
http://www.davistackle.co.uk/stuff.htm

 

[chris 2]

Minus 22.Iam glad ive done for the season,role on June 16.

 

[Matt Brown]

I think the Fox Barbel net is 32". It's just a tri net and pole (not a fold up roving type) but it's well made.

Ron, both Mike T and I have the same Fox Predator net. I reckon it's no far off your Insight net in quality.

 

[Morespiders]

Look at the Korum 26inch spoon net,used one for 2 years now, great in current, and only cost 12? havn't had any dorsal fins caught in it as yet.

 

[Matt Brown]

I'm tried a number of 26" spoon nets and they're great for fish up to around 7lb or 8lb but any bigger than that and I've struggled.

 

[ide]

i have both a fox predator the biggest and the fox barbel net but i have problems with both nets but i use the predator only on the rivers and the barbel for carp fishing .
i have never have problems with the dorsal fins only with hooks in the net .
but my wife makes a new bottom in the fox predator , from a old keep sack so mine lead don;t fall thru the net bottom any more


gr jerry

 

[Sean Meeghan]

Sorry about the delay - fishing! The Diawa Specialist is just under 28" diameter. I think its 700 mm.

 

[theirwellkid]

ive had some server probs past few days but seems fine now!! thanks for all the suggestions lads, i've plenty to have a look at now, cheers.

 

[Ric Elwin]

I use a 26 inch spoon net. It's great in most ways and I've landed doubles in it.

It fits nicely into the pocket in my chair when i'm walking.

2 drawbacks with it.

1/ It isn't deep enough to rest fish easily

2/ It's not that strong, bends easily if you're not careful.

What's the perfect net then?

Perhaps 28 inch round collapsible but strong frame (carbon?), largish mesh, deeper than is on most spoon nets.

Discuss?

 

[Sean Meeghan]

You just described the Diawa Specialist exactly Ric! Its got a 700 mm (27.5 inch) folding circular frame with a net that's about 30 inches deep. This is adequate for resting fish in. The frame is made from aluminium so its very light and its shaped to make it very rigid when assembled.