Float Tube Fishing Accessories - Nets

Before I got into float tube fishing, I didn't really use a net very much. I had one of those cheap Chinese knotted nylon string nets for landing trout at the local bait and wait shore fishing lake, but that was it.

Now that I'm fishing from the tube and I always practice catch and release, I realized that I needed a good net to get the fish under control quickly and safely - for him and for me and for the tube. Most fish have spines, which you certainly want to keep out of the tube and out of you and a net will help you do that quickly and safely.

The main consideration when choosing a net for catch and release is that it have a "fish friendly" flat mesh and isn't made from knotted string.

Fish saver nets are made with a flat mesh in rubber or plastic and they have a smooth surface that won't damage the protective slime or hurt the fish's skin.

It's not like nets are complicated, but I've had some questions, so I decided to put this short video together.

Happy Fishing!

Large rubber Measure Net for me.  Usually only have it 3/4 extended.  I wish it were just a little wider in the mouth but that's my only complaint.

Haven't gotten around to changing the old bag on the Orvis net to a catch-and-release bag yet. Some day but it hardly gets used.



A long time ago, my buddy lost his Measure Net in Newport.  Few weeks later he caught a net (not his though.)  He had already a replacement.  He hijacked one of his son's tennis racket that wasn't used anymore, got a rubber net replacement and made sure it had some swimmie foam zipped tied to it so it would float.  Lightweight and fish friendly - but probably cost more than a new Measure Net. Go figure.