There are landing nets for all tastes and budgets. We take much less care to choose a landing net than a rod, but it is very interesting to choose a landing net well adapted to our needs.
Net size and depth
The wider and deeper the net, the easier it is to "dry" large fish. On the other hand, the larger the net, the heavier and more cumbersome it is, and therefore the greater its "hold" in the water. It is not enough to say "who can do more can do less" and to take a big net thinking that it will be all-purpose.
The size of the landing net and the depth of the net should be dictated by the size of the fish you are looking for. In small environments, there is no need to bother with a large, unwieldy net!
In lakes and strong currents, however, it is best to use a wide net to effectively catch a large fish.
The size of the handle
There are handles of all sizes for trout landing nets. We know the traditional racket net, which takes its name from the fact that it is shaped like a tennis racket.
It is small, strong and sturdy and can be quickly drawn. It can be stowed away when fishing in a stream or wadding in the middle of a river.
In mountain or dam lakes, I often use very long carbon handles (up to 2.60 m long). This allows me to reach fishes well below my fishing spot or to go and look for fishes further when the bank is rough or cluttered with vegetation.
The type of net
Again, there is a wide choice. Fine mesh is perfect for small fish or in lakes. In rivers, small tight meshes offer a lot of water catch and handling can be heavy, especially if it is not a racket net.
The knotted nylons are to be banished because of their abrasive character on the fish.
The rubber net or with rubber coating is very good and suitable for salmonids. It is soft for the fish and allows you to easily remove a hook caught in the mesh of the net.
The cotton type nets, more noble, are little used in France and require a drying so that it lasts in time.
