Quick Answer
For landing fish, buy a rubber or rubber-coated mesh net: it does not tangle hooks, protects the fish’s slime for release and dries fast. Match the hoop to the fish (17–20 inch for bass and trout, 20–26 inch for walleye and inshore, 30+ inch for pike, musky and salmon) and the handle to where you fish (short for wading and kayaks, telescoping 36–60 inches for boats). For catching bait, a cast net sized by radius (4–6 feet for beginners) and mesh (¼ inch for small baitfish, ⅜–½ inch for mullet and larger) is the tool, and it takes practice to throw. Leading brands include Frabill, EGO, Ranger, Fishpond, Rising, Promar, Betts and Lee Fisher.
Key Takeaways
- Rubber mesh (EGO, Frabill, Fishpond, Rising) is best for catch-and-release, hook-free netting and durability; nylon is lighter and cheaper but tangles hooks and damages fish.
- Hoop size: 17–20 in bass/trout; 20–26 in walleye/inshore; 30–36 in pike, musky, salmon, catfish.
- Handle: fixed 12–20 in for wading and fly fishing; 36–60 in telescoping for boats; floating or lanyard models for kayaks.
- Flat-bottom, shallow nets (fly fishing) protect fish; deep bags keep large, active fish contained.
- Cast nets: 4–6 ft radius to learn, ¼ in mesh for shiners and minnows, ⅜–½ in for mullet and pinfish; 1–1.5 lb of lead per foot of radius sinks faster.
- Bait and dip nets for minnows, crabs and shrimp are inexpensive; a folding net saves space in a pack.
A net is the piece of gear anglers upgrade last and regret not upgrading first: a cheap nylon net tangles every treble hook, tears the slime off fish you intend to release and lasts a season. The right net is sized for the fish and the fishing, made of rubber mesh, and either compact enough to wear or long enough to reach from a boat. This guide covers landing nets by type and size, fly-fishing and kayak nets, cast nets for bait, and dip nets, with the brands and features that matter.
Landing Net Types and Sizing
| Use | Hoop size | Handle | Mesh | Good options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trout, wading, fly fishing | 12–18 in, flat bottom | Short fixed (8–20 in), magnetic release | Rubber or clear rubber | Fishpond Nomad, Rising Lunker, Brodin, Frabill Trout Net |
| Bass, kayak, bank | 17–20 in | Short or 24–36 in; floating; lanyard | Rubber or coated | EGO S1 / S2 Slider, Frabill Conservation, Ranger |
| Walleye, inshore, boat | 20–26 in | Telescoping 36–60 in | Coated nylon or rubber | Frabill Conservation Series, EGO S2 Slider, Promar |
| Pike, musky, salmon, catfish | 30–36 in, deep bag | Telescoping 48–72 in | Coated nylon, large mesh | Frabill Big Kahuna, Beckman, Stowmaster |
| Surf, pier (hoop net) | Drop net / 24–30 in | Rope or long pole | Nylon | Promar, Danielson pier nets |
| Folding / travel | 16–22 in | Folding handle | Rubber coated | Frabill Folding, Ranger, PLUSINNO folding nets |
Rubber vs Nylon vs Coated Mesh
Rubber mesh (solid rubber or heavy rubber-coated netting) is the modern standard: hooks slide off it, it does not absorb water or smell, it does not remove fish slime or split fins, and it lasts for years. It is heavier and costs more. Clear rubber (Fishpond, Rising) is nearly invisible to fish and preferred by fly anglers. Rubber-coated nylon is a lighter compromise used on large boat nets. Plain knotted nylon is cheap and light and should be avoided for anything you release; knotless nylon is slightly better. For bait and dip nets, fine nylon is fine.
Fly Fishing and Wading Nets
Fly anglers favor a shallow, flat-bottomed net with a wooden, carbon or composite frame, clear rubber mesh and a short handle, clipped to the back of a vest or pack with a magnetic release so it is out of the way until needed. Fishpond Nomad nets (carbon fiber and fiberglass composite, several sizes from hand net to boat net) are the premium standard; Rising Lunker and Brodin are also well regarded; Frabill and others make affordable versions. A mid-length Nomad covers trout and smallmouth; a longer ‘Boat Net’ version handles drift boats.
