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Question on walleye nets.

John Mickish

Asked by John Mickish,

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John Mickish Grand Master

John Mickish

Posted
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I have not seen a discussion on this so someone please fill me in.

I'm going to get a new net this year (one of those long expanding handle types) and have a choice between a rubber bag and knotted nylon bag. Why should I choose one over the other? I like the idea of the rubber bag as I believe they would do less damage to C&R fish the bags don't seem as big as the regular types. Fill me in on what I am missing here.

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iffwalleyes Veteran

iffwalleyes

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I thought the same thing rubber all the way until I saw some of the newer frabil nets. I picked up one of their tangle free micro mesh nets it has 3/8" holes and is rubber coated. With the smaller holes it will help to keep jigs and lures from falling though and tangling up. Then I got it on a Tru Trax handle mine extends from 4-8 feet. They have two models the 3813 and 3814. The difference between the two are the length of the handles and the hoop size. They are about $70. They are made for catch and release. Very nice nets I am very happy with mine. Rubber are nice for walleyes but if you get a good size fish it works like a trampoline.

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gunflint Veteran

gunflint

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I've got a Tru-Trax telescoping handle net that I like a lot. It's not rubber and I've been looking at rubber nets. The negative to me is that the ones that I've been looking at are fairly heavy for a one handed lift. What I like about them is that the netting isn't so deep. I can't figure out why net makers manufacture nets that are 2 to 3 feet deep. It seems to me that I would do a lot less damage to netted fish with a much shallower net. By propping the end of the net on the gunnel or the seat I could suspend the fish in the net instead of having to let the fish flop around on the deck.

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ChompChomp_YANK Community Regular

ChompChomp_YANK

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I have a STOWMASTER tourniment series bass/walleye net. It has a telescoping handle, rubberised netting & the hoop folds in half it sounds like it might be flimsey but it is not! these nets are very high quality! another nice thing about them is they can fit into your storage compartments when folded. I have purchesed 2 of these from cabelas I think it was about $75.00 each & well worth it.

( Please read forum policy before posting again, Thank-you )

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Cliff Wagenbach Grand Master

Cliff Wagenbach

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Quote:

I thought the same thing rubber all the way until I saw some of the newer frabil nets. I picked up one of their tangle free micro mesh nets it has 3/8" holes and is rubber coated. With the smaller holes it will help to keep jigs and lures from falling though and tangling up. Then I got it on a Tru Trax handle mine extends from 4-8 feet. They have two models the 3813 and 3814. The difference between the two are the length of the handles and the hoop size. They are about $70. They are made for catch and release. Very nice nets I am very happy with mine. Rubber are nice for walleyes but if you get a good size fish it works like a trampoline.

I totally agree with iffwalleyes! I have been using this type of net for the past two years and it works great!

Cliff

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cold one sd Proficient

cold one sd

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I used to have a rubber net and small snot rockets would go right through and you had a mess to contend with then. I use the rubber coated mesh ones now and like them.

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sparcebag Veteran

sparcebag

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I been wantin a new net for 3yrs. now.rubber? to heavy when I got my fish lis. I saw that frabrill net! I ve been lookin alot.talked to bait shop owner and said I finally made my mind up.No money at the time I told him its the best i've seem he'll have it with a $10 discount! Is $55.00 a good price? NICE NET ext handle 3/8s mesh coated.

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eyepatrol Grand Master

eyepatrol

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Rubber net. I'll never use anything else for walleyes than a rubber net in my boat (good for pike 10lbs and under too). The fish can spin, flop, do whatever they want and they're not going to get you all tangled up in a huge mess that nylon does. Plus, your hooks don't really get caught up either. If they do, they just pop out of the rubber very easily.

What a time saver rubber nets are. Plus it keeps my blood pressure down. grin.gif I used to really get worked up over the messes that fish made in my old nylon net.

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iffwalleyes Veteran

iffwalleyes

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Rubber net. I'll
never
use anything else for walleyes than a rubber net in my boat (good for pike 10lbs and under too). The fish can spin, flop, do whatever they want and they're not going to get you all tangled up in a huge mess that nylon does. Plus, your hooks don't really get caught up either. If they do, they just pop out of the rubber very easily.

What a time saver rubber nets are. Plus it keeps my blood pressure down.
grin.gif
I used to really get worked up over the messes that fish made in my old nylon net.

A year ago I would have said the same thing but that was before I saw the Frabill stuff. You out to look them up. Mesh bag but it is rubber coated so they can wrap up in it. Hooks don't inbed themselfs in the mess. It is the best of a conventional net and rubber net combined. I will probably have mine in the boat the weekend of the sturgeon excursion reminded me and you can take a look at it.

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eyepatrol Grand Master

eyepatrol

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I will probably have mine in the boat the weekend of the sturgeon excursion reminded me and you can take a look at it.

If the ice thaws! confused.gif Not sure if it would get canceled if there's still ice out there?

As for the Frabills....will the rubber coating stand up to the test of time? Just would be concerned of it peeling or flaking off, or something.

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Cliff Wagenbach Grand Master

Cliff Wagenbach

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I have two years of heavy use on my net and it still looks like new!

It sits out in the sun all of the time also and there does not appear to be any sun damage to it.

Cliff

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iffwalleyes Veteran

iffwalleyes

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If the ice thaws!
confused.gif
Not sure if it would get canceled if there's still ice out there?

You have to think positive two weeks away we should be ok. I think confused.gif it might be the first weekend open though.

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eyepatrol Grand Master

eyepatrol

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I certainly hope so. Been looking forward to this trip for quite some time now.

I definitely would like to take a gander at that net if you have it along. Sounds like a good one. Speaking of which...I need to get a big honkin' net for the sturgeon trip yet! wink.gif

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iffwalleyes Veteran

iffwalleyes

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I certainly hope so. Been looking forward to this trip for quite some time now.

I definitely would like to take a gander at that net if you have it along. Sounds like a good one. Speaking of which...I need to get a big honkin' net for the sturgeon trip yet!
wink.gif

Either that or a good pair of gloves to do a tail grab grin.gif

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mnfishman Enthusiast

mnfishman

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I have a STOWMASTER tourniment series bass/walleye net. It has a telescoping handle, rubberised netting & the hoop folds in half it sounds like it might be flimsey but it is not! these nets are very high quality! another nice thing about them is they can fit into your storage compartments when folded. I have purchesed 2 of these from cabelas I think it was about $75.00 each & well worth it.

( Please read forum policy before posting again, Thank-you )

I just picked up a stowmaster net from Cabela's for this year as well and it seems to be a great net. I like the fact that I can fold it up and it will fit in my storage compartments. The rubberized net should work great. I also have a brand new Frabil net with rubber netting that I am taking back to Cabela's. I didn't like it because it seemed a lot heavier and it didn't fold up small enough.

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John Mickish Grand Master

John Mickish

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I found the Frabil Tru Trax with the good net at Fleet Farm for $57. I have one now, I really like the extendable handle.

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iffwalleyes Veteran

iffwalleyes

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Enjoy it like I said they are a nice net. I hopefully will be putting mine to work next weekend on the walleyes.

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croixeyes Experienced

croixeyes

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Beckman also carries a good line of nets.They are a little more spendy than the Frabils though

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