Landing Nets

Hi Adrian, i have a 50'' net which is fine for fish to 50lb over that it may struggle a bit. I have tightened the drawstring on the net as much as possible to increase its length slightly (now 45'' forom spreader block to drawstring. When you consider that a 60'' fish averages around 60'' long thats a lot of tail to scoop in - especially as they can swim backwards. i am upgrading to a catfish pro 60'' net within the next couple of weeks. The down side of these nets are that they are very cumbersome and the arms are not as stiff as i would like.

I have also used a 42" net and that has served me very well however when I witnessed the 67lb'er come out of Willowbank I realised how inadequate they are when after big cats. The bloke who caught it was using a 60" net with his mate doing the netting and it still took 3 goes to get it in.

Hence why I have ordered the heavy duty version for that bit more strength

I use a 42" Greys Prodigy net but lophius has just got the 50" version. Fantastic nets as they are about 5 or 6 foot deep. Ideal for giving both you and the cat a breather and stretching your back out after a long scrap. They also have a walking clip so you can clip the net up if you need to go any distance with it, or if you are netting carp or tench. Wonderful nets, not sure if they do one bigger than 50" though. Expensive too, about £100 for the full net and handle but the handle is the same material as the Prodigy rods so it is very light and easy to handle.

As Karl says - i've just bought the 50" greys net - bloody fantastic - easy to use single handed too - I had a 60" nash pursuit before and it was a bloody nightmare- so much so that the last fish I tried using it on I ended up chining out !

The catfish pro nets are big and good but not too easy to wield single handed although I have seen a 90lber go in one !

Any idea on the diameter of the arms on the Greys net?  Want to see if they will fit in the spreader block of my Fox net.  Looks like it may be a cheaper option than replacing the whole lot:

G00055 CARBON ARMS 50" - £14.99
G00052 REPLACEMENT NET MESH 50" - £19.99
G00051 PRODIGY SPREADER BLOCK - £9.99

But even if I have to get the spreader block, it's still a saving!

Am just waiting to hear from Fox to see what they can offer. 

Just a few stats that may help with selection. Bearing in mind that Pondwood cats are probably lighter for their size than cats at fisheries where loose feeding is allowed.

The 41 I caught was just over 6 feet long. I have a 48 inch net and it was dificult to get the tail in the net (the guy who netted it was not experienced at netting cats).

Having said that all the nets I have looked at over about 50 inches have had very flimsy arms which makes them very difficult to manouver when in the water.I have used the 60 inch cat net and it is very hard to get the front up when its in the water soaking wet.

This is the reason I have decided to go for the Heavy Duty 60" Catfish-Pro landing net ....... the arms are twice as thick as the standard version making it a lot stronger (well thats what I am hoping).

Spoke to Fox this morning.  They have said that they do not produce a net over 50" as the arms become to weak.  They have apparently tried to produce larger nets but have not been successful.

Just for info, the 50lb cat I saw caught at Orchid last weekend was landed using a Greys Prodigy 50" net.

Even the arms on the prodigy net are made from the same blank as the rods. They are a top piece of kit. I would get the spreader too mate, as I have tried putting them in my fox spreader and its just not quite right. They are top kit and I wouldnt swap mine for all the tea in china!! They dry in super quick time too. About fifteen mins on a nice day. Real good soft mesh.

Think I have finally decided.  Looks like the Fox 50" arms and net will be the solution.
 
Just as a side note, the guys at Basingstoke Angling Centre were really helpful and the guys there fish for cats so are actually making recommendations based on their fishing.  They are always happy to chat.

I use a CB Products 52" with a shortened draw string and a 9ft pole. Pole length adjustable and net very deep and wide mesh. Army Andy net float and very happy so far

http://www.cbproducts.co.uk/index.cfm

I use the Catfish-Pro 60" net. I don't find it too unyieldy to use one-handed, but then I'm from 'up norf', therefore am well 'ard. It's also great for netting people with too. 

Yer not 'ard enough to use the Catfish pro 72" like me from "darn sarf" then.

Them's fightin' words!

I finally received my heavy duty 60" net from Simon Clarke last week - looks superb but will have to wait until next year now to actually try it out

Got my fox 50" arms and net yesterday!  Think a family of four could live in it!  So your 60" Chris must be a monster???

Its an absolute beast mate, if I loose a fish at the net now its completely my own daft fault.

Its an absolute beast mate, if I loose a fish at the net now its completely my own daft fault.

-monkeyhanger

won't have to worry about getting the fish over the net in the dark then just the weight of all the other fish that happened to be within 6 foot of the margins when you put it in lol.

i just use gardening gloves £1 a pair from  poundland , you loada whimps ,[unless the banks high of the water ]lol. glove em out .whats a matter wiv ya . atb .