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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | looking to get a net, but not sure which one to get.
can you please share which net you prefer and why.
Thanks!! |
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Posts: 906
Location: Canada | I am currently using a Beckman Magnum Finsaver. I used a friends Frabill Big Kahuna this fall and prefer it to my Beckman, the handle deploys nicer locking into the yoke by lining right up - no messing around with turning the handle to line it up or pulling it right out like my Beckman, also like the mesh the bag is made of or how it's made or something - way nicer to work with a fish and then the tangled up lure in the Frabill compared to my Beckman. Don't get me wrong, my Beckman is light and strong with a huge bag that has done me well the last few years. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Big game Frabill. Love the lock in handles on these! Well worth the money and they work great if you are alone too.
Also heard good things about he Frabill folding net Frabill got the patent rights off of from Beckman. Heard its a nice net and stores well. |
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Posts: 151
Location: West of the metro, MN | I think it depends on where you live and the available size of fish. I got a bigger Frabill, not sure on the model . Works well for most fish in the 40's. I've put 50" fish in it but it was a tight fit, I needed a good net man, and I'm not so sure it's healthy for the fish being curled up . I've been fishing with Mike Hulbert and used his Big Kahuna to net some big girls and I loved it. The fish also had lots of room. The Big Kahuna will be in my boat by this spring, Santa just never came this year. |
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Posts: 1722
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Frabil PowerStow or Stowmaster with the PowerCatch netting. Best net ever! Heavy netting and it folds in half for storage. |
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Posts: 83
Location: minnesota | I have a beckman and it's worked well for me - biggest fish in it was a 51" without an issue. I wish it folded though, it takes up a lot of space. |
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| Frabil Convervation net, muskie sized, great/light weight. BR |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Stowmaster TS116Y My daughter at 48" 
51 1/2" in the net 
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| frabill all the way either the big game or big kahuna Ive fished with guys who have beckman and stow masters and I feel frabils knotless netting is far superior. The fish wont be wound in a ball wiith the net and bait the frabil big game is what i use fishing alone and is no problem and has plenty of room for some big girls |
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Posts: 555
Location: Tennessee | Loki Brute |
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Posts: 283
| I have a Beckman Finsaver as well, it is the only net I have used but I really like it. Biggest fish initial so far was a 46" with no issues. |
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Posts: 358
| Stowmaster TS116Y works well for me when I do catch one  |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | i had a stowmaster used it once brought it back and bought the beckman fin saver.dont get me wrong stowmaster was nice but cought a fish you have the rod in one hand try to unfold it with the other.yes people say have it un folded but then your not saving any space i like my beckman its light and i can extend the handel with one hand |
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Posts: 696
Location: Northern Illinois | Big Game by Frabill-54" with no problems at all. Makes taking hooks out easy with no tangles from rolling. |
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Posts: 32888
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Frabill. I have three models, like them all. |
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Posts: 1289
Location: WI | Beckman, the biggest one they make. No split fins like I've had with other brands. Stowmaster is nice too! I fish alone a lot so the lightweight of the Beckman is key. I keep the handle extended in the boat. |
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | After many Beckman nets, I converted to Frabill. The Fin Saver bag drags too much in the water making it difficult to control... especially for less experienced musky anglers that you may be fishing with. Secondly, the smaller mesh on the Fin Saver tangles extremely tight with exposed hooks... increasing release time to the point that I had to question the value. No doubt Beckman makes a quality product... but the above mentioned performance issues caused me to look for something else. No complaints with my Frabill. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | frabill big kahuna, esp for MN. Also use the big Beckman for fishing Madison/Vilas county where the fish aren't quite as big as fish across the border |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | I know this was discussed once before, but I bought the large Stowmaster from Rollie & Helen's about 6 years ago and the bag of my net is much nicer than many I see on other Stowmasters - a seriously thick rubber coating. The net is a little heavy and cumbersome for fishing solo (which is the case for me 90% of the time), but it's a trade-offf I'm happy to make when it comes to untangling hooks (and, I assume better for the fish). I can't think of one time when I have had a bait seriously tangled.
Like I said I know this was discussed once before, but I don't remember the reason for the significant difference in bags. |
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Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | Frabil Big Game. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Thanks for all the input. I like the idea of the stowmaster, but I like the material on the frabil. My old net sometimes tore the tails, was this more due to net net size than the material? |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | After about 20 years, three nets and several bags, I am about to make the switch to Frabil, at least for the big boat. I just don't like how easily the mesh pieces tangle and break on my net. While Beckman has been very good to me, replacing newish bags after strand breaks, it appears they are not going back to the old thicker bag material used in the past. My fin-saver will continue on as my main net in my smaller crafts, when fishing at home in WI, as it is great for fish up to about 48". Checked out my friends Frabil today, and the thick mesh looks like it won't break or tangle as easily, is plenty deep, and yoke lock is too easy to use. |
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| I think its the material mostly that does the damage before I bought the frabil big game with the knotless bag i had an equally large net with the thinner material and it tore fins and if they rolled in the bag it was a tangled mess. Even had to cut the net and hooks a couple times and you could see the lines on the fish from where it got tight. Since switching to frabil ive had no issues not once a tangle and have used it for three seasons with no tears in the bag either. Buy the frabil you wont be sorry and will see the difference with the first fish you get in the net |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | wicked - 1/4/2013 9:53 AM
I think its the material mostly that does the damage before I bought the frabil big game with the knotless bag i had an equally large net with the thinner material and it tore fins and if they rolled in the bag it was a tangled mess. Even had to cut the net and hooks a couple times and you could see the lines on the fish from where it got tight.
