TOPIC:

I need to purchase a new net for the boat. I would prefer one that doesn’t have a round handle as I don’t like searching for the little hole when extending the handle. What are your suggestions?

I have a Ranger net that I use for walleye and Salmon.... Has the hexagon handle and works vry well!

Rangers are the best value for the money. They offer replacement parts also. Big game series has the hex telescoping handles.

I also have a ranger net and I have no complaints.

Especially for coho, choose one with a rubber mesh net. You will love it and your lures will love it. I only switch to a "string" net when I'm into the lakers and kings. (I have scooped fish to 26 pounds in my rubber net.) If there was a law that restricted me to owning only one net, I'd choose the rubber one.

Agree with rubber net , I use for fish less then 10 lbs (walleye at Lake Erie) and salmon and trout lake Michigan. Have a large net that folds down and in half with very deep nylon netting for larger fish. When I started using the rubber net I learned quickly that fish can slide out of the net.

Bruce

I'm also shopping for a net. I was attracted to the MadBite net (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01FFB0U...scopicfishingnets-20) because both the head and the handle collapse down making it very compact but wonder if it's really any good. They also claim the net is coated to be hook resistant (?). If anyone has any experience insights please chime in!

We use both the rubber and nylon. We keep one on each side for easy access. But our nylon is coated with rubber to keep the hooks from getting between the strands. I think it's a Beckman. We don't like the fold down type, they tend to not hold up against the rough fishing on lake Michigan. I'd also watch anything that sells lots of spare parts. There's a reason.

Wildkat wrote:

We use both the rubber and nylon. We keep one on each side for easy access. But our nylon is coated with rubber to keep the hooks from getting between the strands. I think it's a Beckman. We don't like the fold down type, they tend to not hold up against the rough fishing on lake Michigan.
also watch anything that sells lots of spare parts. There's a reason.

Spare parts are a good thing considering the cost of salmon nets. I sure would hate to pitch a handle because a ruined basket made it unusable. Replacement netting both nylon and rubber is a plus imo. You can repurpose a net by changing the hoop if needed. Maybe somewhere down the road a person might want a smaller or different shaped hoop. I would stay away from one that costs under 30 bucks new.