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Posts: 59
Location: Madison, WI | Hey guys, first time poster but long time follower of the forum. I'm in the market for a musky net, and was wondering if you guys have any recommendations. Brand, but specifically size of the bag. I know I should get a coated one. Thanks a lot guys |
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Posts: 105
Location: Jane Lew, WV | I own the Ranger Tournament flat bottom. Got it from MuskyShop for $100. At the time, that's what I could afford and haven't came across a need to upgrade. No 50's in it yet, but it swallowed a 49" no problem. With that being said, a friend I fish with has a Frabill Power Catch. Great net and thicker bag makes untangling hooks in the bag a breeze. RS Nets make an amazing net as well. Not sure on your budget but I wouldn't be afraid to use any of these |
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Posts: 9
Location: Forest Lake Mn. | 40"x44" Big Kahuna.
WS |
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Posts: 8782
| I have the Frabill Power Catch. The larger nets are nice, but depending on your boat you may find yourself with no good place to store them. Mine basically lives flat on the bottom of the boat. It's a PITA stepping over/on it, but it's the only place where it's not constantly in the way. If I had a larger net it would really be in the way. |
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Posts: 983
| I have frabil power catch and have XXL Drifter...Both great nets prefer the drifter...but like stated above the ranger is hard to beat for the price...seen gander outdoors carries them has the rubber coated net is plenty big and is $99 way cheaper than other two above. the RS Net is top notch and top quality but you gonna pay triple for that... |
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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | I like the frabils. I have the powercatch and I think it is plenty big. The big kahuna would be nice to have, but if you fish alone or with someone who isn't great at handling the net, it could be more trouble than it's worth. |
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Posts: 59
Location: Madison, WI | Awesome, thanks guys. I found a Frabill Power Catch with a 41 x 31 1/2 basket size on craigslist for $115. Is that basket size adequate? |
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Posts: 171
| Get a Big Kahuna by Fabril. It is a BIG net, may be too big for some to handle though. |
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Posts: 612
| Ranger makes nice tangle free nets (or as tangle free as they get). I use the 34"x30" sized hoop. They make one bigger. |
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Posts: 166
Location: Alexandria, MN | Question - what do you guys prefer for mesh size - smaller or larger? Most of the treated bags I have used reach a "broken in" period, where the coating seems to soften. Once this happens, the tighter mesh seems to really grab treble hooks and becomes more difficult to untangle - especially if the fish rolls in the net (I leave the netted fish in the water, but sometimes they still manage to roll it up). I realize the tighter mesh is easier on the fins of a fish, but I feel a quicker release time is more important. Thoughts? |
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Posts: 1220
| How often do you fish alone? If like me with no friends, big heavy bags can be super difficult. It’s a real concern, trust me! |
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Posts: 320
| I fish alone a lot and have found that my old Beckman with the larger mesh is much quicker at netting fish due to less drag compared to smaller mesh nets. This is something to consider. Although the smaller mesh is easier on their tail and fins.
I’ve recoated my bags with a product called Plasti Dip found at the big box home improvement stores. I thin it out with mineral spirits in a coffee can and dip the net in it then hang it in a tree to dry. Recoat again if needed. Works really well and much cheaper than buying a new bag. |
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Posts: 144
| Junkman - 7/11/2019 1:57 PM
How often do you fish alone? If like me with no friends, big heavy bags can be super difficult. It’s a real concern, trust me!
I agree. I have the big kahuna from frabill, and I fish by myself 90% of the time. It is a pain in the butt using it by myself. Especially in big winds. I'm not sure why I haven't replaced it yet to be honest. I would say, start small. |
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Posts: 8
| I like my folding Frabill. Gold colour don’t remember the model but it folds in half and sits flush to splash well in my Ranger 680. It takes up no space I had the Powercatch but it takes up too much space and I like everything organized and tucked away. Think I saw Joe Bucher using the same one on tv. Just looked it up it’s the powerstow 40 x44
Edited by Tomkat 7/11/2019 9:19 PM
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Posts: 416
Location: MN | ordmusky - 6/6/2018 3:55 PM
Awesome, thanks guys. I found a Frabill Power Catch with a 41 x 31 1/2 basket size on craigslist for $115. Is that basket size adequate?
