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Posts: 6
| Greetings,
Anyone have experience/advice on the "New" Frabill PowerStow Landing Nets?
I typically fish walleye and muskies on the same outing, and thus bring two nets. My PowerCatch is really annoying from a space/clutter perspective in my 16 foot boat when chasing eyes, but fantastic when switching to muskies.
I would love to switch to a PowerStow Landing, as they fold up so nicely when not in use. But, when I bought my PowerCatch net, the word was that the folding nets were really problematic for hook tangles, so I decided to put up with space-sucking PowerCatch. .
Any thoughts on the current state of foldable muskie nets? For example, it appears that Frabill came out with a new version of the PowerStow (see http://tinyurl.com/hae2mdd). Maybe it's better than older versions?
Thanks for any and all thoughts/advice!
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Posts: 1100
| I have a Frabil PowerStow and love i, i fish out of small boats, so need something that don't take up to much space when fishing with a buddy, and when fishing alone, it just lays in the boat ready to go.
Mine is the huge model like 40x45 or something like that. |
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Posts: 6
| Thanks Zinox, really appreciate the reply!
My biggest concern with the PowerStow is the webbing. Supposedly, the webbing is not nearly as thick as my current PowerCatch (else it wouldn't fold well) and thus supposedly not nearly as resistant to hook tangles as the PowerCatch. And, hook tangles can dramatically slow release process (hard to get hooks out when hooks are simultaneously in the fish and tangled in the net), and even hurt the fish if it "sloshes" about right after being unhooked (and gets re-hooked somewhere on the body/head).
Here is an example negative (1-star) review from Cabala's site:
"Like the Folding aspect of net, but as the other reviewer stated the net webbing is terrible, wraps in fish and lure, something terrible........need to drastically improve the NET!"
But, given your satisfaction, I assume you haven't experienced such problems? Note that lots of other reviews were positive, and match your experience. And, I trust reviews here more than reviews on a commerce site.
Thanks again, your feedback is leaning me towards pulling the trigger on the Power Stow, and getting back a lot of space in my boat... |
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Posts: 1749
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I have the 36 x 38" power stow net and installed the 4666 net bag from the powercatch net on the hoop. This is the best of both worlds. I had a Stowmaster that I sold and it was not nearly as well built as the Frabill. I bought the Frabill after dad got one for Christmas last year. I had to install several structural "cherry" rivets in the stowmaster. The drilled/bolted yoke in the Frabill is what makes it much nicer. I would have modified the stowmaster to be a bolt through design, but the original rivets were at an odd angle and I would have just had oblong holes. |
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Posts: 135
| Yep...if you've already got a PowerCatch with the larger mesh netting, then I would go ahead and get the comparable size PowerStow and simply switch your current bag onto the new frame.
I've got a the 94-size Stowmaster with a 4666 Frabill bag - ideal combination to my mind. Mine is getting pretty old and the spring clips are starting to wear out, so it's probably time to get a new frame for next year. I'll go with the PowerStow.
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Posts: 6
| Thanks RyanJoz and Glaucus--Great advice, and I'm going to do as you recommended! Sounds like Frabill should make a net per your specifications  |
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Posts: 1749
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Glaucus_ - 11/1/2016 8:01 AM
Yep...if you've already got a PowerCatch with the larger mesh netting, then I would go ahead and get the comparable size PowerStow and simply switch your current bag onto the new frame.
I've got a the 94-size Stowmaster with a 4666 Frabill bag - ideal combination to my mind. Mine is getting pretty old and the spring clips are starting to wear out, so it's probably time to get a new frame for next year. I'll go with the PowerStow.
Don't forget the Stowmaster nets have a lifetime warranty on the yoke, hoop, and handle. |
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