When it comes to your river trout fishing, what sort of net do you favour? Wooden, long handled, deep netted, shallow netted, one that has built in scales perhaps? What do you look for in a practical trout net for the river?
I've used the Snowbee 15090 / 15150 Aluminium Frame Hand Trout Nets for a couple of years now.
Simple, practical - there's a bungee cord concealed within the handle; clip to D-ring, reach behind, pull out, net fish, let go.
Been very, very good and versatile. No fuss, no drama, though not the most elegant.
The smaller one isn't so great - a bit too wee, a bit of a diddy size i always feel - 15x11" - and has knotless net bag rather than mesh.
The larger net is maybe a bit toooo big - hoop is 22x17 inches. Its net of micro mesh is 19" deep. The bungee cord on mine extends 40" - in practical terms, if i'm standing, that's enough reach to allow my left arm to fully straighten out in front of me while the net is still clipped to the D-ring on my back.
They've re-launched it for 2013 with a wider hexagonal mesh of 10x10mm - and at £20, I'd recommend it.
(link -
https://shop.snowbee.co.uk/shopretail/product_info.php?cPath=2_40_43&products_id=1407&osCsid=vrhf8kk2si06vt4bj9v00jsi06)
If they did one with alumunium frame, 17 or 18" across, and shallow mesh, I'd buy another!
It doesn't of course let you net fish from high banks etc.
It does work very well in a float tube.
I *hate* the fold out nets with the spring clip - I'm forever dropping mine when I kneel or sit down and the handle hits the ground, pushing the spring clip out of the D-ring... grrrrrrrr!!! I reserve that for boat use.
In general - mesh is better for me; fewer tangles. Bungee is good; hands free, no hassle. I don't like the flip out/fold out ones so much; one more thing to go wrong when playing a fish...
I've just bought a Mcleans weight net. Hmmm. Can't use it til the clip on accessories arrive, so the jury's out
cheers
iain
