Rubber Net

[bobberal]

Is there any net that works as well as rubber in the dark?

It seems that the crankbaits always get all the hooks tangled in the nylon ones, and is that a fun job to un-do in the dark

Thanks for your reply.

Al

[shadowman]

i have a rubber and a nylon landing net, i like the rubber net way more than the nylon net as far as i see theres no comparison, i will add this though i lost the biggest walleye i had ever got to the side of the boat because of one of those rubber nets but i still use it, hey you didn,t think i was going to blame myself for losing that fish did you?

[Walleye Express]

bobberal.
You'll get more pro's than con's on this forum, concerning the rubber net versus the nylon ones. Most walleye anglers love then for some reason.

I'm one of those "Thrust" "Sweep" "Lift and Scoop" guys you want on the net when your looking at that wallhanger coming in. I very, very seldom miss with the net. In fact I have caught even steelhead after they got off behind the boat, before they could get their bearings and make their escape. Ya, that good. I generally insist on netting all fish brought in to my boats on all my charters.

I remember with anguish that first day while using the rubber net. I like to fondly recall it as "The Day of the Flying Fish" or "The UFO charter incident" I returned the (excuse the expression) Used rubber net that evening to the store.

[REW]

I am with you on that one.
Rubber nets are:
1. Expensive,
2. Heavy,
3. easy to lose big fish
4. Little fish go right through, and then tangle the hooks.
5. All rubber nets are best left in the rubber tree.

Take care
REW

p.s.
Simply lost too many big fish, that bounced out of the net --
Never again on my boat.

[FreeByrd]

I've seen way too many big fish slighshotted out of a rubber net.

They are good for night fishing - we occasionally use one when we cast on the shallow reefs on Erie's Western Basin in the dark but we have a "real" net ready to go for any big fish.

Steve

[honker23]

Why not fish with two nets, one rubber net and one larger nylon. If you think the fish is large and not worth the chance, use the nylon. But I like the time and trouble saved using the rubber nets in the dark with crankbaits.
I may be wrong, but isn't there a nylon type net made now with a rubber coating to help decrease the tangles?

[FreeByrd]

Honker,
That is what we do - two nets at night.
The Beckman net bags are coated pretty good and do help some with hooks getting embedded.
Steve

[Bob G2]

I find I like the rubber net better for when I am not trolling or dealing with heavy current. With trolling, netting like Walleye Express states is the way to go, thus, the rubber net turns into a fish trampoline.

I love rubber nets for night fishing with crankbaits. With using a nylon net, you can spend an easy 5-10 minutes just getting the trebles untangled. Be more subtle with your net sweep and a rubber net will do you right.

[bobberal]

Sounds like you all are right.

I went to a rubber net the night right after we had a double. The first one was around 7 lbs and hit on a close in lure. It was very active when we netted it and it got all tangled up. The second was larger and I almost took a bath trying to reel and hand land that one while my buddie untangled the first one.

We always talked about how tough it was to untangle in the dark and just hoped it would never happen I guess.

I am sure we would have made Americas Funniest Video if someone would have been there with a camera. Good thing it was around 3:00 AM.

I was just looking for a compromise, because kids and the wive hate the weight of the rubber net.

Al

[T-Mac]

Amen REW!
My experience, exactly.

[shadowman]

you know i had no idea that so many more have lost a big fish cause of a rubber net, i,m surprised, anyways for the record i do now have 2 nets in the boat, nylon and rubber, for some reason i don,t feel quite as bad as i did a few days ago, thanks.

[mmillelacs]

i like the rubber net, although i have often had to lift to counteract the trampoline effect, but i dont think my use of the rubber net has been responsible for the fish i have lost

[WAeyes]

I have found that the Loki coated nylon nets are a good compromise between the rubber nets and the plain nylon nets. There is definately no slingshotting like the rubber nets and it seems the trebles are easier to get out compared to a nylon. Works for me...

[stewart]

One possible solution is just to pinch the barbs down and keep using the net you have.

[bigjohn]

I bought a new Frabil rubber net with the extension handle last year and have not lost any fish because of it. I like the net alot but it is heavy and my daughter has a tough time using it. I can defininately see how the trampoline effect can cause you to lose a nice fish once in a while. But with space at a premium in the boat I am not inclined to buy a nylon net and have two nets in the boat. However, I may change my opinion if I ever lose a wallhanger.