That is what I have had happen to me and I surely want to avoid.
Looks like a frabil, now just have to choose the correct size. I see a number of guys have a "WI" size and then a larger for Canada.
Thanks again to all, it is much better to hear from those who have a ton more expierience than myself. |
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| clammer, the frabil big game is nice for fishing by yourslef and still plenty big for most fish. I've had several upper 40 inch fish in it with a 48and a half being the largest but there was plenty of room left over and had no issues at all. If you fish solo I'd recomend the big game if you have extra room and fish with a partner most of the time get the big kahuna. |
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Posts: 1141
Location: NorthCentral WI | I have the Frabill big game, I like the fact that nothing ever gets stuck in the net material. However, the netting is so thick that sometimes the bag doesn't really want to open up if you know what I mean. Not complaining but I would like it if the bag opened up easier and the fish would stay in the bottom. Maybe it's partly caused by storing it laying flat where the bag folds over itself. Keeping it stretched over a butt seat or something like that might prevent it. Not really a problem that has caused me fish or anything like that but it's just something I've noticed a couple of times. Anyone else notice this? Basically the bottom of the bag bunches up and needs to be pulled/stretched apart to remain open. |
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Posts: 814
| Frabill power catch
Frabill big kahuna for MN and Canada
I've fished with guys that use Beckmann, the netting is a tangled mess once the hooks catch. I would never own one cause of this, lighter or not. |
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Posts: 833
| I used a beckman before a certain accident occurred... Now I have a power catch. Beckman was solid, but the Power Catch is just better. My boat rides a big higher in the water so the extra few inches of bag really make a difference for me. I also like the lock in plastic piece for deploying the handle of the Frabill much better than the Beckman.
The Beckman was a solid product so not a knock on it, I just like the Frabill even more. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Wicked, I fish by myself fairly often, so I appreciate the knowledge. Is the bag deep enough to keep the fish in the water while removing the hooks? I have a old Ranger 180T so it is a fairly low rider in the water. |
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| Clammer - 1/4/2013 4:34 PM
Wicked, I fish by myself fairly often, so I appreciate the knowledge. Is the bag deep enough to keep the fish in the water while removing the hooks? I have a old Ranger 180T so it is a fairly low rider in the water.
you should have no problem then if I remember right its 44 inches deep but Ive got an older deep v and have used it from my buddies mid 90s lund and its been no issue usually hook the bag around a cleat for added safety . |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | wicked - 1/5/2013 6:22 PM
Clammer - 1/4/2013 4:34 PM
Wicked, I fish by myself fairly often, so I appreciate the knowledge. Is the bag deep enough to keep the fish in the water while removing the hooks? I have a old Ranger 180T so it is a fairly low rider in the water.
you should have no problem then if I remember right its 44 inches deep but Ive got an older deep v and have used it from my buddies mid 90s lund and its been no issue usually hook the bag around a cleat for added safety .
Never thought of the cleat trick, nice! Thanks again wicked! Where are you from?( if you don't mind me asking) |
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Posts: 529
Location: Not Where I Want To Be | Frabill Big Game |
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| Im from cornell, wi just not signed in my screen name is wicked but from my phone its just as easy this way |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | you are up North, where I like to be! I am from 10 miles from the IL border, very Southern WI. Guess you get to muskie ish a bunch |
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| yeah ive got alot of options within 40 mins or so from home and a very understanding misses |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | nice, very nice. gotta keep the misses happy as well. where do you like to fish? maybe tell me type of water if you don't want to share a lake |
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| I honestly have a bunch of options close depending on how the weathers been but I do fish the stained water more often than the clear lakes but I like to swap around from the lakes to rivers and flowages more often. |
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| One that does't take a crane to maneuver. Many trips I'm fishing solo and find the above mentioned nets too heavy to one arm. Resorted to taking an old lightweight 48" hoop I found in grandpa's garage and adding a modern coated mesh bag. |
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| One arm - 1/6/2013 3:51 PM
One that does't take a crane to maneuver. Many trips I'm fishing solo and find the above mentioned nets too heavy to one arm. Resorted to taking an old lightweight 48" hoop I found in grandpa's garage and adding a modern coated mesh bag.
Give the conservation model by frabil a look. Same size as power catch but much lighter, made for the solo angler. BR |
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Posts: 78
| Frabill Big Kahuna. All waters are covered. |
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your musky net of choice?