Well... I noticed the hoop on my trusty old net was busted.
Time to buy another!

I want to avoid excess weight yet get one that does not entangle the fish and doesn't grab loose hooks so readily.

Has anyone used the new carbon fiber Wm. Joseph net? Waddya think?
I would like to buy a American made net if still possible. I've heard Brodin is now making them off-shore... true that?
Any other suggestions?

I've not seen the Wm. Joseph, but I have questions regarding nets. Do you need a net, how often do you use a net and are ther certain criteria for using nets? I'm not completely convinced that nets are less traumatic to the fish than just keeping the fish in the water and removing the hook. All my hooks are de-barbed and it is less traumatic to the fish and easier to remove. I don't fish from a boat and all my fishing is done wading and for trout or salmon. I just bring the fishes head up to the surface, grab thr hook and in this way I don't have to grab the fish or handle it. If the fish becomes un-hooked while reeling in or the better. It's the "take" that makes it great. Silver Doc

Hello Jackster,
Try Greg's nets from Tropical lightning, as recommended elsewhere on the forum.
He sent some over to me in the UK and I am very impressed. The workmanship is of the highest standard, and the woods used are simply beautiful! His use of native Hawaiian Koa seems to make for a suprisingly light but strong net and he's got an excellent range of size, shape and net options.

For the most part I don't use a net. It's there, like so much other stuff on or in my vest, just in case!

Carbon fiber nets? Makes sense I guess. That stuff works pretty good as fly rods!
Besides... I probably wouldn't be looking for another if my old net was plastic!

have you seen the plasstic nets, they look like some thing a yappie would
use. anyway as for greg's nets. he puts them together with epoxy, made for wooden boat. and he has a 200 yr. guarantee. so mine will out live me.
so take a look. they look a lot better then a plastic net.
www.tropicllightning.com
see ya hiram

hay Jackster,
i'll tell you what i'll send you a net
and if you don't think it is the best net you have seen.
you can send it back.
just P M me.
thanks greg

Darn tlcgpw... I was hoping you posted to drive the donations up!

Deal! P.M. sent!

With so many good reviews, how can I resist?

Oh my goodness!

Greg from Tropical Lightning sent me the most beautiful net I've ever layed eyes on! The workmanship is definately heirloom quality! And LIGHT!!! The thing don't weigh nothing!

I can't believe how many ply's or layers he uses on the hoop and still manages to keep it very slim and light weight!

He uses Gougeon WEST system epoxy. I built an ice boat out of that stuff many moons ago. That stuff is stronger than wood.

I really want to thank those of you who talked me out of buying a stupid plastic net! What was I thinking?

Wow! That's all I could say when I opened the box!

Thanks all!

Jackster,
I've been following the thread and thinking about the cheap piece of crap I carry on my back and call a net, and I just couldn't stand it any more and broke down and ordered one of Greg's nets. I got the large teardrop. Which model did you get?

Jake

I got the small Catch and Release. Though it looks plenty roomy enough, I hope at least a few times this year it's too small!
It sure is pretty!
Here's a taste:

I am going to start off with the point of nets hurting the fish. It would be nice to land a fish with out, but there are those times (in a good currant and using a very soft rod)
WJ had a blow out sale here that ended Sat. I got twoof the bamboo nets with the hook on the end for your belt. They had the carbon nets on sale for $44. They are nice, good shape and handle for scooping, light as heck, shallow catch release net. If I had more money (I have to buy two of everything-one for the ol' man) I would have gotten one.

As I said earlier, a net is like some of the other stuff I drag around in my vest. Though not always used, it's there when I need it!

A couple years ago my New Years resolutions were to quit smoking and to do whatever it takes to not lose fish the best fish of the year due to laziness, thrift or not being prepared. A net helped me keep at least one of those resolutions!

I use a ketchum release when possible, but our club requires the use of a net if you are going to handle the fish at all. The club's been around a long time, it took quite a few years on the waiting list to get here, so I don't think I want to be the poster child for testing the rules

Somone above mentioned Carbon Fiber nets. Ran across this while surfing:

http://www.wyomingflyfishing.com/S2-LANDING-NETS-C127.aspx

I just can't bite on the non-wood nets yet.

I purchased a Koa wood net from Greg (Tropical Lightning) last year and was really impressed with the looks of the net and also the quality. It's getting time for one of those cocobola ones...

Ron

I really don't use a net at all. There has only been one time in the past several years that I've needed a net, and even if I'd had one I wouldn't have been able to use it myself. As it turned out, I had hooked a King salmon on an 8lb tippet fishing on the Pierre Mauquete River in Michigan last October. This fish weighed somewhere around 40lbs, biggest I've ever had on. The first time it jumped I knew I was in trouble. It took me into my backing 4 times and I ended up about 1/4 of a mile downstream from where I hooked it. I had to have a guy on shore use his net to get it, I just couldn't pull hard enough against the current to get the fish close enough without breaking my leader. The fish surged as the guy was swooping the net, and it broke off, but what a fight. All my other fish, if I keep them, I tail them, if I release them, I just use the leader to guide my had to the hook, grasp it, give it a little shake and off they swim.

If I was going to get a net, it would be one of the long handled guide nets, just for the extra reach, and then if I had a truly big fish on, like that King, I could have a friend or another fisherman assist. With the long handled nets you can't really carry them on your back, so I leave in on shore until the fight is almost over. I always try to land the fish in calm water with very little current. I work my way over to the net so I can grab it if I need it.

You know what they say, ask 10 people the same question, you'll get 10 different answers, that's mine.

Fish well and fish often,

Thunderthumbs.

Sounds like youi hooked that hawg smack-dab in the motor!

That was one of my home waters, I know what you mean about the size of those puppies! I hooked on once and must have hit a sore spot... it jumped three times, the third time in the woods on the other side of a hole. With no other option available, I released him!

As for tailing those P.M. fish... be my guest! I still have scars from the jewelry those fish wear towards the end of the run!

I look at a net like a lot of the other stuff I carry in my vest... I don't need everything in at all the time but when I do it sure is nice!

Oh yeah. I've had a little trouble avoiding some of the hardware they carry myself. I agree, it's nice to have one when you need it. I'll assume you haven't tried any of the gloves designed for landing fish. My brother worked on a West coast charter boat and then a private fishing yacht and swears by them. I haven't tried them myself, but I do plan to this October up in MI.

I'm also headed to Cabo San Lucas in just over a week for some salt water fly fishing (my first trip) and will probably get to use them there. I'll let you know what I think.

Thunderthumbs.

Well, I was like flygoddess re: nets and hurt fish but I've since changed my thinking. I'm just starting to look at nets and will have to give tropical lightning a serious look.
thanks for the recommendations.
best,
Steve

There are those times you just gotta. But, in a perfect world you might get by without one

Flyg-,
jist went thru a trip where lots of big fish were caught and a net would have been much less stressful on the fish. going barbless i can usually release them without handling them but having a net has it's place.
best,
Steve

I've seen a net in a local shop....with the nice light rubber netting, which is great for the the fish. Not sure of the brand name, nor what the lifespan of the rubber will be, but it'll be worth a try at least.

I have two of Greg's nets. A guide net ( long handle ) in walnut and a Koa wood large tear drop. These are the toughest and best looking nets I have seen. Next on my list is a Koa in a trout net. Mike