[Mike Barrio]

I hate nets when on the river, they always get in my way and never feel right for me

I've just ordered an Orvis retractable net holding gadget and I'm thinking about trying this with a wooden scoop net ..... fingers crossed

Cheers
Mike

[Rob Brownfield]

The good thing about the Orvis retractable net thinghy (if its the one I have), is that it has a quick release clip meaning you can very quickly detach your net from the lanyard with the fish in it. Really useful feature indeed.

I dropped the wooden framed scoop net in favour of a metal framed version. because the wood floated, it was for ever banging my side in the current. The metal one is lighter, thinner and does not catch the current/float.

Alternative is not to wade so deep!

[Mike Barrio]

Sounds like the one I've ordered Rob. I have a couple of wooden nets, so I'll see how I get on with them.

I love the shape, mesh and size of the Wychwood Rover Net ..... but mine has just been a pain, the pin dropped out of it on it's second outing and the unfolding mechanism jams half open all the time, it will quite likely end up in the skip

Cheers
Mike

[Rob Brownfield]

Oh dear, that is not good at all. Normally their kit is great. I would report back on my Wychwood salmon Gye net, but as I left it in the car park on its second trip out, I can't!..lol

[Mike Barrio]

I would report back on my Wychwood salmon Gye net, but as I left it in the car park on its second trip out, I can't!..lol

Maybe that's what I should have done     

[Marc Fauvet]

hey Mike !
just a few thoughts about carrying scoop nets:
imo, the main reason they can be a pia to have is that they swing around, catch things like bushes and stuff and get in the way when moving about.
assuming the net is kept in the back, the above happens a lot more when it's attached by the handle (handle up), plus the net bag hangs below the net further increasing its snaggability and reaching up over the shoulder can be difficult for us old gits ! 

now, attach it the other way around (handle down) and the net's frame lays flat against the back (as well as the bag) and the whole lot wobbles back and forth a whole lot less, (it basically doesn't unless you do some sort of climbing or James Brown type of gesticulation...  ) plus grabbing the handle to scoop a fish becomes more intuitive and much easier !

imo, retractors for nets don't make a lot of sense as it means holding the net down against the retractor's force and quite often this hinders or detracts from last-second landing activities. (the fish wants to take off again or a gazzilion other things that might/can/will happen when we thought the fight was over but wasn't. once the fish landed, the retractor is still pulling etc, etc, etc.

on the other hand, retractors like the orvis are really nice for wading staffs or small cameras 

i've tried all scoop net management systems and this is the only that works well all the time. you can of course omit the leash but that means losing a lot of nets both on the ground and in the water... 
(but maybe mostly, the leash allows one to let go of the net if needed and continue to properly finish the fight, without having to faff about with the darn net)

cheers,
marc

[Mike Barrio]

and reaching up over the shoulder can be difficult for us old gits ! 

Sure can     

[Euan Innes]

I have a bamboo scoop net that hangs from a C& F magnet thing, handle down and  leashed to my wading belt. Never swings about or gets in the way.
It never occured to me to hang a net handle up cos I could never reach it.
The leash is also a C&F springy cord thing. I have one on my float tube for the same reason and attached to my Abel nippers. Very nice bit of kit.
Might look at getting a bigger net this year but that might be pushing my luck! 

 

[Mike Barrio]

I do hang "The Rover" handle down and I like the net size and the extending handle ..... maybe I just need to work out why it is jamming

Cheers
Mike

[Peter McCallum]

now, attach it the other way around (handle down) and the net's frame lays flat against the back (as well as the bag) and the whole lot wobbles back and forth a whole lot less, (it basically doesn't unless you do some sort of climbing or James Brown type of gesticulation...  ) plus grabbing the handle to scoop a fish becomes more intuitive and much easier !

Yep Marc handle down . Must admit I went all posh with a spiral plastic spring thing to replace a piece of fine bungee cord recently but don't think it's any better. I have a magnetic holder cable tied to the bow of the net which allows the net to hang handle down.

[Andy Finlay]

Ive been using one of these since last year, must admit not the most confidence inspiring when trying to land a fish but have had a few 4 pounders in it and did the job. Much easier to carry around but takes a bit of getting the hang of it folding it up again.

http://www.guideline.no/EASY+FOLD+NET.d2Y-18UlNO38pBp7q5B8Nxh0xE2N13PYpwtvO5o.ips?template=engWebshop

All in all I prefer a solid scoop net but find this better especially when banks start getting a bit overgrown.

