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Landing nets

Julian Griffiths

Julian Griffiths

Senior Member & Supporter
Hi.

I'm wanting to come away from my Gardner Barbel spoon net. So looking to upgrade, and buy a foldable landing net with stink bag.

What gets your votes?

(I've looked on past posts, but not entirely sure on the latex versions from korum or drennan if I'm honest, but am open to buying them if they get recommended, and are more fish friendly than the mesh types, as fish welfare is very important to me.)
 
I’m currently using a 36” triangular net and it does what I need.

Its easily portable, strong and big enough to swallow a record barbel or a 40lb carp.

I have a Chris Brown net which is really good (with 3 different length handles).

Last winter I bought a Westlake 36” net (no handle) as I needed a new mesh for a ‘project’. Actually the W net is quite good so with a bit of fettling I now use it with a Gardner extending handle. The net/spreader/arms cost £8.50. !!

I carry a couple of large plastic bags with me and wet nets/weigh slings go into one for the journey home.
 
Tim Marks said:
I’m currently using a 36” triangular net and it does what I need.

Its easily portable, strong and big enough to swallow a record barbel or a 40lb carp.

I have a Chris Brown net which is really good (with 3 different length handles).

Last winter I bought a Westlake 36” net (no handle) as I needed a new mesh for a ‘project’. Actually the W net is quite good so with a bit of fettling I now use it with a Gardner extending handle. The net/spreader/arms cost £8.50. !!

I carry a couple of large plastic bags with me and wet nets/weigh slings go into one for the journey home.
Click to expand...
Cheers Tim 👍
 
Depth is definitely the priority for me. Can I comfortably retain a big fish from a high bank and imo with most nets dedicated for barbel the answer is no. Not properly.
My net is a 36 triangle with an extremely deep rubber coated mesh. It is imo the perfect barbel Net. Rubber adds weight yes but fins are less likely to split fibers and get caught in it.

Now finding one….. well yeah that’s the problem
 
Good example here.
Left is a very popular barbel Net. 30 inch Korum triangle
Right is my net.
 

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I’d avoid the korum folding spoon. It’s a nice size but find the fish can easily get their barbules caught in the mesh at the bottom. I replaced mine with the folding triangle which I used to have but lost but after using spoons for years since I lost it it seems really small now
 
The problem with the carp style triangle nets for me is that the mesh is usually too deep and gets caught on everything and when you come to release the fish unless you can get down to water level become a right pain trying to get the fish out as they swim deep into the corners of the net. If the korum latex spoon folded in half it would be the perfect net for me I think. Or even if the folding spoon had the same diameter mesh at the bottom as it does the sides it would be good.
 
Jon Young said:
The problem with the carp style triangle nets for me is that the mesh is usually too deep and gets caught on everything and when you come to release the fish unless you can get down to water level become a right pain trying to get the fish out as they swim deep into the corners of the net. If the korum latex spoon folded in half it would be the perfect net for me I think. Or even if the folding spoon had the same diameter mesh at the bottom as it does the sides it would be good.
Click to expand...
Deep mesh can be a pain for those things John your right but it’s by far better for properly fish retaining and recovery.
I’d sooner have a proper deep net that can comfortably retain a big fish than a shallow mesh that is slightly easier to release one from.
 
I actually find quite the opposite with the large depth contributing to the room it had to recover at full length. Certainly for me the pros out weigh the cons with a deep net especially off a high bank. We all like different things mind. I have a folding triangle it’s what I pictured above and I didn’t find it at all suitable personally for barbel. I use it for my tenching now.
 
I use a folding Korum one which I think is on its 3rd season coming up which is good for me as I do seem to go through nets
The mesh isn’t as deep as I would like but certainly adequate for the fish I catch
I did get a fox rage rubberised pan net but found way too many chub scales in it for my liking
I also carry a zip up perforated cradle/ sling which I can ship out into the flow with a storm pole for bigger/ really hard fighting fish
As we know recovery times vary tremendously so always worth sticking in a sling ( the ones I have weigh nothing) for the odd ones that need a really long rest
Never lost one.
 
Korum Xpert Triangle 34 - carbon arms pop in and out easily with the elbow method and means the net can be rolled up tight. Decent size mesh - neither too deep or shallow - much bigger than any of the 'folding' Korum nets and will take large barbel / pike no probs
 
I’ve been using a Middy 30plus IQ barbel net for easily the last 10-12 year and it’s still going strong. Not sure whether there still on sale but a great bit of kit 👍🏼

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Julian Griffiths said:
Hi.

I'm wanting to come away from my Gardner Barbel spoon net. So looking to upgrade, and buy a foldable landing net with stink bag.

What gets your votes?

(I've looked on past posts, but not entirely sure on the latex versions from korum or drennan if I'm honest, but am open to buying them if they get recommended, and are more fish friendly than the mesh types, as fish welfare is very important to me.)
Click to expand...
Hi Julian,
Like many on this post I use the large Korum spoon net and find it entirely suitable. However, I realised my old handle wasn't suitable, so invested in a Drennan Super Specialist 3m handle with a twist lock. I can't recommend it enough although I have heard that some anglers have had problems with the locking mechanism. For me the combination works really well.
 
Paul Bullinger said:
Hi Julian,
Like many on this post I use the large Korum spoon net and find it entirely suitable. However, I realised my old handle wasn't suitable, so invested in a Drennan Super Specialist 3m handle with a twist lock. I can't recommend it enough although I have heard that some anglers have had problems with the locking mechanism. For me the combination works really well.
Click to expand...
The handle works well for me too. 😊
I'm just trying to get away from the spoon styles as I find the Gardner spoon a bit cumbersome carrying around. I'm after a folding landing net so can be stowed away in a stalking quiver. 👍
 
As said; they all have their pros and cons.

Where I now fish it has to be latex simply to avoid the mesh snagging on every little thing. It has to be strong as many places entail a dead lift of five feet or more. Access to river level cannot be taken for granted. The folding style is better for travelling, but a pain to dis-assamble and re- assemble. The rigid spoon is stronger, but turns sideways in strongish currents which is difficult to control when the handle is fully extended and I am 5 foot or more above the water level.

I need a ghillie and / or a gaff!
 
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