Best Fishing Nets for Landing Fish (2024)
A landing net seems like a simple purchase but the options vary significantly in materials, mesh type, hoop size, and handle design. The wrong net can injure fish (wire mesh removes protective slime coating), be too small for large fish, or be impractical on a kayak. The right net is an important conservation tool and a practical fishing asset.
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Frabill Trophy Haul Net
Best overall catch-and-release netRubber mesh nets are now the conservation standard for catch-and-release fishing. Traditional knotted fabric netting removes the fish's protective slime coating and can cause fin damage on sustained entanglement. Rubber mesh doesn't tangle hooks, slides fish in and out easily, and leaves the slime coat intact. For CT bass and trout fishing, a rubber mesh net is the right tool. The Trophy Haul's size is appropriate for fish up to 30+ inches.
Frabill Kwik-Stow Folding Net
Best for kayak fishingKayak fishing creates specific storage challenges — a full-size 6-foot handle net takes up more room than many kayak anglers have available. The Kwik-Stow's folding design collapses to fit in a tank well or large hatch, springs open with one hand, and handles typical CT bass and trout sizes effectively. The rubberized mesh provides the same fish-safe landing benefits as full-size rubber mesh nets. The magnetic handle connection allows easy one-hand deployment.
Ego S2 Slider Fishing Net
Best telescoping net for shore fishingShore fishing from rocks, jetties, or high banks creates the need for a longer-handled net than boat fishing requires. The Ego S2's extending handle reaches fish at varying distances from your feet — critical when landing large fish from a jetty face or rocky shoreline. The floating handle is the feature that justifies the premium: a dropped net on a jetty usually goes in the water; a floating handle means you can retrieve it rather than lose it. For serious CT shore striper and fluke anglers, the investment makes sense.
Buying Guide
**Choosing the Right Fishing Net**
**Mesh Type** Knotted fabric mesh (traditional): Inexpensive, widely available. Negative for fish: removes slime coating, tangles hooks, can cause fin injury. Only appropriate if keeping fish. Not recommended for catch-and-release. Rubberized/rubber mesh: More expensive, excellent for fish health. Doesn't remove slime, slides hooks out easily, no tangle. Required for proper catch-and-release. The standard for all serious C&R fishing. Fine fabric mesh (micromesh): Gentle on fish, better than knotted but not as gentle as rubber. Less hook tangling than knotted. A middle option.
**Hoop Size** Small (12–16 inch): Trout, panfish, small bass Medium (18–22 inch): Bass to 20 inches, trout to 24 inches Large (24–30 inch): Large bass, large trout, walleye Extra-large (30+ inch): Trophy bass, stripers, pike
Size up. It's much easier to land a small fish in a large net than to try to fit a large fish in a small net.
**Handle Length** Short handle (24–30 inch): Boat fishing from low boats and kayaks Medium handle (36–48 inch): Standard bass boat, kayak with extension Long handle (48–72 inch): Shore fishing from elevated positions, jetties
**The Landing Technique** Submerge the net first, then guide the fish headfirst into the net. Don't swipe at the fish. Keep the rod tip high as the fish approaches. Once the fish is in the net, immediately lift to prevent the fish from jumping out.
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