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Posts: 113
Location: Northwest Wisconsin | Wondering what would be a good size net for me. Boats I fish out of are only 14ft. Buddies is a jon boat and my is the standard aluminum. Most the time I am fishing with someone. I looked at some nets online and thank god I didn't just order the biggest one, went to rollie and helens last week and HOLY HELL it would have took up 3/4 of the boat. So hoping someone can give me some help in choosing a net that wont do more damage then good to the fish and still not be to big for boat.
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Posts: 106
Location: On Lake St Clair Michigan | The stowmaster nets fold in half and the handle extends, they are more but when space is an issue... |
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Posts: 1030
Location: APPLETON, WI | BrokenWing - 3/8/2010 7:59 PM
The stowmaster nets fold in half and the handle extends, they are more but when space is an issue...
+1 to this.
My buddy has a 14-foot aluminum boat and this is the same net he has. It's critical when you need space. |
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Posts: 113
Location: Northwest Wisconsin | How easy are they to work if your fishing alone.
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | Consider a Loki:
http://www.lokinets.com/sportsfishing.html
I've had a StowMaster, and if you are considering fishing alone ... by the time you get that net deployed the fish may be long gone.
I also attempted both the Big Kahuna and Big Game nets by Frabill. I found that they were heavy and cumbersome if (once again) you were trying to land a fish while solo.
The Loki nets are lightweight, durable, and the mesh on the bag is both coated and works as a fin-saver based upon the tightness of the weave.
The company is located in Knoxville. I was lucky enough to have the owner drop my net off right at the ramp when fishing Melton Hill Reservoir in Oak Ridge a few years ago.
Now that's customer service!
Edited by cjrich 3/9/2010 4:50 AM
(37 incher on 3-7-10.jpg)
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Posts: 332
Location: Michigan | Kwestlund - 3/8/2010 10:29 PM
How easy are they to work if your fishing alone.
k
Easy....Just have the net unfolded/deployed ready to go when your alone. If you go to the in-fisherman site you'll find a couple videos of Doug Stange netting some muskies using a Stowmaster net alone.
I've used the model TS116Y musky net for the last 5 seasons and have netted musky while by myself with no problems. It is a bit on the heavy side though.
A lighter/smaller option would be the TS94IM musky net.
Edited by Slimeball 3/9/2010 9:13 AM
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| Have experienced your problem. I fish from a 14 footer. I started out with a Ranger Great Lakes net. Adequate for pike. Inadequate for muskies. I had a heck of a time the first time I had to boat a 40. A real mess. That night I went to Sportsman's Wharehouse and looked at two other Ranger models. (Ranger is out of Detroit.) I think they are called Big Game. Not expensive. I judged that the larger was too big for me to handle when fishing alone. I bought the smaller of the two. Works fine and was not expensive. Can be handled by the lone angler. I'll measure the diameter and post it later. |
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| Has anyone tried the Stowmaster Salt Water seies net? It is large and the netting is blue, supposed to not excite the fish when landing them. |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Get the Frabill Big Kahuna, biggest and best net on the market. Sit it off to the side you'll have plenty of room and it won't be in the way. |
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| HUH? A big Kahuna in a 14 foot boat? That would easily be too much net for him.
Go with something like the stowmasters mentioned above or a smaller Frabill or Beckman. |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | I have the power catch by frabil. It's just a bit smaller than the big kahuna and I have used it multiple times in a 14 foot foot with no problems. I just lean it up the side the boat and it sticks up a little but no problem. I can even net them by my self when fishing in row boat with the power catch. |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | I have fished out of a 14 ft boat with a Big Kahuna close to a hundred times in my life, and not once did it ever cause me a problem or take up any room. Lay it off to the side....opposite the fish he is fishing from. I wouldn't go fishing without a Big Kahuna in the boat. |
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Posts: 1237
Location: South Portsmouth, KY | I fish out of a 12 foot jon boat in the creeks and i use the frabill big game powercatch net and i have no problems at all.Actually it fits in there perfect. |
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Posts: 113
Location: Northwest Wisconsin | Thanks for all the replies, gives me lots of options to look at before the season starts. Just wish there was one of them "try before you buy" options at the stores for these things haha.
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| Cast - 3/9/2010 9:24 AM
Have experienced your problem. I fish from a 14 footer. I started out with a Ranger Great Lakes net. Adequate for pike. Inadequate for muskies. I had a heck of a time the first time I had to boat a 40. A real mess. That night I went to Sportsman's Wharehouse and looked at two other Ranger models. (Ranger is out of Detroit.) I think they are called Big Game. Not expensive. I judged that the larger was too big for me to handle when fishing alone. I bought the smaller of the two. Works fine and was not expensive. Can be handled by the lone angler. I'll measure the diameter and post it later.
Kwest, in case you are interested, the net I referenced above has a tear drop shaped frame and the dimensions are 32" x 33". I think the model number is 895. The cost was in the 20s--and it works. |
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| Kwestlund - 3/10/2010 5:00 AM
Thanks for all the replies, gives me lots of options to look at before the season starts. Just wish there was one of them "try before you buy" options at the stores for these things haha.
k
I bought a frabill big game from gander mountain and I had 3 months to return it if I didn't like it. Not sure if other stores do this where you live, but might be something to look into.
Edited by Baby Mallard 3/10/2010 10:25 AM
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Posts: 1516
| There 4 Big Kahuna's in the Operation Muskie auctions. Current bids are $75.00 & $65.00 |
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| Cast - 3/10/2010 8:23 AM
Cast - 3/9/2010 9:24 AM
Have experienced your problem. I fish from a 14 footer. I started out with a Ranger Great Lakes net. Adequate for pike. Inadequate for muskies. I had a heck of a time the first time I had to boat a 40. A real mess. That night I went to Sportsman's Wharehouse and looked at two other Ranger models. (Ranger is out of Detroit.) I think they are called Big Game. Not expensive. I judged that the larger was too big for me to handle when fishing alone. I bought the smaller of the two. Works fine and was not expensive. Can be handled by the lone angler. I'll measure the diameter and post it later.
Kwest, in case you are interested, the net I referenced above has a tear drop shaped frame and the dimensions are 32" x 33". I think the model number is 895. The cost was in the 20s--and it works.
Correction: Model 985. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | a couple things to think about..what size fish will you encounter ? are you on 50"+ inch water or more like 40 incher? to me a big kahuna is overkill unless you are going to be netting 48 inchers often...are you going to be fishing alone in that boat? if so, again, moving a big kahuna around by yourself and fighting a fish isn't all that easy..I do it often enough to know...imo go with a one size down Frabill or Beckman. I have a Beckman I take when fishing a buddies lake out of a 14' foot boat..it sits on the side but does stick up a bit..here is a pic. It is light enough though to maneuver around when fishing solo...
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