[Allan Liddle]

Fished with a wooden scoop net for years now and you learn how to avoid most of the annoying bits 
Totally agree handle down by far the best way to position it, although the back of yer waistcoat can get a bit mingin if you have to use it often enough but a small price to pay for a few Rod benders 

[Sandy Nelson]

Tennis racket style nets have cost me a couple of serious trophies , so i don't go anywhere without my folding Macleans Quite accurate with weighing too so very handy.

Sandy

[Mike Barrio]

I don't go anywhere without my folding Macleans Quite accurate with weighing too so very handy.

I just wish the netting was different, shallower and micro mesh

[Sandy Nelson]

I just wish the netting was different, shallower and micro mesh

You would need that to stop your fish falling through, i never seem to have the same issues

 

[Mike Barrio]

You would need that to stop your fish falling through, i never seem to have the same issues

 

 

[Will Shaw]

I just wish the netting was different, shallower and micro mesh

Yeah, it's frustrating that although Maclean's do an excellent micromesh option in NZ, for some reason it doesn't get imported to the UK.

I got mine in NZ (in fact I had to ring Macleans direct and get them to deliver it to a local tackle shop!).

Might be worth calling them direct Mike and seeing if they'll send you one.

W.

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Will,

I think the rubber mesh bags are available in the UK now, as an accessory, but then I'd have to buy the net for £90 and the mesh bag for £18

http://www.guideflyfishingonline.co.uk/page.php?id=1316

I think I need to fix the Wychwood

Cheers
Mike

[Marc Fauvet]

thanks for the link Mike, been searching for the Trout size rubber net bag in Europe for a while. 
on the other hand, it might be that i didn't search properly but i don't find any retailers. any help ? 

[Will Shaw]

Good spot Mike. Thanks for the link!

W.

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Marc

I think all these would be dealers, or at least have an account for ordering one? Hopefully you'll see one you know.

http://www.guideflyfishingonline.co.uk/dealer-list-main.php

Cheers
Mike

[Euan Innes]

So these Mclean scoop nets with the scales seem to be popping up everywhere.
Are they worth £70 and do they hang nicely handle down?  I have had a look around and they look like the only net that fits my needs.
Reviews please!

 

[Marc Fauvet]

thanks Mike !  i'll just send the distributor an email with the hope they can tell me which store has the rubber mesh bag.

Will ! are you still looking for one ? pm me if you are ? 

Are they worth £70 and do they hang nicely handle down? 

yes and yes. it's very nice gear.  mine's 2 or 3 years old now and still looks like new

[Marc Fauvet]

found the rubber mesh bag ! 
GAC must have recently added it. http://www.fishingmegastore.com/mclean-rubber-netbag~24928.html
and it's not in stock either... 

[Iain Cameron]

Are they worth £70 and do they hang nicely handle down?

I like mine. It hangs nicely, and is a good size - not too small, not too big. I've had trout to 5lb+ in it no probs. Being able to weigh your trout without handling them is great.

But... on the negative side:
£70... it's a lot for a net, and then you still have to add a few gadgets to make it fishable.

The standard knotless bag is a pain. It gets snagged on everything, it's too long. Mine got tangled up in the car boot before even going fishing. First thing - buy a replacement net or be prepared to curse a lot. (i bought a standard coarse fishing rubber net and fitted that). Or you can tie a knot in the bottom of the net to shorten it.

To hang the net, you need to add a magnetic release thing to the frame, and a lanyard to the handle so you can let the net go without losing it.

I added a magnetic release to the frame (exactly opposite to the handle). I had to use a cable tie to fit the magnet's split ring to the net frame.
The other half of the mag release is attached to the D-ring on the back of my fishing vest with a split ring. Minor contortions to re-attach after catching but do-able.

The handle of the net is attached to a coiled lanyard with dog clips (I bought the Caimore coiled lanyard from eBay and it's been excellent caimore coiled lanyard).
The other end of the lanyard is clipped to a d-ring that I slipped onto the side strap of my vest. The net by default comes with a piece of string to attach to yourself.... hmm. Plus the standard connector on the net handle is odd.

So, great net, but needs a lot of tweaks to make it usable. Having written this, surprised, i'd forgotten how much effort I had to go to to find the right add-ons to make an expensive net usable!

Euan - I know you like customising things, so this is probably just up your cup of tea