Do you use a net or have one on your boat?

[fishinfiend]

I am a firm believer in using nets. Unfortunately, the boater I fish with is against nets.  :

[BARON49_Northern NY]

I use a net for big fish with a mouthful of treble hooks.  Otherwise I lip or gill land most.

[roadwarrior]

I always use one.

If you decide to buy one, get a rubber net.

It's best for you and your fish.

8-)

[WRB]

I use a net when needed to land bass. If using a crank bait it can be dangerous to get hooks in your hand trying to lip a hot bass and I will not bounce fresh water fish. When light line fishing, you need net most of the time to land larger bass consistently. BASS not allowing there competitors the use of a good net, is damaging a lot of bass by contacting the boats carpets. The basses slime coat is like your skin, it keeps out bacteria. Slime loss from a good knotless net is a lot less then hitting the carpet.

WRB

[WRB]

Wouldn't be caught without one ! I carry a Cabelas big fish net. I guess its like a 28" hoop..... but have been considering the rubber mesh type for a long time....

Comes in VERY handy when I have to land a big Catfish..... or pushing my boat back off of the shoreline when I have purposely beached it..... or grabbing a cleat on a dock when the wind or current is trying to blow me away from it, etc, etc.

As for netting big bass with it, well if its only an 8 or 10lb'er, it's not such a big deal.... but when I finally get that 19lb PB next to the boat, I don't want to be messing around with it !

Oh, and here's another scenario you might not have thought of..... Last week I had a 9 lb'er get me around a limb > just deep enough that I could not get to it with my hands < but I was able to get down to it with the net, and was able to land it.... {oh btw, it had whiskers ;-) ....but the idea is the same for bass, right ?

Don't know how many times I've watched somebody fighting a fish > they never expected to hook in the first place < and the first thing they will tell you is > "And I don't even have a net" ! ...... Dude ! Where was your head at ? Hasn't anyone ever told you that any time you cast a line in the water, you never know what you might hook ?

Not bringing a net is about as crazy as not bringing a camera, or a scale. It's just essential equipment.

Peace,

Fish

I have a new Cabelas rubber net, too heavy for me. If interested PM me, the price is right...shipping costs.

Stuck a 30+ channel under the front pectoral fin with a jig, that I knew was a new world record until I finally got it up and it had whiskers. Talk about slimming the boat up and rolling up in a net.

WRB

[AverageJoeBass]

Nope, no net here at least when I am bass fishing. Now saltwater is another story, always bring one because fishing saltwater you really never know what might be on the end of your line.

[TrippyJai]

I hate losing fish. I land it in the net, lip it and let it go.

[Catt]

I keep one in the boat in case of a big bass or one that's not hooked properly

[wagn]

I have one, but only use it for big fish.

I use the rubber kind. It's just easier.

[iceintheveins]

I lip my bass. If they throw the hook before I can get them, that's all right. Close enough for me.

When in a bigger boat though I do like having a net so I can get pics of my catch. Since I fish toothy fish like pike, walleye, and trout a lot, a net is indispensible for them.

[BillO]

Use it for every fish in tournaments.

[Hannons Hound]

No, I've never used a net.

[justinrose40]

I use a net on anything that I don't want to lose the chance to take a picture of. I respect the fact that some guys are anti-net, but whether a fish was lipped or dipped really don't do anything for me personally. Just seems silly to me to take a chance on losing a good fish, for the sake of not using a dip-net.

But, to each his own.

[tennwalkinghorse]

On boat

[CODbasser]

i always use a net in tournaments... and i may be mistaken, but i think that the flw pros are aloud to use nets, and most of them do so...anything that can help you get more fish in the boat in a tournament is worth it....there are several good nets on the market that have a big loop and a handle that slide in to make it more compact...i see no reason not to use one...several times  i have netted a bass and the hook fell out of its mouth as soon as i got it in the net... go buy one!!!!

[Tim Ford]

I have one, but I only use it on large stripers.  

[Derek Chance]

I.m with the others that fish tourneys.  If they allow to use them then I do.  Saved me many a fish.  If I am fun fishing I normally wont get it out unless I hook a good one, then only if I have easy access to it.

[CatBassin]

I always carry one but hardly ever use it, unless I'm catfishing.

[detroit1]

No net in my boat. (i don't fish tourneys) I used to hate it when i was in my teens, fishin with dad, and hear him say "get the net" for what usually ended up being a 15"er. Now thats just silly - netting a dink while fun fishing.

[christopherjake]

I have one and use it all the time.  I broke a loomis rod once trying to get the fish in the boat w/o a net and I learned my lesson.

[Btech]

i had a real old one given to me when i bought my boat, than i threw it away and am now on  the market for one.

Its one of those things youll want to have so you don't wish you did later!

[HogHunter]

I think its a good thing to have in the boat.  It's one of those things where it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

[Ineedanewscreenname20170204]

I have one and keep it handy for two reasons: Big, poorly hooked bass and foul hooked carp.  Way too often have I accidentally hooked big carp that are a pain to get in the boat without a boat - and I might lose an expensive lure to boot...

[Grandpa]

I have one be rarely have it on the boat. Seems like when I have the net I don't catch fish but when I don't have the net I catch fish. Go figure. :-?

[jamarkwe]

I always use a net in tournaments or when I can't just hoist it in. Just got me a rubber net but have not tried it yet.