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Posts: 5
| About to get a new net and wanted to see what the general opinion on both the Frabill power catch 8425 and Drifter XLs are. Pros and Cons of each? |
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Posts: 572
Location: Germantown, WI | If you haven’t yet, take a look and consider RS Nets- Solo Slimer Model |
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Posts: 2330
Location: Chisholm, MN | I love the frabil. I've had mine for probably 12 years and no issues. They are strong and don't bend and the bag is holding up nicely. Also, when extending the handle the pole stops where it needs to in order to lock in. Others will slide all the way through and create a panic when there's a fish on the line. |
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Posts: 268
Location: Central Pennsylvania | My vote goes for drifter xl or XXL, I use the xxl and can net fish solo. |
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Posts: 1415
Location: Brighton CO. | I started out with a early generation Beckman got rid of it I still have my dads early Beckman with the replacement treated bag but still has the metal gromets. (too bad this a great net for fishing solo) I do have Frabil Big Kaunha with works great for two people. I fish a lot by myself so next trip up North I'll look for a modern net to fish solo. |
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Posts: 419
Location: MN | The 8425 is a great net. Small enough to handle solo, big enough for big fish. Very robust. Wouldn't mind a slightly longer handle when fishing solo, but that's the only (minor) con I can think of. |
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Posts: 1037
| Yah, check out RS Solo Slimer.
I had a Drifter. Man, that thing was tough to move through the water. Put a few in that bag and sold that net quickly. |
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Posts: 1722
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Frabill 8425 |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Best advice I can give is to find a brick-n-mortar store that has each and look for yourself what seems to feel best for you. m |
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Posts: 1415
Location: Brighton CO. | mikie - 9/21/2022 7:54 AM
Best advice I can give is to find a brick-n-mortar store that has each and look for yourself what seems to feel best for you. m
You want to be able to hold it, swing it around fell the weight and you'll save a fortune in shipping costs. |
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Posts: 1247
Location: Walker, MN | Yeah, you can't go wrong with either. The bag on the Drifter XL could be a few inches deeper, no extra room with a big fish in there. Probably fine for a smaller craft, or a boat with less freeboard. |
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Posts: 157
| How about a StowMaster?
https://www.norsemenoutdoors.com/product-category/stowmaster/
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Posts: 419
Location: MN | I bought a like-new Stowmaster off CL when I didn't have access to my 8425. The Stowmaster mesh is absolutely terrible. It tangles like crazy almost every single time, creating a 5 minute project getting the fish out. Totally unacceptable IMO.
I liked being able to fold it up, so when I got the 8425 back I put the Frabill bag on the Stowmaster net. That worked pretty good. Over time though, parts of the net started breaking or wearing out. Eventually the hoop itself broke. That's with under 100 fish in the bag.
Overall, I'd suggest avoiding the Stowmaster. The stock bag is totally unacceptable. If you put a better bag on it, the up front cost is not competitive with the other options. In my experience, it's less robust than the 8425, making the cost per netted fish even worse.
On the other hand, if you NEED a folding net, a Stowmaster with upgraded bag will certainly work fine. In that case, I'd still look at the Frabill version first - I don't know if that mesh is usable, but it can't be worse than the Stowmaster. |
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Posts: 5
| Appreciate all the replies from everyone. I live in Southern Ohio so unfortunately not too many brick-n-mortar stores near me that are stocked up on musky nets (or at least that I’m aware of). Will most likely try to get one at OH musky show this winter, just wanted some insight! |
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Posts: 945
| I have used several nets here is how I would rank them
1. Drifter
2. Frabill
3, Beckman
4. Stowmaster
5.Ranger
The Drifter XL with the really wide front end makes it really easy to scoop big fish, Bag is plenty deep to keep big fish in the water. Have had fish up to 54" in mine and is fine for fishing solo. The T handle on it is really nice and wont ever slip out of your hand. And if you need to strap net while getting cameras or stuff ready the T handle makes a great place to do this with out strap or bungee slipping off end of net handle.
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com |
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Posts: 558
| Drifter XXL. Heavier net but can still net fish solo with it. Great big fish net! It's like a livewell for the fish, plus when I hook that 60+ inch ski one of these days she is going to slide right in!!:) |
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Posts: 1247
Location: Walker, MN | I will add that I prefer a bigger, deeper net like the Big Kahuna or Drifter XXL for big water. When your boat is going up-and-down in 3' waves the smaller nets can be too shallow. A big fish will definitely fit in an XL or 8425 in calmer water, or with a boat that doesn't sit high out of the water. |
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Posts: 62
Location: SE MI | Jeff Hanson - 9/22/2022 7:48 PM
I have used several nets here is how I would rank them
1. Drifter
2. Frabill
3, Beckman
4. Stowmaster
5.Ranger
Hey Jeff,
Just curious on why you think the Ranger's suck?
Thanks
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Posts: 945
| I worked for Muskie Mania Charters on St. Clair for many years during July when my water here was too hot to fish...he was sponsored by them. I also had one when I first started musky fishing.
We broke a bunch of them. They were horrible for getting fish out of them, baits got tangled bad. And netting ripped apart. Was very easy to bend the crap out of them netting big fish
We always had 2 in the boat and another one in truck,
Jeff Hanson - 9/22/2022 7:48 PM
Hey Jeff,
Just curious on why you think the Ranger's suck?
Thanks
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Posts: 157
| Anyone have any experience with the Clam net? https://shop.clamoutdoors.com/catalog/product/view/id/2615/s/bigtoot...
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Posts: 32887
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I've used the big Clam and have the next size smaller in my boat. No negatives on it so far. |
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Posts: 46
Location: Mississippi | I really like the heavy duty net of the Frabill #8425 and 1 3/4' mesh. I fish solo a lot and have no issue with the 8425. I have handle the RS Solo Slimer and really like how the handle is more like rubber, so it will not mark up the gunwale as bad with the aluminum handles on the other nets? |
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Posts: 580
| Personally, I've liked the Drifter nets best. Jeff said it best. T handle helps and I haven't had trouble solo with the xl. |
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