That basket size (and net) is definitely adequate. The 8425 is one of the best all-around muskie nets. I use that bag on a slightly smaller folding hoop and have netted several fish 50-55.5" without issue. |
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Posts: 483
| That basket size (and net) is definitely adequate. The 8425 is one of the best all-around muskie nets. I use that bag on a slightly smaller folding hoop and have netted several fish 50-55.5" without issue.
can you specify the bag and folding net you use please |
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Posts: 1291
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin | Tomkat: your net sounds more like a Stowmaster. |
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Posts: 59
Location: Madison, WI | I have the Ranger 9855FB, got it from musky shop. It's a good size net, but found that the bag depth was a little too short, only 24". I recently upgraded the bag with a Promar XL size and it fits and works great. I fish mostly by myself and the net is easy to handle and the new bag depth with the Promar is perfect. |
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Posts: 416
Location: MN | danlaboucane - 7/12/2019 6:37 AM
That basket size (and net) is definitely adequate. The 8425 is one of the best all-around muskie nets. I use that bag on a slightly smaller folding hoop and have netted several fish 50-55.5" without issue.
can you specify the bag and folding net you use please
The folding net is a Stowmaster TS94, and the bag came off of an 8425. The part # for the bag alone I believe is 4666.
I actually had the 8425 first, but didn't have access to it on opener a few years ago - found the Stowmaster on craigslist to "get by." After using both, the bag swap seemed like the right move. The TS94 hoop is slightly smaller, but that makes it a bit less obtrusive in my smaller boat. It fits in my rod locker when folded, which is nice for reducing clutter when not fishing. The most important feature though, is that the handle extends - makes netting solo much much easier.
Not sure I would recommend going that exact route from scratch - would be pretty expensive to buy new Stowmaster and a bag. The Stowmaster netting was absolute garbage on mine - every fish was a 5-10 minute untangling job. Maybe they have fixed it since, or maybe Frabill has an equivalent net that comes with acceptable mesh out of the gate. |
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Posts: 483
| thanks nar160 , had one that model and found it a bit small . |
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Posts: 772
Location: Ames, Iowa | I have the Frabill Power Catch and I store it on its edge along the side of the boat with the hoop at my right elbow just behind my seat. It's the best out of the way place I have. I can put a big towel over it to keep sun off it. I've had it on the floor before but hate to step on the mesh when I don't have to. |
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Posts: 546
Location: MN | ordmusky - 6/6/2018 3:55 PM
Awesome, thanks guys. I found a Frabill Power Catch with a 41 x 31 1/2 basket size on craigslist for $115. Is that basket size adequate?
I've been lucky enough to put fish up to 52" in my Power Catch and not had the slightest concern. I've used the Big Kahuna in my buddy's boat for years and can say that it's heavy and slow through the water. The big hoop is great, but the weight and water drag are not. I'd only want experienced musky anglers netting my fish with that net, as it has lots of bag to get caught on boat cleats, etc and takes some muscle to move. |
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Location: 31 | Big Kahuna for my boat... can be a load to handle if solo, no problem with 2 people.
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| beckman is the best |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | ordmusky - 7/12/2019 8:11 AM
I have the Ranger 9855FB, got it from musky shop. It's a good size net, but found that the bag depth was a little too short, only 24". I recently upgraded the bag with a Promar XL size and it fits and works great. I fish mostly by myself and the net is easy to handle and the new bag depth with the Promar is perfect.
The Promar XL fit that frame? The 9855FB has only a 34 x 30 hoop |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | There's a new net in town...
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Posts: 59
Location: Madison, WI | Yep. Used it all last season with no problems or issues. Fits nicely onto that hoop frame. Now when I bag a fish, it can easily rest in the water inside the net, unlike the original 24" bag depth that came stock with the neck. |
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Posts: 1089
Location: Hayward, WI | Another vote for the Promar xl bag. I put one on my Fabrill Powerstow. It has held up MUCH better than the original Frabill net. |
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Location: Northern Illinois | Frabil big kahuna only net you'll ever need. These fish can relax inside the bag and reduce stress. not to mention we put several mid fifty inch fish in the bag and there's plenty of room. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | There are a lot of good options out there now. The Ranger and Drifter would be worth checking out. I have used a Frabil Powercatch 8425 - one size down from the Big Kahuna.
It's worked well for me. Netted fish up to 52.5 with no issue. For fish that size the Kahuna might be preferred, but a big fish can still relax in the Powercatch and it's a little easier to handle solo or for a smaller person to handle.
I've had mine for over 10 years and the bag is in good shape. Broken in nicely. Hooks don't tangle badly, and it still seems pretty easy on fish fins, though I admit I have seen a couple slightly split fins that I assume happened after I netted them. For how many have been in the bag though, I'd day it's a pretty low rate of split fins.
There are other good options out there, but you couldn't go wrong with a Frabil Powercatch. Spent about 2 hours on LOTW once snagging mine after it accidentally got kicked out of the boat as my wife was picking a fish up out of it. I would have been sad to have lost it! |
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