Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | I have muskie fished a long time, 30 plus years and the one big thing I have learned is HAVE THE NET READY! To the point the handle is extended all the time (I actually put a screw in the power catch mechanism on my Frabil so the handle is always extended), the same with my previous Bechman. As I briefly sit here I can recall several dozen plus good fish that hit at boat side that we have gotten that we simple would not have gotten if the net was not ready NOW. (Just last week we boated 7 good fish (one 50) and 6 out of 7 hit on the 8). The net was ready NOW which eliminated one more thing that needed to happen during a tense time. You also need to ask yourself would you be able to extend the handle alone? Or could your wife or girlfriend, or young son handle getting a net ready while you have a 30 pounder thrashing at boat side? Maybe, but having the net ready again eliminates one more potential for a screw up. Years ago (prior to the power catch) I can still picture a guy who went to extend his net only to have the handle in one hand and the hoop in the other.
With a single console the hoop can be slide next to the passenger seat and the handle can extend up onto the deck. The handle is basically at the left foot of the guy running the trolling motor and is ready NOW.
I have yet to fish out of a dual console or full windshield where equal net accessibility is possible to that of what we do with a single console. For me folded up on the floor or the bag placed over the motor isn't going to cut it. I also don't want it in a position I need to move it every time I go to a new spot. Now granted I would consider myself a die hard type of muskie fishermen. But it is for this reason I would never own a dual console or full windshield. Oh, I am absolutely positive it would be nice, I spend a considerable amount of time of LOTW and it would certainly have its place. But when it is rough I just tell the passenger to put his rain coat on with the hood up and sit backward and they stay dry as a bone.
Boats have added some great features, it's almost like they need to design a pocket to hold the net?
Have a good weekend. 
Edited by btfish 9/25/2016 5:20 AM
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