Bass, Kayak and Boat Nets
The EGO S1 and S2 Slider nets have a telescoping handle that locks at several lengths and interchangeable heads, which makes one net work from a kayak and a boat; they float and come with rubber mesh. The Frabill Conservation Series offers flat-bottom rubber-coated nets in boat sizes with a sliding handle. For kayaks, a short-handled floating net with a lanyard or a bungee tether is the practical choice, kept under a deck bungee. For walleye and inshore boats a 22–26 inch hoop on a 36–60 inch telescoping handle reaches fish at the gunwale without leaning out.
Big Fish Nets
Pike, musky, salmon, steelhead and big catfish need a deep bag (30 inches or more) so the fish can lie flat and stay in the water while you unhook it, a hoop of 30–36 inches, large coated mesh that lets water flow, and a long, strong handle. The Frabill Big Kahuna and Beckman and Stowmaster nets are the standards among musky and salmon anglers; they are expensive and bulky but they hold the fish. Netting a big fish head-first and leaving it in the net in the water until you are ready is the catch-and-release best practice.
Cast Nets for Bait
A cast net is a circular net with lead weights around the edge that opens into a disc when thrown and closes with a drawstring (brail lines) as it sinks. Choose by radius (a 4-foot net is easy to learn and fine for shiners; 6 feet is the all-round size; 8–10 feet for mullet and experienced throwers), mesh size (¼ inch for minnows and shiners, ⅜ inch for pilchards and pinfish, ½ inch and larger for mullet and threadfin; larger mesh sinks faster), and weight (about 1 pound of lead per foot of radius for fresh water, 1.5 pounds for salt and current). Betts, Lee Fisher and Fitec are the common brands; monofilament nets sink faster than nylon. Learn to throw on a lawn; most beginners use the ‘triple load’ or a tooth-free shoulder method. Check local regulations, which limit mesh, radius and species in many states.
Bait, Dip and Specialty Nets
A fine-mesh dip net on a short handle scoops minnows from a bait bucket; a long-handled crab net or shrimp net serves on piers and docks; a seine net dragged between two people collects bait in shallows where legal; a hoop net with bait catches crabs. These are inexpensive and sized by the quarry. For ice fishing, a small rubber net on a short handle keeps fish from flopping back into the hole.
Care
Rinse nets in fresh water after salt use, dry them out of the sun, and store rubber nets flat rather than folded tightly for months. Replace a net whose mesh has torn; a fish lost through a hole is the one you wanted. Mark the hoop with a tape measure at inch intervals and the net doubles as a fish ruler.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best type of fishing net?
A rubber-mesh landing net sized to the fish: it does not tangle hooks, protects fish slime for release and lasts for years. EGO, Frabill, Fishpond and Rising make well-regarded rubber nets.
What size landing net do I need for bass?
A 17–20 inch hoop with a short or 24–36 inch handle. For kayaks choose a floating net with a lanyard; for boats a telescoping handle.
What size cast net should a beginner buy?
A 4–6 foot radius net with ¼ to ⅜ inch mesh and about a pound of lead per foot of radius. It is easy to throw and catches most common baitfish. Check local rules on mesh and radius.
Are rubber nets better for catch and release?
Yes. Rubber mesh does not remove the fish’s protective slime, split fins or hang up hooks, which shortens handling time. Knotted nylon nets do all three.
How long should a fishing net handle be?
Short (8–20 inches) for wading and fly fishing, 24–36 inches for kayaks and bank fishing, and 36–60 inches telescoping for boats where you need reach to the water.
Conclusion
Buy a rubber-mesh landing net sized to the fish you actually catch, with a handle matched to where you stand, and it will outlast several cheap nylon nets while treating the fish properly. Add a 6-foot cast net if you catch your own bait and learn to throw it on dry land. The brands here, EGO, Frabill, Fishpond, Rising, Betts and Lee Fisher, cover every situation from a trout stream to a musky boat.
